March is officially springtime and that means spring cleaning and freshening things up for the longer and brighter days ahead.
This is the perfect opportunity to refresh all your pets’ paraphernalia, too. You can start by washing all pet bedding and throws. If beds have lost their support or are looking a bit shredded, now is a perfect time to shop for something new and take advantage of new styles and designs that are ultimately aimed at pet comfort.
The same goes for the toy box. Many toys are washable and can be placed in the washing machine on a delicate cycle. Those made from rubber and harder materials could probably do with a good soaking in a disinfectant. (This is something can you can do year-round.)
However, toys that are broken, especially if they have stuffing and squeakers inside them, should be thrown away and replaced. If your pet is particularly fond of a toy, it’s a really good idea to stock up so that you can replace regularly and keep the fun and games going in full swing.
This is also the time to check through your pet’s medications, supplements, and flea and tick products to ensure that they are still fresh and haven’t passed their expiration date. Also be sure to check that the packaging is properly sealed and thus safe to use.
PetArmor Plus kills fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, ticks and chewing lice for up to 30 days. Available for both dogs and cats, this product is an easy-to-use, fast-acting topical that has the same active ingredients as FRONTLINE Plus, but up to 40 percent less than vet prices!
Spring, in pet terms, also marks the start of the official shedding season to get rid of thick winter fur. Shedding is a normal and natural occurrence for cats and dogs. It’s how they remove dead hair from their bodies and maintain their coats in top condition (along with good nutrition, of course).
In the wild, members of the cat family shed twice a year — in the spring to get rid of thicker winter fur and in the fall to prepare for the grow in of the next winter’s thicker coat.
Shedding is largely influenced by daylight and, more specifically, by the number of hours a dog or cat is exposed to sunlight in a day. This is known as a photoperiod. Of course the amount a cat sheds will vary significantly from breed to breed.
You can speed things along with a de-shedding tool for dogs or cats and de-shedding shampoos. Another option is special alcohol-free wipes formulated specially for cats. Controlling shedding will also go a long way in keep your home looking spring cleaned, too!