If your pets look like either of these….

….you can probably pass on reading this post. But if you have a pet with hair (gerbils, hamster and other rodents not included…*shiver*…) you will want to keep reading.

I was recently sent a FURminator grooming tool to try from the fantastic people at FURminator. I was very excited to try this product, and only a week before we received it, we had run out to make an “emergency” trip to our local vet for one on a Saturday afternoon only to find out they had already closed. Simon, our golden retriever had some knots in his fur and was shedding like he never has before and we needed a solution.

What is a FURminator?
FURminator is actually a brand name for a line of professional deShedding products. They carry tools (brushes), shampoos and solutions, and treats and supplements. All of their products aim is to reduce your dogs shedding.

What does the FURminator deShedding tool do?
The FURminator deSheding tool “reduces shedding up to 90 percent by removing the loose, dead undercoat without damaging the topcoat.”

From the website:

• Guaranteed to reduce shedding better than any brush, comb or rake
• Works great on all shedding, long and short-haired dogs and cats
• Brings out the pet’s natural oils, promoting healthier skin and a shiny topcoat
• Reduces the amount of airborne elements that cause allergic reactions in many people
• Helps to eliminate hairballs in cats

How does the FURminator deShedding tool work?
You use it like you would any other brush, comb or rake. Below is a demo video showing the tool being used on a large dog.

Below is a photo from the FURminator website showing the actual hair removed during a single use of the the tool.

What animals can I use the FURminator deShedding tool on?
From cats all the way up to horses, they make a FURminator deShedding tool that is just the right size for your pet.

My take on the FURminator deShedding tool:
I was sent a “large deShedding tool” which has a 4″ wide deShedding edge and is appropriate for large dogs, which Simon certainly qualifies as!

Here are a couple of photos of Simon before he was “FURminated.” It’s hard to tell because I didn’t take a close-up but he was pretty rough and had knots around his ears.

Simon likes to be brushed. He’s pretty good about sitting still and seems to enjoy it. Brushing him with the FURminator was different. He actually looked a little drunk he enjoyed it so much. Here are some photos during brushing…look at his face!

I made the mistake of using the FURminator in the house. Don’t do that. With Abby crawling around it was just easier for me, but the incredible amount of fur this thing removes just makes it impossible to clean all of it up. I brushed Simon for maybe 10 minutes and that included working on the matting and knots around his ears. He gets them all the time. The FURminator actually removed the knots without pain and with little effort. For the first time, I didn’t need to cut them out, even though some were tight to his skin.

Below are some photos showing Simon after I finished. I did take him outside later and removed a ton more hair. Our lawn looked like it was growing fur, it was covered in it! But even after just the 10 minutes in the house Simon’s fur was not only softer, it looked shiner and brighter than it ever had before.

After using the FURminator deShedding tool we noticed a significant decrease in the amount of hair left on our carpet. Abby is usually the indicator. If she’s got dog hair stuck to her slimey hands and face, we know Simon is shedding a lot. I used to have to vacuum every day and now only vacuum every other day. I could push it to twice a week, but with Abby spending much of her time on the floor, I prefer to vacuum more frequently in general.

Where to buy:
You can buy FURminator products nationwide at PETCO and PetSmart, and there are likely other places to buy them locally in your area as well. You can use the “where to buy” tab on the FURminator website for more information.

You can also buy them online at Amazon.com: FURminator products on Amazon.

Not only did FURminator send a deShedding tool for me to use, they sent 5 (yes, FIVE) more for me to give away to our readers.

5 lucky readers will each win a medium size professional FURminator deShedding tool. The medium size is good for long & short haired dogs and cats, and is versatile enough for most sizes. If you have a particularly small pet, it might be a bit too big and if you have a particularly large pet, it might take you a bit longer to brush them, but it should still be effective.

The medium size FURminator sells for anywhere from it’s retail price of $49.95 to under $30 on various places across the web.

How to enter:
To enter to win your very own FURminator, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post telling me who the FURminator would be for. For example, “I want to win a FURminator to use on my 150 lb Mastiff dog named Fifi.” Please include type of animal (cat or dog), breed if a dog (if mixed, you can just say “mixed”) and the animal’s name. If it would be for a friend or family member, that is fine, just tell me a little about their pet.

REMEMBER: your entry will only count if you include the following:
*Type (Cat or dog)
*Breed (if known)
*Pet’s name

Earn additional entries:
You can earn additional entries for each of the following activities:
*SUBSCRIBE to our emails (or be subscribed already): subscribe
*BLOG about this giveaway
*ADD our Virtual Baby Shower button to your site (grab it from upper left sidebar)

Please leave separate comments for EACH additional entry in order from them to be counted.

Giveaway will end at NOON on Tuesday September 2nd.

5 winners will be chosen at random from all the qualified entries.

Open to USA and Canada.

Check these out too:

1. FURminator deShedding tool giveaway winners!
2. We are dog people!
3. ENDED Pledge Fabric Sweeper for Pet Hair – review and GIVEAWAY
4. Lansinoh, beyond breastfeeding – review and GIVEAWAY