Is it normal for my dog to gain weight and shed so much hair?

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/

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!

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.

I would start by worming Max and trying to increase his daily intake, buy him food higher in calories and add gravy to make it tasty. Give it a month and if he is still losing weight someting else must be going on so see the vet.

It sounds like Garry may be shedding due to seasonal changes which is perfectly normal. I find that the best way to combat seasonal shedding is daily brushing - you may want to look into using an undercoat brush if his coat is very thick. If he is shedding so much that you can see bare spots, if his skin seems irritated, or if his coat is dull I would recommend seeing your veterinarian to make sure he doesn't have a skin condition or parasites.

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.

There could be a few reasons why Bella is not gaining weight. I would recommend checking a stool sample to make sure there are no intestinal parasites since if she does have them this could be a reason why she isn't gaining weight. I would also recommend talking to your veterinarian about Bella's diet and exactly what she is eating. If these both are good then I would recommend getting blood work to make sure there is nothing systemic going on with Bella. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.