GMA Thursday: Dr. Becker’s tips on taming the shed monster
By Pet Connection Staff
June 3, 2009
Our Dr. Marty Becker on ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America” Thursday (June 4). In a segment called “Shedding Solutions,” Dr. Becker will talk about the three C’s: how to cut back, collect and contain pet hair. With a combination of time-tested methods and incredible new products, you won’t find your house fur-free, but you probably won’t be wearing your pet to work
I’m fostering an Angora rabbit. Things are beyond hopeless here in the fur department.
Comment by Mary Mary — June 3, 2009 @ 5:23 pm
Do they shed all the time or is it a seasonal thing?
Comment by Susan Fox — June 3, 2009 @ 5:29 pm
Angora rabbits (or so I was told by a local expert I was blessed to find!) are supposed to be plucked by hand regularly to get the “wool” out. Their fur grows very fast.
The problem with my foster rabbit is the matting. It’s like … I don’t know. Silly putty in a Brillo pad. I have cut her fur very short but she panics if I turn her over, so I’m having a tough time with the mats on her abdomen.
She is an old lady with very bad back legs. Yet, when my back was turned this morning, she quietly climbed the stairs to the second floor.
Good girl!
Comment by Mary Mary — June 3, 2009 @ 5:59 pm
We ended up with 2 long haired cats and a med-long haired dog and none of this happened on purpose. We have a TINY place. Lots of vacuuming and the Furminator combined with two other brushes. As well as some buzz cuts for the dog in the summer and when we didn’t have AC, for the cats in the summer as well. Yikes. Their first “lion cut” was pretty amusing though. And they felt so much better. My favorite part were the moon boots.
Comment by Amy — June 3, 2009 @ 9:28 pm
OK third time is the charm. (my comments are being eaten for some reason)
Some rabbit breeds are pluckable and some aren’t. I am a spinner and used to have rescue angoras. If I remember correctly English, French and Some German hybrids are pluckable while the Giants and Germans are clipable.
Make sure you are feeding plenty of hay to angora rabbits to prevent woolblock, a rabbit version of a hairball. Because rabbits are physically unable to vomit woolblock can be fatal.
Try laying her on your lap (legs) with her head towards your stomach. This is a very stable position for both of you and most rabbits feel safer cradled between the legs. Try it a few times before you use it in a grooming session.
Rabbit skin is very thin so be sure to keep your fingers between her fur and the scissors. They cut easily. If you gently pull any mats apart before cutting that helps. (I had a few rescues that came to me very matted so I got good at removing them.) For pluckable breeds pulling them apart makes them easier to pluck as well.
If the lap position doesn’t work try having her on a table and gently pull the mats over to the side to work on them. Or have a helper hold her in a sitting up position while you trim her belly.
For those that want to wear their pet to work there are spinners who can make the fur into yarn. Google vip fibers for one commercial spinner who does it. (maybe adding the link was what got my previous comments booted?) Dog fur makes wonderful yarn. I am about to spin my first cat fur soon. (saved from the vet clinic cat after getting his own lion cut)
I hope the rabbit info helps. Good luck!
Comment by Marie — June 4, 2009 @ 4:13 am
Has anyone tried the new Andis Power De-Shedder (like a Furminator with a battery to vibrate it - presumably, to free up even more of the loose coat)?
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 4, 2009 @ 5:06 am
GMA doesn’t make it easy to find his clip. Is there one?
Comment by kb — June 4, 2009 @ 6:11 pm