There are a lot of different types of coats that our furry friends may sport. Long hair, short hair, coarse hair, fine hair, double coat, wiry coat…
So what’s the right brush for your pet?
Rubber brush
Not just a clever name. The brush and bristles are all made of soft, flexible rubber. This can be a fun addition to your pet’s bath routine — massage, work up a nice shampoo froth, and comb away loose hair. Good for both dogs AND cats… if you’re brave enough to give your cat a bath, that is. Rubber brushes work dry, too, and help spread natural skin oils around your pet’s coat.
Slicker brush
A slicker brush is made of stiff, stainless steel pins. But don’t worry, they’re not sharp! Slickers are another good all around brush — you may want to brush before bath time to minimize hair loss in the tub. And if your longer haired cat or dog tends to get mats in her fur, a slicker brush is a good choice to loosen the tangles.
Pin brush
You may have a pin brush in your own closet — stiff pins that are capped with rounded tips. These are good for dogs with medium length hair, or sensitive/ticklish skin — my Lally will stay still for a pin brush but not a slicker. Pin brushes work best on coats where there is slight matting, or better yet, no matting at all.
Shedding blade
A toothed loop of flexible metal that whisks away thick undercoats (and can also be used to squeegee water away after a bath!) Good for your thick, double-coated dogs — a shedding blade will help you manage the loose dead hair with ease. You might want to use this one outside instead of in the house, because it really sends the hair flying!
Comb
On long haired breeds especially, a comb is good for untangling the worst mats. And if you’re not using some kind of pest prevention, you may need a flea comb to remove the buggies and their eggs from your pet’s skin and fur.
Not sure what’s the best type of brush for your pet? Ask your vet or your groomer… or just try out brushes and see which one your furry friend likes the best!
Aimee
PS — Moosie says there’s no such thing as a bad brush, he loves them all!