Daily Vet Curb the fur! (On controlling shedding and how fur flies when Dr. K takes in super-shedding “Slumdog”)
“I didn’t mean to do it, Ma! He just followed me home. What else could I do?”
Sorry excuses were on my lips one afternoon late last week as I attempted to hide the furball on my car’s floorboard when I stopped off at my parents’ house to pick up my male Frenchie from “day care.” But she’d already seen him. It was too late to avoid the icy stare and maternal recriminations.
Leave it to my mother to sniff out a new foster dog faster than I can locate a turd on the tile in my living room. So it is with most gatekeepers, naysayers and Cassandras in our lives, right?
But this time she had a point. (OK, when does she not?) The creature was spewing fur, smelly, mangy (literally) and orthopedically challenged in the extreme. Indeed, that’s probably what drew me to him in the first place.
“Slumdog,” I’d named him. He just had that look of an unfairly indicted, muttly scoundrel, you know?
He’s a badly bred Puggle (I assume) with a devastating angular limb deformity in both forelimbs, an advanced case of demodectic mange, a ventrolateral strabismus that likely indicates some degree of hydrocephalus, and an aroma fit for a festering trash heap. Just my kind of dog.
I’d never had a furry shedder before, though. Not that my Frenchies don’t shed. They get Furminated and bathed once a week––at least. After all, my allergy-prone dogs aren’t always the picture of olfactory perfection. But this fur-flying, dungheap of a dog was a new adventure, to say the least.
A Furmination and a bath with Ketochlor––my go-to shampoo for almost everything fungal and bacterial that ails the allergic/pyodermic dog––aided my senses tremendously, as did the oral ketoconazole, Simplicef and Interceptor. But it wasn’t about to tame the smells and fur-flying tumbleweeds emitted by the canine I’d now acquired.
That’s why Gina Spadafori’s post on PetConnection announcing Dr. Marty Becker’s Good Morning America segment on fur control (on this morning) caught my eye. OK, so how’s fur-control done?
Unfortunately, I missed Dr. Becker's segment. And it’s not online yet. But at least Gina’s teaser gave me a place to start. Here’s the scoop (or sweep, in this case):
It’s all about the three C’s: Cut, Collect and Contain. Here’s my version of what these entail (and I’ll get back to you on Dr. Becker’s take later):
Cut: Many pet owners select (or adopt) pets with shed-prone fur then realize their households are not ideally suited to dustbunnies aplenty. (Allergies, aesthetics, hygiene, whatever.) That’s when they take out the Flowbie or the #10 clipper blade and go to work. The lion cut is most attractive, IMO. This is especially helpful for long-haired cats with heavy hairball issues.
Collect: Brushing is the mainstay of fur collection. Doing it outside is best, IMO. And the Furminator is by far the most effective tool I’ve ever found for this. Dogs who don’t shed much? You won’t get the most out of a Furminator. But it’s magic for some (including Slumdog). Keep a garbage bag handy if you’ve got an arctic-breed dog or Persian cat.
If you’ve got micro-shedding happening everywhere, you might want to buy a bunch of 3M tape rollers for your furniture and clothing and a Roomba for the floor (warning: a Roomba is a bad idea for huge balls of arctic dog fur or for any household where pets occasionally leave “presents” on the floor––yuck!)
Contain: I’m not quite sure what he means by this but I assume it’s all about keeping the hair from hitting your floor in the first place––in which case you can refer to “collection.” I guess it also refers to the myriad pet products offering “miracle cures” for shedding––none of which I’ve ever found to be very effective.
Yet it’s true that controlling diseases (like allergies) and other preventing other sources of skin infections can make a big difference for some. The long-term use of fatty acids is essential (in my opinion) for these pets.
Bathing often will also help tremendously. Though it may mean you need one of those plastic hair-catchers to keep your pipes clear of hairy debris, I promise this approach will help get loose hairs off her coat.
Already, Slumdog is shedding much less now that his skin infection is more under control, the Furminator is on overdrive and the baths are coming fast and furiously. Sure, it means extra work, but just look at him: Isn’t he worth it?
June 9th, 2009
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Add Comment22 Comments
Totally worth it. Most dogs are!
Can you elaborate more on what this means going forward for Slumdog?
"a devastating angular limb deformity in both forelimbs, ... a ventrolateral strabismus that likely indicates some degree of hydrocephalus"
Shasta June 9th, 2009 11:52:05 AM
What a lovely story, Slumdog is very luck to have found you ;o) , and thanks for the tips on fur control. I have a 4 y/o yellow Lab (Riley). He is the light of our lives and just the best ever - however, he sheds like my two Labs I had before him. Dust bunnies everywhere which drives me CraZy! I do have and use the furminator, maybe not enough but I don't bathe him much. Should Labs or dogs in general be bathed once a week? He's a busy lake and pool swimmer in the summer though.
Leesie June 9th, 2009 12:07:01 PM
"The long-term use of fatty acids is essential (in my opinion) for these pets" Could you please elaborate? I have an aussie mix that has the worst dryness issues. She was treated for 2ndary staff and some type of yeast, which is now corrected. If I could just alleviate the dryness/dandruff. My vets keep telling me that we have to get more moisture to her skin. How? She gets bathed 1 a week w/ hydrating shampoo & conditioner (now non-medicated). It only lasts for a day or two. Benadryl isn't much use either. I'm thinking of dipping her in lard. :)
My guess that 'fatty acids' are just protein doesn't seem to mesh with your statement in context.
LOVE your site!
Scott June 9th, 2009 12:47:50 PM
I've got a cat and two GSDs. Have your heard the joke? "How much do German Shepherds shed? Well, they just blow their coat twice a year...for six months at a time." It's pretty darn true too. I find furminating every other day and bathing weekly is the most effective. So long as you're using a good shampoo, I haven't had any problems with it drying their skin and coat out. Back when I had carpet, it cut my vacuuming chores from daily to weekly. Then I got laminate. Carpet is just about the worst thing to have with allergies (both my SO's and my pet's!)
Recently I've been dealing with malassezia (skin yeast infection) in my atopy boy. Malaseb works great, but dries his coat out a LOT. I'm thinking of seeing if I can find something a bit gentler since I've got to use it so often. But yeah, he was greasy, gross, shedding, flakey and SMELLY for a couple weeks, so I feel your pain!
lindabcs June 9th, 2009 12:56:53 PM
Poor Slumdog. Are you keeping him or will he be rescued by someone else?
Courtney June 9th, 2009 12:57:16 PM
Diet seems to make a huge difference. Shedding us up a little my my house becaause the weather is (very slowly, very late) getting warmer, but in general shedding is really minimal. Adding Omega3 fatty acids (usually in the form of fish body oil) seems to be helpful too, though I haven't been supplementing with that very often lately.
The Furminator is a favourite of mine. I also love the soft rubby nubby brushes for short, coarse coats - especially on heavy shedders. They're really soft so they're easy on the skin and you can brush for a long time without causing irritation, and they pick up loose hair from coarse coats really, really well. (the one I have is similar to this - I think mine is also a Zoom Groom: http://www.petnutritionproducts.com/images/zoomgroom_dog.jpg)
A coat rake is also an important tool for me. If I only had three tools in my grooming kit, they'd be the Furminator, Zoom Groom and a rake, which pretty much gives me tools for any type of coat. (I'm not a professional groomer but groom cats at the Humane Society, so I deal with a lot of different coat issues.)
Dr.K, I've heard brewer's yeast mentioned as a common home remedy for coat and skin problems. Are you aware if it actually is beneficial or not?
Anlina Sheng - abnormalloveofcats.com June 9th, 2009 01:04:00 PM
Omega 3' and 6's do WONDERS for canine coats (like as in fish oils)! As does raw green tripe.
The furminator is super rough on a dog's coat if used too frequently - like Anila Sheng mentions above, a rake is a bit less invasive and still does the trick. We use the zoom groom almost daily, too!
Jen June 9th, 2009 02:06:57 PM
I like the furminator for some breeds, but for my Aussies, I prefer the Mars Coat King. That will get a ton of hair out!
For the long-haired dogs, a high velocity dryer is also a necessity. Bathe, blast the hair off with the hv dryer, then the Coat King. Perfection!
Nita June 9th, 2009 05:09:30 PM
Enjoyed the laughs from this one. I can sympathize with you and your "Ma" on this one :)
I'm loving the tips on getting the dead fur off/out! My initial reaction to the Furminator was that it fit my "too good to be true" model. Then Dr. K mentioned it favorably so I gave it a try. I suspect that the "sizes" of Furminator have more relation to the coarseness of coat than size of the animal. It's an issue I have with most pet products; that sizing is more than just the dimensions of the pet but most products don't reference more than that. I've only got one size so far and it's incredible on my long haired cat who has very fine hair; decent on my short haired cat with dense and slightly less fine hair; less effective on my Lab who has silky but very tight coarse hair. Think I'll order the other sizes and see if they're better for more coarse coats.
I've barely been able to touch my double coated Shiba with the Furminator. She saw how well it worked on the cat and screamed when I touched her with it. At least I know SHE believes it will work and she's a bit protective of her tufts when she's blowing coat. ("That's my fur and you don't have permission to take it off me!")
PJBoosinger June 9th, 2009 05:54:12 PM
I have the furminator, but for the cats, it doesn't seem to help, you can comb forever and be left with enough to stuff pillows and still comb out more....
at least I have a couple of cats that love to be vacuumed....
good luck with the new addition...I'm partial to those no one else wants also...but of the feline variety.
LorriM June 9th, 2009 07:07:21 PM
For the "collection" aspect, I've fallen in love with Pledge's new fur trapper gizmo. You run it over upholstery & it traps the hair inside a big clear bubble on top. It seems more economical (and eco-friendly) than using a ton of sticky sheets. Plus, you get to marvel at the giant ball of hair that used to be all over your house.
Jessica June 9th, 2009 07:31:54 PM
lindabcs: I use Ketochlor shampoo instead of Malaseb. It doesn't lather at all but neither does it seem to dry out coats. Same indication: malassezia and bacterial pyoderma.
Alina: Brewers yeast is commonly mentioned around here as a flea-buster. Though some of my clients swear by it I've never found it to be effective for my dogs.
Scott: Dry skin isn't always what it seems. Some skin diseases actually look like dry skin but they're a failure of the skin to exfoliate normally. Look into that. Oh, and fatty acids are just fat--as in fish oils and flax seed oils.
Dr. Patty Khuly June 9th, 2009 07:42:19 PM
Jessica: Thanks for mentioning the Pledge product. I'd seen it but hadn't gotten around to trying it. Will do so.
Dr. Patty Khuly June 9th, 2009 07:44:49 PM
Shasta: An angular limb deformity is a deformity in which the animal's limbs are rotated at one or more joints. In the case of Slumdog, he's significantly rotated towards the center of his body at his elbows (hard to appreciate in pics) and (more obvious) he's rotated severely at his "wrists." Pic:
Angular limb deformities are considered severe once they're beyond 25 degrees of what they should be. Slumdog's are at about 45 at the wrist and closer to 90 degrees if you take into consideration the position of his elbows.
He already limps--on both front feet. At only 7-8 months of age that's pretty sad. Unless we do some surgery he's unlikely to be able to stand on his legs beyond the age of 5.
Bad breeding kills.
As to the ventrolateral strabismus, that's what you see in his eyes as they point towards the outside and downward corners of his eyes:
It tends to indicate fluid on the brain, which can be relatively innocuous for many dogs. Nonetheless, it points to a seriously idiotic way to breed animals.
Dr. Patty Khuly June 9th, 2009 07:55:30 PM
Patty, here's a link to a coupon that'll get you $2 off the Pledge gizmo! I know it sounds like I work for Pledge now....but I just really love this thing.
http://www.pledge.com/savings/2009-1/
Jessica June 9th, 2009 09:42:20 PM
I sure hope you're keeping him.. Does that mean mom's getting another to take care off? I drop Socks off every a.m., and pick him up after work.. I think he's taken on a the personality of a little old man.. For a 4 yo he's very well behaved.. and patient..
I'm lucky Socks doesn't shed.. as I had a Brittney.. and the dust bunnies were running amok.. I was very vigilant about his grooming, but I don't think the furminator was around then..
As for the angular limb deformity.. I think Socks has an issue.. Both his feet turn out.. I thought I had caused the problem by not getting a pedicure for him often enough.. Will question the vet further on this even though he seems to be fine..
Barri June 9th, 2009 09:49:50 PM
Marie, That's really NEAT!!! I think I like the idea of a blanket made from pet fur.
PJBoosinger June 10th, 2009 02:17:21 AM
I've been wanting to try the Pledge gizmo for de-furring furniture - I will now. Thanks for the recommendation.
I live with six shelties and have gotten used to the tumbleweeds! The best way to get that hair off? Good old fashioned line brushing. But I admit, I cheat with a rake. Each dog gets a thorough brushing at least once a week. And toouch-ups throughout the week.
I love to brush them outside when they blow their winter coats - my other sheltie friends and I say the birds in our neighborhood have the warmest nests in the state - all fur-lined. And that's with picking up most of the hair as I brush.
And of course there are the questions from admirers - what beautiful dogs - do they shed? Uh, yeah. I've had the urge to tell people who fuss about pet hair, get a goldfish!
Robinsdogs June 10th, 2009 06:50:58 AM
I realize that there are many children and adults with allergies, but on those occasions when a parent denies a child a dog or cat because of allergies, and I've suggested a 'hypoallergenic' breed which doesn't set off most allergies (yeah, I know it's the dander), or terriers with a different type of hair, or greys, whippets, & iggies that don't bother some allergy sufferers, and the parents keep saying 'no' (because they don't want a pet at all but won't own up to it to their kid), I then say, "You know, lizards and snakes don't have any of the issues with fur and dander, and some species can make good pets for kids. Let me tell you about them." (long sentence, hope it wasn't too hard to read!)
Kids who really want a pet are more open-minded, and often say, "Oh, wow!" That's when some of those 'fibber' parents backpedal and say "What did you mean about hypoallergenic?"
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