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If you have a furry pet, you know at least one simple truth: You can't stop shedding. There's nothing you can do to prevent this very normal occurrence, but you can take steps to minimize the problem before it takes over your house.

First and foremost, you must brush or comb your pet regularly. In fact, every day would be best. The process of brushing or combing helps to remove dead hair and keeps your dog's coat and skin healthy. Remember, the more hair you remove and throw in the trash, the less hair you will find all over your house, clothes, and car.

Some dogs do shed more than others. Long-haired dogs don't shed more than short-haired dogs, but the hairs are certainly much more noticeable. Long-haired dogs also require more grooming simply to keep their coat from becoming matted. Hair that does become matted pulls tighter and tighter on the skin. This can lead to painful skin tearing and infections.

Indoor dogs tend to shed relatively the same amount of hair all year round, while an outdoor dog will do most of his shedding in the spring when losing his winter coat. So when your pet's shedding increases, so should the time you spend grooming him.

Using the right brush for your dogs coat type is also important. A rubber brush should be used for dogs with smooth, short coats, such as boxers. A combination of comb, slicker brush and bristle brush can be used with longhaired dogs. Stick to a slicker brush for canines with short and dense coat, such as that of a retriever.

And if you have a cat with a fine, short coat, try using a rubber brush to remove dead hair. Bristle brushes work best with long-haired cats, which should be groomed daily. Keep in mind that if your cat is not used to regular grooming, you may need to take it slow. Start with short grooming sessions and wear protective gloves.

Try to use short, firm strokes when grooming your dog or cat. In order to remove more dead hair, it's a good idea to vigorously brush the fur against the lie of the coat. Don't forget to brush your pet's coat back into place, though.

Grooming sessions offer you an excellent opportunity to check for any problems with your pet's skin and coat. Do you notice any hair loss, redness, bumps or cuts? Be on the lookout for any parasites such as fleas or ticks.

Always call a veterinarian if you notice any bald patches or extremely excessive shedding. These can be symptoms of an underlying health problem, such as a thyroid imbalance, ringworm, skin infections, stress, mange, and cancer.

Pet Lovers Special

BringYourPet.com has joined forces with Mountain Cabin Rentals to offer you a great weekend special on their beautiful cabin, Jewel of the Smokies. Rent this gorgeous three bedroom cabin anytime between 2/21/07 - 2/25/07, and receive $100 off your total rent and your pet fee waived.

To view this cabin, please visit: http://www.bringyourpet.com/lodging/tn/tn100.htm

Please mention code BYP100JS when booking this cabin.

New Book Helps Hotels Increase Profits by Becoming Pet Friendly

Due to the demand for accurate, actionable information about becoming a pet friendly hotel, BringYourPet.com recently released the book, "Making Your Property Pet Friendly: A How-To Guide."

"Making Your Property Pet Friendly: A How-To Guide" escorts readers through the process of becoming pet friendly from beginning to end. Months of research, hours of interviews and miles of fieldwork with current pet friendly properties helped to shape this essential how-to guide that is the backbone of any pet friendly program...

Follow this link:
http://www.bringyourpet.com/pfguide.htm

"Making Your Property Pet Friendly: A How-To Guide" is available in hardcopy and downloadable version.

Property Spotlight - L'Enfant Plaza Hotel

Welcome to the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, one of the Capital's most prestigious hotel addresses. Named for Washington's premier city planner, Pierre Charles L'Enfant, the hotel sits in the midst of the Plaza and offers a stately and gracious sense of arrival for guests.

A stay at the Inn at Schoolhouse Creek will be a vacation your pet will appreciate. We have a pet welcome basket and Frisbee waiting for you upon arrival.

Animal House Shelter is a no-kill and not-for-profit shelter that rescues and finds homes for animals from animal control facilities where they would otherwise be put down due to lack of space or lack of adoptions. Animal House Shelter believes in giving all animals the chance at finding a perfect forever home, no matter how long it may take. The shelter prides themselves on going above and beyond in their rescue and medical care; often taking on animals that other shelters would put down or reject due to physical or emotional damage.

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Pause for Paws!

BringYourPet.com Affiliated Animal Welfare Charities