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.
