What Causes Shedding in Dog

Useful Tips to Reduce Shedding in Dogs

It is normal for dogs to shed. It is a natural process for dogs to get rid off dead and loose hair. The amount of hair a dog sheds and the frequency with which it sheds hair varies across breeds and even across individuals. However, as a dog owner, it is very important for you to clear your mind of certain popular myths regarding shedding in dogs and learn the basic facts about shedding. This would constitute the first step towards controlling shedding in your dog.

1. It is a misconception that breeds that possess longer or thick hair shed more hair.

2. However, it is true that long-haired dogs require more intense and frequent grooming than short-haired ones. It is also a fact that breeds with double coats shed more hair than single coated dog breeds. In fact, a few short haired dogs rarely shed. American Hairless Terrier usually does not shed and thus need minimal grooming. In other words, length of body hair is not the conclusive factor for determining how much the dog would shed.

3. If you find your dog shedding more hair than natural, remember it is screaming for urgent attention and treatment.

To sum up, all dogs need varied amounts of grooming, irrespective of how much hair they shed. Brushing is also critical, as it helps get rid of loose hair stuck in the coat and prevents matting of coat.

What Causes Shedding in Dogs

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1. Grooming requirements in dogs vary across breeds. However, apart from breed, there are some other factors which play a determining role in the amount of hair shed by a dog.
2. Seasonal shedding is common in dogs, wherein they shed in particular seasons; for example, many breeds of dogs shed their winter coat during spring time. However, if you find your dog shedding in other seasons as well, even throughout the year, it doesn’t necessarily spell a cause for concern.

3. Those dogs which spend a lot of time indoors tend to shed more hair that those which spend maximum time outdoors. This is caused by differences in temperature between indoors and outdoors. A dog, which is used to the insulation of indoors, when steps out of the house, its body registers the change in temperature, which is not much different from the change in temperature registered when winter turns to spring. This leads to shedding, irrespective of the time of the year, just as arrival of spring after winter triggers shedding in some breeds.

While it is common to shed throughout the year, if your dog seems to be shedding excessively or more than normal, do not waste time before consulting its vet. Often, skin infections, thyroid imbalances and other diseases cause excessive shedding in dogs.

Useful Tips to Reduce Shedding in Dogs

1. Proper and regular grooming is very effective in controlling shedding in dogs. The right kind of brush to brush your dog’s coat is a slicker brush.

2. Weekly grooming from the tip of the dog’s nose to the tip of its tail is very important. A shedding comb used with a slicker brush is very effective in reducing shedding. The correct way of using the shedding comb is to pull it gently through the dog’s coat, untangling tangles, if any, and keep combing till the the comb moves without any obstruction.

3. A de-matting rake and an undercoat rake are two other tools that come in handy during grooming. The de-matting rake is used to clean areas of the coat which have got matted. An undercoat rake is useful in pulling out all the dead and loose hair off the dog’s undercoat.

4. Do not be alarmed if you find chunks of hair being pulled out by the de-matting rake. Those hairs are dead anyway and your dog would re-grow those hairs.

5. Keeping your dog’s coat smooth and supple and adequately moisturized is a surefire way of reducing shedding in dogs. It makes the skin firm and makes sure that the hairs hold strongly, thus reducing shedding. Foodstuffs rich in fatty acids are very good in this respect as they lead to more oil retention in the skin. Take care not to use harsh cleaning products on your dg’s skin which might dry out the skin, leading to more shedding.

6. Feed your dog a high quality diet and supplements with extra anti-oxidants vitamin like A and E. In addition to this, Linoleic Acid, Omega3, and Omega 6 fish oils are also very helpful to provide the dog with the right nutrients that reduce shedding.