Help! My Dog’s Shedding Like Crazy!

It’s shedding season, and all of you with dogs that shed know it, because there is dog hair everywhere in your home! It seems to happen suddenly and with no warning. You find yourself vacuuming and sweeping up after your dog nonstop, with no end in sight. So what can you do? Well first lets talk about why and when your dog sheds. Then we’ll talk about how you can manage it.

Why a Dog Sheds

You all know the most common reason for shedding, and that’s when your dog’s sheds his/her heavy winter coat in the spring. There are a few other reasons dogs shed:

Adult females that are unaltered shed when in heat. Puppies shed their puppy coat for their adult coat. Stress. Yes, just as humans can lose hair when stressed, so too, do dogs. Dry skin or a damaged coat. Dogs that are bathed frequently or with a heavy detergent-based shampoo may get dried out and lose the natural fatty acids that help maintain a healthy and conditioned coat. Dogs with a medical condition, such as sarcoptic mange or a yeast infection will lose hair.

Keeping Your Dogs Shedding in Check

Lets focus on the common causes of shedding, as they are can all be treated at home using similar methods without the aid of a vet or dog groomer. Keep in mind that seasonal shedding cannot be eliminated – it’s a natural process that no drug or treatment can stop. But you can do a few things to keep it to a minimum so that you and your dog can live harmoniously during his/her shedding period.

Mark your calendar! Shedding is much easier to control when you know its coming and you are prepared. Think of it like preparing for any season. A snowstorm is much less stressful if you’ve got everything you need should you be snowed in, right? So start checking for the signs of shedding by giving your pup a good coat rub. You will know by the amount of fall out that the glorious season of shedding has begun. Carve time out everyday to brush your dogs coat. 5 minutes or less should do it for most dogs. Concentrate on the back, sides, chest and particularly the hindquarters. No time for brushing? Give your kids (or the neighborhood kids) an incentive by giving them extra Xbox or TV time for the one who can brush out the most hair. But by all means, do it outdoors – after all, its the indoor hair that’s driving you nuts! Use the proper brush. A bristle brush is not going to do much good on a dog with an undercoat. Bristle brushes are best for use on short coats. Use a coat rake on really long coats (but be careful of the pressure you use), or a pin head brush (your dog groomer can recommend one that will work best on your dog’s coat). Give your dog a good massage using a rubber curry brush at least once a week. The rubbing will not only relax your dog, it will remove a lot of the hair without the risk of over-brushing and damaging the skin. Bath and condition your dogs coat once a week before and during shedding season. Note: be sure to use a conditioning shampoo in addition to a conditioning treatment following the shampoo. Those that are best are the ones that contain Omega3 and 6 Fatty acids. There are also supplements on the market that can be added to your dogs food that contain these acids and vitamins A and E are good for promoting a healthy coat. Use a de-shedding treatment. There are many on the market that make it easier remove dead hair. Step up your visits to the groomer. If you don’t have time to bath & brush your dog, cutting the coat very short will lesson a lot of the shedding. Your groomer can also provide a good de-shedding treatment along with your regular groom at a minimal charge.

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