FURminator® Relieves Spring Cleaning Blues and Seasonal Allergies

ST. LOUIS, March 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As winter months draw to a close, most consumers are eager to celebrate warmer weather by sprucing up their households and leaving behind colds and flus. Pet owners who want their homes, families, friends and pets to look better and be healthier rely on FURminator® products to reduce shedding when they tackle spring cleaning and allergies.

Although pet shedding occurs all year, it is typically heavier in spring because the pet's winter coat is progressively replaced for a lighter summer coat. Using a FURminator deShedding Tool at home a few minutes once a week keeps shedding under control. Designed by a professional groomer, and used and recommended by veterinarians, FURminator tools reduce shedding up to 90% by reaching deep beneath the long topcoat to gently remove undercoat and loose hair.

With regular grooming, that hair goes into the trash can instead of on your floors, furniture and clothes.  (Note:  A typical Labrador retriever sheds approximately 70 lbs. of hair each year, so regular grooming is definitely recommended!)

Shedding can also impact the health of family members and friends. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, from 15 to 30 percent of people with allergies have allergic reactions to cats and dogs. People with pet allergies have supersensitive immune systems that react to harmless proteins in a pet's dander (dead skin that is shed), which are called allergens. Pet hair, while not an allergen, can collect dander and harbor other allergens like dust and pollen. Grooming your pet with a FURminator deShedding Tool, can alleviate these potential problems.

Roger Yount, FURminator Vice President of Marketing, points out that cat hairballs not only cause messes but are also health risks. "Up to 2/3 of a cat's shed hair can be ingested as they self-groom. These loose hairs can pack together in a cat's stomach and form a hairball. In most cases, the cat will need to vomit to force out the hairball, which is not good for the cat or household. If hairballs are not spit out, they may block the passage of food in the stomach or become impacted, requiring surgery to remove the blockage. With very little time and effort, pet owners can relieve themselves of the mess of loose fur and hairball worries."

With customized products for a pet's specific hair length, size and life stage, the FURminator product line features deShedding Tools (MSRP $34.99 to $72.99), My FURst Groomer™ brush and comb sets for puppies and kittens (MRSP $34.99), and shampoos, conditioners, hair care and hygiene solutions (MSRP $8.99 to $14.99).

No other brush, rake or comb on the market removes loose hair as quickly or thoroughly as a FURminator deShedding Tool. With FURminator's help, you'll spend less time cleaning and can take advantage of much more fun springtime activities.

FURminator products are sold at pet specialty stores, professional pet groomers, veterinary practices and rescue organizations across the United States, and are also available online at www.FURminator.com.

About FURminator:

FURminator Inc. enhances relationships between pet owners and their pets with effective and easy-to-use pet grooming products. Based in metropolitan St. Louis, FURminator was founded in 2002 by husband and wife team David and Angela Porter. Sold at national pet retailers, the company's products are available to consumers nationwide and distributed through professional pet groomers, veterinary practices and rescue organizations across the United States, and are also available for purchase online or through professional and consumer catalogs. For more information on FURminator, visit www.FURminator.com.

SOURCE FURminator Inc.