grooming

It's like a car wash for your dogs! Let me explain. The Hydrosurge RapidBath ($80) attaches to a faucet and then combines water, air, and your pup's fave shampoo to all stream out the same time. Not only does this simplify the typical elaborate endeavor of wetting, adding soap, and lathering them up, but there are massaging jets to pamper your pals in the process. Plus, it's totally less messy because you have one hand to hold the dog and one to hold the unit. The total set also includes an indoor/outdoor hose, shower adapter and that bonus "Paw Monster" cleaning tool for their yucky feet. Lucky dogs and lucky you!

I've definitely heard conflicting advice when it comes to dealing with cat allergies. While some recommend washing a pet to reduce the amount of allergens released into the air, others say that bathing will cause her to lick herself more . . . thus increasing the amount of allergy-causing saliva on her coat. Since coaxing a cat into a tub doesn't sound like fun no matter what, here are two other ways to combat this problem.
While having someone comb your pet frequently and properly dispose of the hair is a good way to limit the flying fur on your furniture, taking a damp micro fiber cloth and rubbing down the cat's coat can help get rid of visible dander and pick up stray hairs, too.

To hear of the product to apply straight to the coat, read more

Meet Lucy. The Basset Hound mix has the trademark droopy ears but she also has another not-so-adorable addition (or, in this case, loss) – her hair. The pooch has been experiencing extreme skin irritation and itching over the past year.
Her owner writes:

The vet has diagnosed Lucy's problem as bacterial but the shampoos and pills I have been given to help the problem have not worked. We give her allergy pills from the vet both morning and night hoping this will help her, yet she continues to bite and scratch. This problem is only on her underside and legs – she is losing hair and I know she is just miserable! Has anyone had this problem with their dog or can you offer suggestions to help her feel better?

Q: I notice flakes when I brush my beautiful black Persian – what should I do?

A: Don't you just wish they made Head and Shoulders for cats?! Well, actually I'm not even positive they still make it for people but those commercials sure stuck in my head ("You're head and shoulders above the rest!"). All joking aside, before I talk about treatment I want to make sure that you don't also notice scabs or crusting on your kitties' fur because that can be a sign of insufficient fat in her diet or a more serious skin condition.

Vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids are essential to healthy coats in dogs and cats. Checking a label for these nutrients is the first step, and the next is offering supplements that can improve the metabolism of fats in the skin's tissue. Find out what simple adjustment you can make your pet's diet when you read more.

If there is one guarantee in life (well, besides death and taxes), it's that your dog is gonna get dirty. . . and stinky. And, when you're a puppy, everything is new – it's totally fun (for him) to roll around in whatever's lying on the ground, which equals some serious bath time. With all the pet shampoos on the shelves, wading through the good and bad can be tough. But Sugar staffer LilPeaPod says there's at least one that she can count on: Earthbath:

I did tons of research before getting Samson, and even considered making my own shampoo. But, when I came back down to earth and realized I didn't have that much time, I went on the hunt for a natural brand. After talking with my local shop owner, I settled on Earthbath.

To see why she loves it, just read more

The final product of my Get the Grooming Goods series is the Love Glove ($13) (pardon the name). This grooming glove removes a furry friend's loose hair and debris while you are gently petting him . . . something you'd be doing anyway, right?! The soft rubber tips massage his skin, stimulating natural oils and making it easier to get at those normally hard-to-reach spots like legs, bellies, and tails.

It's not just for your pet, though! Learn where else you can use this product when you read more