Ahh, spring. The trees are budding, the daffodils are blooming … and your pet is shedding.

Spring doesn't have to mean clumps of fur around the house, says Val Penstone, Director of Grooming for Best Friends Pet Resorts and Salons. With a little extra attention to grooming, you can cut down on the mess of shedding and keep your pets' skin and coat healthy and insect-free.

Penstone, who has more than 35 years experience in the professional grooming industry, and has been winner and judge at top grooming competitions, recommends that a grooming routine include the following:

• Brush and comb weekly, more often for pets with long hair. Even shorthaired breeds manage to cover clothes, rugs and furniture with hair. But shedding can be reduced significantly with proper grooming. Use a conditioning and untangling spray before brushing, for your pet's comfort,. After systematically brushing through the coat, use a professional steel-pinned comb to make sure that all the knots and shedding hair have been removed.
• Shampoo regularly to keep shedding and allergies under control. Furthermore, many coats thrive on a monthly routine of shampoo plus conditioning. Use only a shampoo formulated specifically for pets because animals have a different skin pH than people. Always follow with a conditioning rinse. Your groomer can recommend the right products for your pet.
• Do a health check. Brushing and combing is a good time to give your dog a health exam. Check the skin for sores, ticks and fleas. Make sure the inside of the ears are clean and odor-free. Ideally the nails should just touch the ground as your pet walks. If nails are too long, clip them back immediately after shampooing, while they are still soft.
• Start flea and tick controls. Now is the time to begin a prevention program to protect your pet against fleas and ticks. Your vet or groomer can recommend the product that's best for your pet.

Don't expect to be able to brush out a longhaired dog if you neglected to groom him all winter. It is extremely difficult for most pet owners to brush out a matted coat, and expensive to have a professional groomer do so, if it can be done. A better choice may be to clip under the tangles and start again, this time brushing regularly. But remember, hair is protection from heat and insects. Keep the animal out of the sun until some length has grown back.

If your pet is shedding heavily, consider a trip to the salon. " Professional grooming that includes massage bathing and conditioning followed by drying with specialized equipment will loosen large quantities of shedding hair - and leave them on the salon floor instead of on your carpets and furniture," says Penstone.

A regular grooming routine is important to your pet's good health, says Penstone. "It also strengthens the bond between you and your pet."

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