Pet Tracks 
PETS NEED SPRING CLEANING, TOO
with Jan Jaeger
Ah, yes! Wasn't this past weekend weather grand? The muchdeserved and long-awaited break in the seemingly endless abominable weather finally arrived, and there was talk of little else at the shop. At home, I was so thrilled to throw open the windows and doors for a revitalizing breath of fresh air. Without doubt, I am ready to put away the bulky jackets and dig out the shorts. I am motivated to find the porch furniture and dust off the cushions and schedule spring cleaning tasks and get after the garden.

But, wait! I can't get overbooked before considering my pets' needs for a spring cleaning regime too. Usually the first thing pet owners notice after a weather change is profuse shedding of coat. Now is an excellent time to begin regular grooming sessions to control excess hair in the house. This is a perfect task to do outside on a beautiful day so that the loose hair can blow away with the breeze.

Give your pet a head-to-toe brushing with the popular slicker wire brush, the extremely effective looped shedding blade or the close-toothed Furminator tool to remove tons of dry undercoat. Not only does regular grooming eliminate most of that loose hair, it also cleans and lubricates the coat, which usually results in less shedding. This is also an excellent time to evaluate your pet's general condition, noting scabs, lumps or skin problems which might warrant a trip to the veterinarian.

Don't forget to check ears and nails while you are working with your pet. Squeeze out excess hydrogen peroxide, or a commercial liquid ear cleaner, from a cotton ball, then gently rub around the inside of the ear canal to clean. Carefully trim nails by just snipping off the ends, being aware not to slice into the pink live quick, which hurts and also bleeds profusely.

Inside the house, remove unwanted pet hair from the furniture by wiping with a finely textured sponge or a sticky roller designed for that purpose or by swiping the surfaces while wearing a damp rubber glove. Use a black light to locate old pet stains on furniture, carpeting, floors or along baseboards and then drench these spots with an enzymatic cleaner to eliminate sources of unpleasant odors in your house. Consider buying some inexpensive slipcovers in bright colors or attractive patterns to provide a simple but quick decorating lift. Slipcovers are practical and easily cleaned, always a plus when you live with animals.

Take a look at your pet's dishes. Over the winter, metal dishes can lose their luster and become dented, plastic dishes can become scratched, providing places that harbor bacteria, and ceramic dishes crack and chip. Maybe your spring facelift should include some attractive new dishes for your pet that also add zing to your décor.

Collars, once put on, usually stay on, sometimes for much longer than they should. Collars get dirty, smelly and nasty. They absorb oils from the coat, mud and debris will cling to them, and if your dog goes in the water, they can stay wet, unpleasant and irritating. As a minimum, the collar should be washed regularly in the machine, but collars today are so attractive and inexpensively priced, it's difficult not to have a wardrobe for each season. See what's new for spring.

While you're checking out the condition of the collar, examine your pet tags. Are they rendered illegible with scratches and dents? Have any phone numbers or addresses changed? Then a shiny new tag makes a snappy accompaniment to that new collar.

If your dog has been drooling on the same old bed all winter, as a minimum, it needs a trip to the washing machine. Or maybe that puppy-size bed you got last fall has gotten a little too small. Freshen your dog's bed by replacing the stuffing or replacing the cover, or just start over with something new, perhaps with a cushy bed that is a visual treat in a color or fabric that complements your decorating scheme.

Toys get loved on for a long time, and a review of the toy basket will cull out those that are irreparable or those that, for whatever reason, are ignored. Many toys can be rejuvenated by a trip through the washing machine (I use Oxy-Clean along with laundry detergent when washing all my pet accoutrements). Any discarded toys in good condition would be greatly appreciated by the MSPCA/Nantucket Animal Shelter residents.

Everyone feels better when surrounded by a clean and comfortable environment and our pets are no exception. As you enjoy your spring makeover, your pet will have a fresh and happy springtime home as well if you can incorporate some of the

above ideas in your plans. I

Jan Jaeger is owner of Geronimo's, Ltd., Nantucket's pet supply and gift shop, and is a member of DWAA and CWA (Dog and Cat Writer's Associations of America). Her pets at home are Junior, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and three cats. At the shop are the cats, Messrs. Fish and Chips, Flower bunny, Willie guinea pig and two budgies. Send e-mail to jan@geronimos.com