Coastal Pet Products Brush Review

Grooming plays a key role in pet care. Long-haired pets need frequent grooming to prevent matted fur, while even short-haired pets can benefit from regular grooming to reduce shedding. Effective grooming not only keeps the coat healthy, but it can also promote skin health, support the skin’s barrier function, and reduce the likelihood of hairballs in cats. At-home grooming tools, including those distributed by Coastal Pet Products, play a key role in home care that supports professional grooming. 

In this review, we will examine two at-home grooming tools by Coastal Pet Products: Safari by Coastal Self-Cleaning Shed Magic for Cats and Safari by Coastal Dual-Sided Dog Shedding Blade. The goal of this review is to evaluate the safety and clinical relevance of these grooming tools, while also assessing their performance in a real-world setting on dogs and cats in their home environment. 

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Product Overview

These two tools by Coastal Pet Products have unique purposes: one is designed for undercoat removal in cats with longer hair, while the other is designed as a shedding blade for dogs (similar to what is used in horses). At-home dog grooming tools and at-home cat grooming tools play a key role in skin and coat health for pets. 

The Safari Self-Cleaning Shed Magic for Cats is designed for simple and effective grooming of cats, especially those with dense or long coats. This brush features a gentle stainless-steel blade, designed to remove heavy undercoat while minimizing skin irritation. The textured grip is designed for human comfort, allowing you to hold the brush comfortably while also petting and reassuring the cat. Finally, this de-shedding tool has a self-cleaning feature. Moving a small switch on the back of the brush retracts the blade into a plastic guard, sliding accumulated pet hair off the blade so brushing can continue. This feature allows you to easily deposit removed hair into a small pile, simplifying cleanup.

The Safari Dual-Sided Dog Shedding Blade is designed to promote shedding in dogs. This shedding blade includes a ridged stainless-steel blade with two sides. One side of the blade has smaller teeth, spaced closer together, while the other side has larger teeth. The shedding blade also has handles on both sides, which can be held separately or connected to allow for single-handed use. This is convenient for use and also allows the shedding blade to be adapted for use on larger vs. smaller areas of the pet. 

Key Benefits & Features

These tools from Coastal Products offer a number of benefits for pets and their families:

• The gentle designs of both grooming tools help to minimize skin trauma, allowing effective hair removal without aggravating sensitive skin or other dermatologic conditions. 
• Both tools have ergonomic handles, making their use simple and convenient for pet owners. This encourages consistent use, making grooming a regular part of the human-animal bond. 
• The Safari Self-Cleaning Shed Magic for Cats effectively removes the undercoat of long-haired cats. This reduces the likelihood of hairballs, while also reducing the allergen load carried by the cat.
• The Safari Dual-Sided Dog Shedding Blade effectively removes loose hair from dogs, reducing shedding debris in the home. This makes housekeeping easier, while also offering benefits in homes where human residents may have dog allergies. 

How to Use Them Safely & Effectively

Safe and effective grooming requires conscious attention to grooming technique. Following these simple steps can help ensure that grooming is safe, comfortable, and effective for dogs and cats. 

General grooming guidelines:

• Pets should be groomed in a calm, comfortable environment.
• Use positive reinforcement, rewarding your pet to keep them interested instead of relying on forceful or aggressive restraint. 
• Work your way up to grooming gradually. First, allow your pet to sniff the grooming tools before use. Next, take one or two strokes with the grooming tool and reward your pet with treats and/or praise. Gradually build up to full grooming over several sessions, staying within your pet’s comfort zone to keep the experience positive.
• Brush in the direction of your pet’s hair growth, from head to tail. Use caution with sensitive areas, such as the belly, legs, and face. 
• Monitor your pet for signs of skin irritation or discomfort during and after grooming. If you notice any skin irritation, pause and reassess your technique. If your pet’s skin stays irritated after grooming, contact your veterinarian.
• Integrate grooming into your pet’s regular weekly schedule to prevent mat formation and minimize shedding.
• Clean at-home dog grooming tools and at-home cat grooming tools after use to ensure that the tools have a long working life. Remove hair from the tools and wipe the blades after grooming.

Tips for using at-home cat grooming tools, such as the Safari Self-Cleaning Shed Magic for Cats:

• Check for mats and tangles first. The Shed Magic may catch on mats, causing discomfort for your cat. If mats are present, they should be removed with clippers or removed by a veterinarian. Never use scissors to clip mats; they often extend all the way to the skin. Cutting mats with scissors can result in lacerations to your cat’s skin.
• Use short, gentle strokes to keep your cat relaxed and comfortable.
• Avoid applying excessive pressure near your cat’s skin. Excessive pressure can cause skin irritation or damage.

Tips for using at-home dog grooming tools, such as the Safari Dual-Sided Dog Shedding Blade:

• When grooming a large area, such as the back or sides of a large dog, hold the handles apart for a large blade area.
• When grooming a small area, such as the limbs, hold the handles together.  
• Avoid sensitive regions, such as the ears, face, and belly, until your dog is completely comfortable with the use of the shedding blade. 

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Coastal Pet Products have high-quality stainless-steel blades, which maximize durability and effectiveness.
• The ergonomic design makes these grooming tools comfortable to hold and manipulate, supporting at-home use by pet owners and in-hospital use by members of the veterinary team.
• Unique products are clearly adapted for a variety of coat types (dog vs. cat), coat lengths, and pet sizes. 
• Regular grooming supports pet health, minimizing mats, shedding, and hairballs while promoting better coat condition. 

Cons:

• As with any grooming tool, owner compliance and technique will dictate results, not just tool quality.
• Owners who have not used a shedding blade may need some practice to be comfortable handling this tool. 

Practical Use Scenario

I used the Safari Self-Cleaning Shed Magic and the Safari Dual-Sided Dog Shedding Blade on my pets at home. 

I started with Penny, my cat, using the Safari Self-Cleaning Shed Magic. She has historically enjoyed being brushed with a slicker brush but was finicky with other types of brushes. I was surprised to find that she was very tolerant of the Shed Magic, compared to other de-shedding tools we have tried in the past. After sniffing the brush and investigating, she allowed me to brush her back and sides readily, gradually working my way up to brushing her head, neck, and legs. My daughter and I took turns brushing Penny, and she enjoyed the attention and readily asked for further brushing. 

Next, I used the Safari Dual-Sided Dog Shedding Blade on my dog, Toby. He is an anxious dog, and he does not tend to enjoy grooming. I was eager to try a shedding blade to see if he would tolerate it better. Also, I have used shedding blades on horses, so I was comfortable with the product’s use; I like the fact that you can clip the handles together for something resembling a traditional brush, or you can separate them to cover a larger surface area. I began by letting Toby sniff and investigate the shedding blade. 

His immediate response was to lay down on the ground for belly rubs (as he does with any sort of affection or attention!), allowing me easy access to brush his sides and belly. Large amounts of hair came out with both sides of the shedding blade, and he showed no signs of discomfort. In fact, he periodically would get up, run around the yard for a minute, and come right back to lay down at my feet for more brushing. My daughter was also able to brush him without any struggle. 

These grooming tools were easy to use. Both removed large quantities of hair in a short amount of time, which will limit my pets’ shedding in our home. Both grooming tools were comfortable for me as a pet owner, and my pets also showed that both were comfortable on their coat and skin. Overall, these grooming tools exceeded my expectations. 

Final Verdict: Are These Tools Worth Recommending?

These tools from Coastal Pet Products were effective and easy to use, while also being reasonably priced. Their ease of use and ergonomic designs made grooming simple, making at-home grooming easy to do on a regular basis. Additionally, both products are designed in such a way that they are comfortable for pets, when used correctly. Safari grooming tools can play a valuable role in promoting coat and skin health for dogs and cats.