Effective Strategies to Stop Dog Shedding

Dog shedding is a common concern for pet owners. Excessive shedding can not only make your home messy but may also indicate underlying health issues in your dog. Understanding how to control and reduce shedding is essential for maintaining a clean home and a healthy pet.

What Causes Severe Hair Loss in Dogs?

Severe hair loss in dogs may be caused by the following reasons.

• Seasonal Hair Change

Dogs will change their hair in spring and fall to adapt to different climates. The spring change down is the coarse hair with better breathability, which is convenient for the dog's body to dissipate heat, and the fall change is the downy hair, which is convenient for keeping warm. This is a normal physiological phenomenon, and owners can reduce the amount of hair loss by combing the hair.

• Skin disease

If the dog has a skin disease, such as eczema, fungal infections, parasitic infections (such as fleas, mites, etc.), it will lead to itching, redness and swelling of the skin, which in turn will cause hair loss. In this case, the place where the dog loses hair will usually have obvious symptoms, and you need to take your dog to the pet hospital in time for examination and treatment.

• Malnutrition

Dogs with an unbalanced diet and lack of essential nutrients, such as protein, vitamins, minerals, etc., will lead to dry hair, easy to fall off. Owners need to provide their dogs with nutritionally balanced food, and if necessary, they can add some food or nutritional supplements that are good for the coat.

• Improper bathing

Bathing your dog too often or using shampoos that are not suitable for your dog's skin can disrupt the oil balance of your dog's skin and lead to hair loss. It is recommended to use pet-specific shampoos and arrange the bathing frequency reasonably according to the actual situation of the dog.

• Medication side effects

The use of certain medications may cause hair loss in dogs, such as steroids. When using medications, you need to follow medical advice to avoid unwanted side effects.

• Special Periods

Dogs may also experience hair loss during special periods such as estrus, fertility, and lactation due to endocrine changes and nutrient loss.

• Unhealthy diet

Dogs consuming too much salt or greasy food can damage skin health and lead to hair loss. Owners should avoid feeding their dogs human food that is high in salt and oil and choose low-salt, nutrient-rich dog food.

• Parasite infection

Parasites on the dog, such as fleas and mites, will suck the dog's nutrients, destroying the health of the skin and coat and leading to hair loss.

Related: How to Check for Ear Mites in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

• Age factor

Older dogs may experience hair loss due to hormonal changes. Owners need to provide extra nutritional support to their older dogs.

How to Stop Dog Shedding?

I. Diet

• Balanced Nutrition

Provide your dog with a nutritionally balanced diet, making sure it gets enough protein, vitamins and minerals. A good quality dog food is the foundation, such as one that contains a variety of ingredients such as chicken, fish and vegetables. Protein is vital for healthy hair growth, and a lack of protein may result in a fragile coat that is prone to shedding.
Foods that are good for the coat can be added appropriately, such as egg yolks (2 - 3 per week, depending on your dog's size), which are rich in lecithin and help to improve the quality of the coat and reduce shedding.

• Supplements

Consider giving your dog a fish oil supplement. The Omega - 3 fatty acids in fish oil can moisturize the skin and improve its health, thus reducing hair loss caused by dry, itchy skin. Follow the product instructions to determine the proper dosage based on your dog's weight.

Fish Oil Concentrate for Dogs and Cats

The Fish Oil Concentrate is rich in high-concentration omega-3 unsaturated fatty acid, which helps to nourish dogs' and cat's skin and give health support for their hair or coat, joint, heart and physical state.

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II. For daily care

• Grooming

Regular combing is the key to reducing hair loss. For long-haired dogs, combing once a day is appropriate; short-haired dogs can be combed 2 - 3 times a week. Use a comb that is appropriate for your dog's coat type, such as a pin comb or row comb. The combing process removes dead hairs, prevents tangles and promotes blood circulation to the skin, which helps the coat grow healthily.

• Bathing

Control the frequency of bathing. Too frequent bathing can damage the oil layer of your dog's skin, leading to dryness and hair loss. As a general rule, bathe every 1 - 2 weeks in summer and every 2 - 3 weeks in winter. Use a gentle body wash designed specifically for dogs and avoid human bath products as their pH may not be suitable for your dog's skin.

Also Read: How to Give A Cat A Bath

• Trimming the hair

For dogs with excessively long hair, proper trimming of the hair can reduce hair loss. However, be careful not to over-trim, especially during the cold season, to avoid your dog catching a cold. Trimming the hair can also prevent the hair from tangling, which can easily pull the skin and cause hair loss.

III. Health management aspects

• Deworming

Perform internal and external deworming on a regular basis. Parasites can affect your dog's health and cause skin problems and hair loss. For example, fleas, ticks and other external parasites will bite your dog's skin, causing inflammation and itching, causing your dog to scratch, which in turn causes hair loss; internal parasites such as roundworms will also affect your dog's overall health, indirectly leading to hair problems.

• Disease prevention and treatment

Pay attention to your dog's skin health, and take your dog to the veterinarian promptly if you notice any abnormalities such as redness, swelling, itching, or dandruff on the skin. Skin diseases such as ringworm infection and atopic dermatitis, as well as endocrine disorders (e.g. hypothyroidism) may cause hair loss. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can effectively reduce hair loss.

When to See a Vet ?

I. Normal hair loss

• Seasonal hair loss

If the dog is losing hair in the spring and fall, this is a normal physiological phenomenon and generally does not require excessive worry. At this time the dog will shed the old hair to adapt to the temperature of the upcoming season, as long as you follow the normal care procedures, such as regular combing of the hair (spring and fall daily combing is more effective), and keep the environment clean.

• Puppy Coat Change

Puppies go through a moult as they grow, converting from soft fetal hair to the coat of an adult dog. This is a sign of growth and usually normal. During this stage, owners can appropriately increase the nutrition of their puppies, such as feeding high quality puppy food rich in protein and vitamins, to help their hair grow healthily.

II. Hair loss that you need to worry about

• Hair loss caused by skin diseases

If the dog's hair loss is accompanied by symptoms such as redness, itching, dandruff, scabs or abnormal skin color at the shedding site, this is likely to be caused by a skin disease. For example, fungal infections, mite infections and other skin diseases, you need to take your dog to the veterinarian in time for diagnosis and treatment.

• Hair loss due to nutritional deficiency

When the dog's diet is unbalanced for a long time and lacks protein, vitamins (such as B vitamins, etc.) and minerals (such as zinc, etc.), the hair will become dry, fragile and easy to fall off. In this case, you need to adjust the dog's diet structure, provide nutritious and balanced food, and if necessary, you can also add specialized pet nutritional supplements. 
Hair loss caused by endocrine disorders

Endocrine problems like hypothyroidism can also cause hair loss in dogs. This condition may be accompanied by other symptoms such as weight gain and lethargy. If an endocrine disorder is suspected, a detailed examination by a veterinarian is required, which may include blood tests, etc., and then treatment will be administered accordingly.

• Hair loss due to parasitic infection

Dogs infected with ectoparasites such as fleas and ticks or internal parasites such as roundworms can lose their hair due to the effects of the parasites. Extracorporeal parasites can irritate your dog's skin and internal parasites can affect your dog's overall health. Deworming should be done as soon as possible when a parasite infection is detected.

Related: Understanding Roundworms in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

• Hair loss due to medication side effects

If your dog is taking certain medications and is losing hair after the medication, it may be a side effect of the medication. In this case, you need to talk to your veterinarian to see if you need to adjust the dosage or change the medication.

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Conclusion

Reducing dog shedding requires a combination of proper nutrition, regular grooming, good health care, and environmental management. By following these tips, you can keep your dog's shedding under control and enjoy a cleaner home and a healthier pet.