Planning a Trip? 3 Tips to Keep the Car Hair-Free

Oh, the joys of a warm weather road trip with your dog! That excited head hanging out the window, that wind-ruffled fur...oh, and hair coating the upholstery of the car’s back seat.For your next trip with your pup, try these preventative tips to help keep the back seat hair-free.

1. Give a Thorough Brushing

First, thoroughly brush and groom your dog before she bounds into the car. Less loose hair on her means you’re less likely to have tumbleweeds of dog hair rolling through the car’s backseat. (Or, check out our list of

essential products that'll help cut down on shedding.)RELATED STORY: A Guide to Buying a Dog Brush

2. Protect Your Upholstery

Next, cover the upholstery where the dog will be sitting; if your dog tends to check out the views from both windows, cover the entire back area of the car. You can use sheets, towels, or blankets to do this -- just make sure to only use linens that you don’t care about. Backseat hammocks and covers are also available for purchase. Smaller dogs can be kept in a crate, which of course will reduce contact between fur and the upholstery.RELATED STORY: Best Dogs to Travel With

3. Damage Control

Finally, after your trip, take a peek into the back seat to assess the conditions. If necessary, run the vacuum cleaner and lint brush around, removing any hair. As with more chores, doing this regularly is easier than waiting until for several months, when lots of hair is bound to have accumulated.—How do you keep your car (or furniture!) pet-hair free? Leave a comment and let us know, and consider signing up for PetPlus

 to save on your pet’s medications, supplies, boarding, and more. 

Here’s Why Your Cat’s Coat Might Feel Greasy

Image Source: Pixabay.com

Home is where your cat is. There is nothing that can be compared to the feeling you get when you’re back at home snuggling with your kitty after a long, hard day at work. That’s why it is pretty noticeable when something has changed in the feel of her coat.Cats are usually veracious groomers and can keep themselves clean. Most vets are able to tell whether a cat is healthy by just feeling their skin. You don’t necessarily have to be a vet to know that something might be wrong with your cat’s fur. If you think your cat’s fur is a little greasier, there might be an underlying reason that contributes to the grease.

Common reasons why your cat’s fur might feel greasy

It’s usually not a big deal when your cat’s fur seems greasy. The cat might be otherwise healthy. Or, it could also be an indication of an underlying medical condition. Cats who deviate from their strict grooming regimen might be lethargic, overweight, or just lazy. A cat could also stop grooming herself if she has other medical conditions like arthritis, oral conditions, dental diseases, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or other internal health issues.Some medical conditions can make it difficult for your cat to get to that grooming position and reach those hard-to-reach places. Having an oral or dental disease can also make it painful and rather difficult for her to use her mouth to groom herself. The pain experienced from a medical condition might be what’s causing your cat’s greasy fur.

How to treat her greasy fur

Other symptoms will also have to be taken into consideration before jumping into conditions. Look at whether she’s experiencing any lethargy, changes in drinking, eating, and urinating patterns. No matter the reason, any change in her precise grooming regimen should be cause for concern. A visit to the vet is highly recommended to rule out any possibility of an underlying medical issue.Describing her conditions through the phone might not be enough for your vet to come to a clear conclusion about her condition. You might have to take her in for a thorough checkup as the greasy fur can often be caused by internal conditions like metabolic changes. A vet who has a greasy furred cat as a patient will likely do a series of tests like urinalysis, blood work, and tests to rule out other skin conditions like allergies and mites. Rest assured that all these conditions are treatable and your kitty will be back to her normal, playful self in no time at all.Only a qualified veterinarian can determine the exact cause of your cat’s greasy fur so make sure you bring her in even if you don’t notice other symptoms other than the excess oil.