Reducing and Getting Rid of Pet Hair

by Scotty Valadao - www.fods.co.za 
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As anybody with a dog or cat knows, one of the things that is guaranteed, is to have pet hair around! It can be found in beds, on furniture, in the car, on the chairs, clothing and who hasn’t at some stage, removed a hair from their mouth after eating or drinking!

For some people, the hair can be a lot more than annoying, it can trigger a serious allergy attack or aggravate asthma symptoms. An allergy is not always based on the dogs’ hair, it can be from the proteins found in the dander, saliva, skin flakes or even the urine.  Another danger is that do hair can collect, spores, mold or pollen and other allergens which can be found outdoors. For people suffering like this, it is even more important to put in place a program to limit the amount of dog hair that is shed.

What is Normal Shedding?

Dogs shed normally, and the shedding is seasonal. A dog will lose its winter coat in the spring period when it is replaced by a lighter, and normally shorter on for summer. As the seasons change again, the summer coat is shed to make way for the winter coat.

The amount and frequency of normal shedding often depends on the health and also the breed type, with some dogs seeming to shed more than others. Some dogs seem to shed less, but the shedding period occurs for longer periods, even throughout the year – this is not uncommon in dogs that are always kept indoors.

Another time a dog may seem to shed more is when it is stressed or a bit anxious. You may notice this more on a visit to the vet or perhaps on the way to the grooming parlour if this is something your dog finds a bit stressful. The shedding in this case, normally stops when the dog is returned to its normal environment.

Excessive Shedding

Apart from short term excessive shedding as above, it a dog seems to constantly shed excessively, then a visit to the vet is called for. This may be nutritionally based, or even an underlying medical condition may be developing, or is already in place.  Dogs that have been ill, often shed excessively for a period.

Dogs with Double Coats

If one has a breed with a double coat, the amount of hair that comes off is often unbelievable – you can brush and brush and at times it seems never ending! A dog that has a double coat is where they have a short, very dense and woolier coat closer to the skin and on the outside, there are longer guard hairs.

A dog with a double coat, such as the Husky, Malamute, some Collies, German Shepherds, Chow Chow, Golden Retriever to mention just a few of the more common breeds, should never be shaved. In the summer weather, the undercoat should shed, leaving the longer guard hairs to protect the dog from the sun, the air circulates under the longer hairs, and they also help to insulate again the heat. 
So, what can we do to reduce the amount of shedding?
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  • Good nutrition – buy the very best you can afford, and often, simply changing to a good quality raw food can make the world of difference. Do speak to your vet about this and perhaps a nutritional supplement is required for a period.
  • Grooming – daily grooming and brushing, especially out side can make a major difference, even for a few minutes a day. 
  • ​If your dog is a breed that can be shaved, then do consider doing this, it does help with excess hair.
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  • When washing your dog, use a hairdryer which is very efficient in getting rid of excess hair. First and foremost, you need to gradually desensitize the dog to both the noise and heat from the dryer. Basic safety should be undertaken, by keeping the nozzle far enough away that it does not touch the skin and on a cooler temperature than normal. We find that by running your fingers in the coat under the direct air, you can easily gauge what is comfortable for your dog.
  • Vacuum cleaners. These are brilliant if you have a machine that has a dog friendly attachment. Again, you would desensitize the dog to the sound and feel of the machine gradually. We find that best results are achieved after washing and drying, and use it a few times a week. The beauty of this is that you have the machine right at hand to vacuum up any hairs in the vicinity of where you groomed your dogs.
  • After the above, using a damp cloth, gently wipe this over your dog which will take off any hairs left over.
  • Vacuuming, vacuuming, vacuuming! If you do have pets, then go for the very best you can afford as this does make the world of difference, not just in getting the excess hair off your dog, but also out of your environment. The majority of vacuums nowadays, have attachments that can be used for cars, down the side of chairs etc, where hairs seem to miraculously collect and avoid detection! When buying, go for the top of the range, which not only has a more powerful motor, you can purchase vacuums that guarantee 100% hair removal and some brands have vacuums that are perfect for people that suffer from allergies. Most vacuums nowadays, can go on different floor surfaces, not just carpets, so are perfect for all your floor surfaces.
  • If you have a vacuum that has a filter, do ensure that you clean this on a regular basis.
  • To take hair off clothes, always good to have one of the tacky/sticky rollers around or even a lint brush. We always keep these close by for a quick clean of the car seat if taking a passenger and you have not had the opportunity to give the car a good vacuum. If you can’t find one of these when you need it, just take some packaging, masking, or even sticky tape and wrap around your hand and this works a charm for a quick clean, and just turn your hand around and then you can use both sides.
  • Bedding – both yours, if the dog sleeps on the bed and your dogs bedding. On your dog’s bed, in addition to washing, use the vacuum attachment to give a good clean to the sides of the bed.
  • Throws or Covers for chairs and beds. These can be popped in the machine once a week which helps to keep the actual furniture hair free.
  • Carpets seem to attract the most pet hair, so opt for rugs which are much easier to be cleaned. 
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