Anyone with pets knows that a big part of spring cleaning is dealing with the seasonal shed. Warmer weather means our animal companions — and wildlife, for that matter — have less need for insulation. Longer days trigger hormonal changes in animals that induce a coat swap — the heavy winter coat sheds, and a lighter summer coat grows in.

The amount of indoor shedding one can expect is largely dependent on the breed of dog or cat. It may not feel that way, but indoor pets shed less than outdoor pets due to artificial lighting and climate-controlled temperatures. That said, the amount of shedding your pet does is, in large part, biological.

Dog breeds with hair-like coats (poodles, Malteses, shih-tzus) shed less than double-coated breeds (huskies, shepherds, Labradors). Double-coated breeds shed their undercoat ruthlessly. The grooming term for the shedding undercoat is a “blow coat,” where the dog sheds thick clumps for weeks.

For cats, it’s largely the reverse. Long haired cats (Maine coons, Siberians, and Ragdolls) are heavier shedders than short haired breeds (American wirehair, Siamese, Russian Blue).

Whether your pet sheds more or less than others is little consolation when the ball of fur dumped from your vacuum canister on a daily basis is as big as your pet, or when a half-hour of brushing leaves your front yard looking like someone shot a bunch of rabbits. The mess, the hassle, the dust and dander lead a lot of pet owners to turn to professionals to get the shed under control.  

Professional groomers have an arsenal of tools, techniques and products to expedite shedding. But not everyone can afford the cost that comes with that kind of service. For those who are managing the shed on their own, Mia Amaro, owner of Mama Mia’s Pet Spaw in Woodland Park, shares some of her tried and true strategies for dealing with shedding season.

“It’s important to know that brushing alone isn’t very effective,” said Amaro. “With dogs, we start with a blowout. This loosens or removes a lot of fur before we start bathing. When the dog moves to the bath, the first shampoo is a cleanser to get rid of all the dirt and dander.”

Following the cleansing shampoo, Amaro will then apply a conditioner to remoisturize the skin and coat before moving on to a shed shampoo. Shedding shampoos contain ingredients like moisturizers, fatty acids, proteins, natural oils, Vitamin E and enzymes that nourish the skin and unclog hair follicles, which removes dead skin and loosens the winter coat.

Amaro said, “This step cannot be rushed. After the shampoo is thoroughly massaged in, your dog needs to sit in those suds for a while. The longer the better. Then, when it’s time to rinse, you must get all the soap out. I tell my staff, when you think you’re done, rinse them again.”

Some dogs will need a second condition or a skin conditioning spray. Brushing and combing are the finishing steps both before and after the final blowout. Not drying your pet after bathing can worsen shedding.

Cats present a whole different challenge. If you have cats, you know they can be selectively tolerant of grooming. Angel Long, cat specialist at Mama Mia’s, uses Chubs Bars for bathing cats and advocates for using a fine-tooth comb and a slicker brush to remove loose fur while drying them.

She said, “Cats have loose skin that can tear easily. You have to be patient with them to find what works. When I dry them, I cradle them in my lap and use a ‘happy hoodie’ to shield their ears from the forced air and noise. And sometimes they need to take a break.”

Overbrushing cats can cause brush burns, and sometimes cats’ undercoats can get so matted the mats need to be cut out. Again, because their skin can be delicate, this is best done very carefully or by a professional.

“There is a reason there are dozens of products and tools for shedding pets,” said Amaro. “Every dog is different, so there isn’t really a one set way to do things. These are simply guidelines for what generally works best. If your dog or cat has allergies or underlying medical conditions, you need to take that into account in your shedding season routine.”

Yet there is a silver lining to all that loose fur floating around. Birds and squirrels often line their nests with found bits of animal fur. Some go so far as to pluck tufts of fur right off the animal.

Jeff Perkins of Woodland Park said, “I usually brush the dog outside, and when I clean out my birdhouses, they’re full of fur.”

Pet fur also makes a great soil amendment. Mix it in with spring plantings as a source of slow-release nitrogen and moisture retention, or water it in as a top dressing for weed suppression and a pest deterrent. If your pets are in the midst of that seasonal mess, it can be put to good use.