Is my dog's heavy shedding normal, or could it be Rainrot skin?

Dogs typically have a heavy shed in the spring and fall, but they do lose hair all year. Brushing daily to remove the dead hair helps, and giving a fatty acid supplement for the skin and coat will reduce the shedding. This is normal unless you are seeing bald spots or Rex is chewing off the hair. During times of stress they often shed more, like going to the veterinarian. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

Thank you for asking the question. The picture is difficult to tell if the hair loss is concentrated in one location or if it through out. Occasionally dogs will have a major shed, especially at the change of seasons. However, skin infection, ringworm, mites, thyroid disease, as well as a skin disorder called pemphigus that is often seen in shepherds are all possibilities of extreme hair loss. I am more concerned if there is any patchy areas of hair loss, crusting of the skin, thick dandruff, or other skin changes. If this continues or if you see any of these skin symptoms I would highly encourage you to have Rita evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

All dogs start their seasonal shed at different times. If the hair and skin underneath looks normal then I am less worried. However, if there are bald spots, crusting, red skin, or itchiness then Woody should be seen by your veterinarian. With his breed I imagine he has some major thick fur to shed at this time of year. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Benelly is having fur issues. What you are describing can be due to a variety of reasons, including a skin infection (from getting so wet), mats or tangles in the fur, or another underlying issue. I would recommend having him evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine if there is an underlying skin infection, as well as to have the areas shaved to remove any mats or debris. Good luck!

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.

From what I can see on the photos, your dog looks healthy and to be of normal weight, However, it would be best to have two more photos, one of him standing up from the side and one from above so I can see the length and width of his back. Now that it is getting warmer and the days are longer, he will likely shed some fur. You do not want a fat dog. Here is a chart to tell you how to check the body condition of your dog: http://www.theoptimaldog.com/2013/08/07/introducing-the-varsity-pets-canine-body-condition-scoring-chart/

You will need to take your dog to a veterinarian for a skin exam. Your dog could be suffering from an allergy, mites, fleas, a bacterial or fungal infection. Each of these requires a different treatment, so it is important to find out what is causing the the rash. Your vet will do a thorough exam and maybe a skin scrape. He will then discuss the options with you and then prescribe medications, possibly give an injection to stop the itching, if your dog is itching.