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

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Leo. His diet can be affecting his coat. A different diet may work better for him. Another option is to start a fatty acid supplement as this can improve coat quality and reduce shedding as well. I hope this information helps!

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.

Heavy shedding can be extremely frustrating! Try bathing Leah about once a month and brush her at least 1-2 times per week in an attempt to minimize shedding. You can also use a special grooming tool, such as a Furminator (https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/furminator-short-hair-deshedding-tool-for-small-dogs which is designed to remove some of the extra undercoat that is most often shed. Just use caution if you decide to use a Furminator because it is easy to overdo it and create some bald spots! I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Hair shedding is a normal process in dogs when the hair follicle turnover happens. THis can increase due to environemnt or hormones. To help pick up some of the shedded hair I woudl suggest purchasing a product called a Furminator brush, which can remove the shedded hair so that less of it collects on the floor. You can also give him over the counter dog fish oils from your local pet store to encourage a healthy haircoat. I would continue to bathe your pet with dog shampoo to routinely cleanse his skin. Otherwise as long as you are not seeing bald patches on Romeo's skin, his haircoat is fine. I hope this helps! Best wishes with your pet and take care.

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.

Adding Fish oil to his food daily (Welactin fish oil in a pump in one easily administered product) will help with the shedding as well as with dry skin if he has that as well. Additionally giving VetriScience Derma Strength chews daily (available on chewy.com) and switching to a higher quality food may help as well (Royal Canin and Hills are two examples of frequently recommended dog food brands). Lastly, purchasing and using a furminator brush to remove as much of the shedding hairs and undercoat at once will likely help as well. Good luck!

It is normal for dogs, even short haired breeds to shed. If you think that something is going on with Bogo, for example, if he has lower energy levels, a change in appetite, or is scratching, she should be seen by a vet to determine if there is an underlying cause to blame. You can try brushing Bogo regularly, or bathing him with dog shampoo and using a dog conditioner - there are several different products available that will allow the hair that would normally be shed on your furniture to come out in the bath. There are also certain supplements available for dogs that may help the issue such as omega-3's. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!