Ahh, spring is finally here. The smell of fragrant flowers and the sweet chirping of birds floats on the air, followed by billowing puffs of—wait, is that dog hair? Yes, it's spring, so that means it's also the shedding season. If you have a furrier dog or cat such as an Arctic breed, you may experience the seasonal headache of "blowing coat"—a term for when your pet sheds (a lot) and turns your house into a fuzzy mess.
Most dogs and some long-haired cats shed once or twice a year. Dogs have two different kinds of coats. Breeds like the Siberian Husky and the Shiba have a fur coat made up of two layers: a warm, soft layer underneath a topcoat that serves as a protectant. Other breeds like Terriers and Shih Tzus have a single coat known as a hair coat.
If your dog was bred in a harsher Northern climate, you'll probably experience more shedding woes than someone with, say, a Poodle. Double-coated dogs have evolved to withstand frigid temperatures during the winter. They lose their coat in the spring because they don't need it, resulting in enough shed fur to knit them a stuffed companion (if you're so inclined).
Now that you know about the "blowing coat," let's tackle how to handle the shedding.
If you have a double-coated dog starting its great spring shed, it's time to take action. Here are the steps you should take to give your vacuum cleaner a break and make your life a little less fuzzy.
Contact us if you have any questions about your pet's health and wellbeing or to schedule an exam.