Pet Grooming for the Changing Seasons
Taking Care of Your Pet’s Skin, Coat, and Nails
Pet grooming for the changing seasons is essential. As the mercury rises and falls, changes in air pressure and humidity can impact pets’ skin, coat, and nail quality. Follow these guidelines to help keep your dogs and cats looking and feeling their best throughout the year.
Seasonal Shedding In Pets
Pet owners may find it difficult to keep up with shedding as the weather shifts from warm to cold or cold to warm. Pets will lose their winter coats in the spring when a short, light, summer coat comes in. When cold weather comes blowing back in, that light coat is shed to make room for a thick, protective winter coat.
The amount of seasonal shedding a pet will experience depends on the breed. Some are year-round shedders, while others shed very little. Long-haired breeds may shed lightly, but it seems heavy because the hair is so long. All shedding, however, can be lessened by [amazon_textlink asin=’B014QJT93O’ text=’regular brushing and combing’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’animalbliss-blog-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’c7357060-ea20-11e6-a5ac-fd6e63e676bd’] which removes loose and shed hair, helping to reduce the mess around the house. Brushing also prevents shed fur from causing mats in the coat.
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No matter what type of pet you have or what their breed may be, all seasonal shedding is normal. However, some heavy shedding may be a sign of a health problem. Often, poor coat quality is triggered by a food allergy or poor nutrition. If excessive shedding extends beyond seasonal changes, owners should [amazon_textlink asin=’B010DNVW46′ text=’consider a new diet to help improve the skin and coat’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’animalbliss-blog-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’f3003a10-ea20-11e6-8b8f-67fe8a50191d’].
Dry, Flaky Skin
Pets can get dry skin in the winter time, just like people can. This is particularly the case of pets who worship the radiator or heat registers in your home. Humans can slather on lotion in the winter, but dogs and cats cannot. To prevent dry winter skin, it can help to increase the number of [amazon_textlink asin=’B00KC3QASG’ text=’healthy fats and oils’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’animalbliss-blog-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’21105ecb-ea21-11e6-a559-db08b5591765′] in a pet’s diet. Omega fatty acids help the body absorb vitamins, and they also protect the natural balance of oil in the skin.
Itchy skin can also be a sign of allergies in the Spring and Summer. Pets can be subject to seasonal allergies, just like people. If the scratching is accompanied by watery eyes and sneezing, a trip to the vet may be in order.
Nail Care
Just like humans, pets’ nails can become a bit more brittle in the winter which can lead to painful snags. You can bring your pet to the Vet do have this done, or you can learn how to trim your pet’s nails yourself. Dogs and cats should receive [amazon_textlink asin=’B01N0IBUOY’ text=’regular nail trims’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’animalbliss-blog-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’4c6ada1c-ea21-11e6-b58f-7bec44b37bba’] throughout the year, and pay close attention to their feet in the winter time. Check food labels to be sure that they are getting enough calcium in their diets, as this can help strengthen the nails.
Pet Grooming for the Changing Seasons
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Her own animal experience is vast, having raised and rescued Alpine Goats, Chickens, Turkeys, Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pigs, Turtles, Raccoons, Cats, Dogs, and even an Opossum and Bearded Dragon.
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Great tips. Having a cat the shedding thing has always been a issue. I clean and clean and still hair. Before Rider passed he actually would let us shave him to help with shedding. Only cat I have ever seen didn’t mind it lol. Arya that we have now sheds but her hair is so short probably won’t shave her. Thanks for sharing these tips on Tuned in Thursday
A shaved cat. That would have been fun to see! Thanks for stopping by my blog, Nicki. I’m going to try to take part in your Tuned In Thursday, now that I know about it. Talk later! 🙂
Rooney has been extra itchy lately, his skin definitely needs extra care this time of year!
It’s a common theme this time of year. There are a lot of allergens out now. I hope it eases up soon. Thanks for visiting my blog, Rachel. 🙂
It never dawned on me that your pets can suffer from dry skin too due to weather. Definitely going to pay more attention to their daily oil intake. Thanks!
Great insight on pet grooming. I must admit that I see a lot more pets being groomed than there were 20 years ago. Pets are a part of the family these days and your information will only enforce the importance of taking care of our furry friends. Thanks for sharing.