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

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.

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.

There are medical issues that can cause problems with the skin and excessive shedding, like hypothyroidism, but since he is so young it is not as likely. You could add Free Form Snip Tips to his diet and see if that helps keep his skin and coat healthy. Otherwise, have your vet examine him to determine the cause. Your vet can run lab-work to look for potential medical causes.

If she is healthy otherwise, try transitioning her to a puppy diet or high performance diet. Once she is at an appropriate weight, transition to a maintenance adult diet. A vitamin supplement, such at Pet-Tabs, can be used but as long as she is on a quality diet, she shouldn't need vitamin supplements. A fish oil supplement, such as DermCaps or EicosaCaps, can be used to promote healthy skin and coat. Use a monthly flea and tick preventative as well as a monthly parasite preventative. If her condition does not improve in the next month or two, have her rechecked by your veterinarian.

Rice curd and occasional meat is an inappropriate diet for dogs. They are carnivores that need a side of vegetables or grains, not the opposite way. Excessive shedding can be caused by malnutrition, mites, fleas, skin disease, etc. I would recommend having Scooby Doo examined by a vet to see what is going on.

Excess shedding can be from low thyroid levels, hormonal imbalances, allergies or yes environmental. I do recommend a blood panel including thyroid, and if she’s not spayed you may want to get that done to settle down her hormonal swings. That will also prevent uterine infections and lower the risk of mammary cancer too. In addition I recommend a fatty acid skin oral supplement which will help the hairs live longer thus reducing the shedding amount. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Kira.

Shedding fur, even seemingly large amounts, is completely normal for most dogs. If your dog has never shed like this in the past, or if she is losing so much fur she is having bald patches, then I would be concerned. Poor hair growth and cost condition can be due to poor nutrition/diet or an underlying medical condition like hypothyroidism. If you feel like the amount Soska is shedding is abnormal I would recommend a visit to your veterinarian to have her examined and possibly to have blood work performed. In the meantime you can supplement her diet with some fish oil (specifically omega 3 fatty acids) and see if that helps her coat. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!