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My dog is shedding excessively. What causes it and how can I help?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Golden Retriever | Female | unspayed | 8 months and 2 days old | 45 lbs

Luna is shedding a lot. Why might be the reason? What can I do to help reduce this?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on October 9th, 2018

Shedding excessively can have many reasons: 1) change of seasons...your dog sheds his summer hair to get a winter coat (this will depend on your climate) 2) food quality is not adequate 3) ectoparasites such as mange mites, demodex mites, fleas, ticks, etc. itch and the dog scratches excessively and loses a lot of hair 4) some dogs naturally shed more than others. 5) hormonal changes, e.g. your dog comes into heat. Females will shed their hair coat
You can do the following:
1) feed a good quality complete commercial puppy food for large dogs
2) Check for ectoparasites and treat for them if present
3) Brush or comb your dog every day
This should minimize the shedding.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Laura Johnson VMD
Veterinarian
Hi, thanks for using PetCoach!

Due to her age she could be shedding her puppy coat. Shedding is normal and occurs based on the hair cycle. It can also be exacerbated by the season or weather. You can try an Omega 3 fish oil and frequent brushing to see if it helps. As long as she isn’t scratching excessively or has areas of hair loss it is likely normal.

Have a good day

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1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on November 27th, 2018
Shedding excessively can have many reasons: 1) change of seasons...your dog sheds his summer hair to get a winter coat (this will depend on your climate) 2) food quality is not adequate 3) ectoparasites such as mange mites, demodex mites, fleas, ticks, etc. itch and the dog scratches excessively and loses a lot of hair 4) some dogs naturally shed more than others. 5) hormonal changes, e.g. your dog comes into heat. Females will shed their hair coat
You can do the following:
1) feed a good quality complete commercial puppy food for large dogs
2) Check for ectoparasites and treat for them if present
3) Brush or comb your dog every day
This should minimize the shedding.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Related Questions

Food & Nutrition

What dog food should I give my puppy to help with excessive shedding?

Most likely, you will not be able to prevent shedding, especially if your dog is a larger breed with a double coat, such as a Labrador Retriever, or German Shepherd Dog. Feed you dog the highest quality dog food you can afford and make sure to get one that is appropriate for his current life stage, puppy, adult, mature. If he is shedding excessively, this could indicate some kind of skin condition that should be examined by your veterinarian so that it can be diagnosed and treated.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my puppy shedding excessively and losing so much hair?

I am sorry to hear about your puppy. Many different things can cause hair loss, also known as alopecia, in dogs. Parasites of the skin such as mange mites and fleas can cause this. Bacterial or yeast infections of the skin can also be a cause, as well as some genetic disorders. I would recommend an examination at a veterinarian to determine the cause of the hairloss which will help guide treatment recommendations, which may include medication to treat for mange, antibiotics or medicated shampoos.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

Why is my dog shedding so much? Are there pills to prevent it?

Excessive shedding can have a multitude of reasons: It could be seasonal shedding as we are now in full-blown autumn and Sam may be shedding his coat and replacing it with a winter coat. He could also have a thyroid condition that is making him shed excessively. This can be diagnosed or ruled out easily via a blood test. Other reasons could be bad quality food, a lack of essential fatty acids, parasites or fungal/bacterial infections. Some dogs naturally shed more than others. If you think that the shedding is caused by something other than a seasonal change or fur I suggest you take Sam to your veterinarian for an exam. I am afraid there are no pills or vitamins to prevent excessive shedding. Brushing and feeding a good brand complete dog food for small dogs is the best treatment. Regular grooming (shaving) also will hep.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Help! My dog sheds too much. How can I reduce excessive dog shedding?

Hello, dogs are expected to shed their fur in excess at least 2 times per year. Other causes for excessive shedding include stress, inadequate diet, or diseases affecting the skin coat or hair growth. You may limit the amount of hair shed onto your environment by brushing Leo daily and ensuring his diet has is adequate (i.e he eats a balanced diet approved by AFFCO). Additionally, you can inquire about feeding Leo a diet with added essential fatty acids to promote skin health. If you feel that Leo is shedding excessively due to being stressed, anxious, or nervous you may talk to your veterinarian about medications to control his anxiety in addition to behavior modification training. Best of luck and hope this helps.

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Why is my dog's fur falling out in chunks and changing color?

It might just be normal shedding but it could also be caused by a medical condition. You could bathe him with a moisturizing dog shampoo, brush him and add an omega-3 supplement (Free Form Snip Tips) and see if that helps. The black spots could just be normal pigmentation of his skin. If the excessive shedding and spots continues then he should be examined by a vet to determine if there is a problem. Your vet can do some testing to help diagnose. He could have a skin infection, mites, flea allergy, hypothyroidism, etc.

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Food & Nutrition

Is my dog shedding too much? Could it be a diet or vitamin issue?

Excessive shedding is not likely due to a vitamin or mineral insufficiency if Tippy Toes eats a commercial dog food, but some dogs do seem to respond to a change in diet. It is also possible that she is a seasonal shedder and that this is normal for her. If she seems itchy or her skin is dry and flaky or red I would recommend seeing your veterinarian since some skin diseases can also cause excessive shedding. You could ask about recommended diets during your visit.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my dog shedding so heavily all of a sudden? Is it normal?

I understand how excessive shedding can be difficult to manage! Different breeds inherently have differences in their hair coats and can experience different degrees of shedding. Springtime is generally the time of year where dogs shed the heaviest, as they are ridding themselves of the additional hair grown to stay warmer through the winter months. Other factors, such as stress or endocrine/metabolic diseases (such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease) can also cause excessive shedding. However, at 1 year old, Popcorn is quite young to have developed these conditions. Last spring, Popcorn likely would have still had his more downy puppy coat and would have been less prone to a heavy degree of shedding. To more effectively manage shedding around the house, try to bathe Popcorn every 1-2 weeks and brush him daily. Some shedding tools, such as shedding blades or Furminators, can be helpful to remove excess undercoat, but use caution with these tools as they can cause bald areas or skin irritation if used too vigorously! I hope this helps! :-)

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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