Unless you have a hairless dog breed like the American hairless terrier or Peruvian Inca, your pet will shed hair. While shedding is natural for dogs, too much shedding or bald patches can be indications of underlying health problems. In this article, we will talk about that and how to solve the issue.
Reasons Why Dogs Shed Too Much
A pet’s body will shed naturally to get rid of damaged and old hair to maintain a good coat. But if you feel that your dog is shedding too much, these can be the reason.
Breed
Every dog breed sheds hair. Poodles and Maltese are known to shed minimally, while some other dog breeds can shed a lot of hair. Some of those dog breeds are German Shepherds, Saint Bernard, Labrador, Siberian Husky, Boston Terrier, and Corgi. Some of these dog breeds can shed all year round. For more information about dog breeds, visit anythinggermanshepherd.com.
Weather
Dogs shed more during spring. They develop a thick coat during winter that they get rid of when the weather starts getting warmer.
Underlying Medical Problems
If your dog’s excessive shedding is not due to either of the two factors mentioned above, it might be due to an underlying medical problem. You can check if you can see the following symptoms in your dog.
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- Presence of bald spots
- Exceptionally thin hair
- Unnatural bumps, red rashes, or scabs
- Raw open wounds
- Excessive rubbing off the face
- Excessive scratching
- Licking a spot over and over again
It is best to take your dog to a veterinary doctor immediately if you notice any of these symptoms. The vet will be able to examine, conduct tests, and diagnose the exact problem behind your pet’s condition. Some of the medical issues can be:
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- Incomplete nutrition
- Fungal or bacterial infection
- Infestation of fleas, worms, or other parasites
- Allergic reactions
- Kidney or liver diseases
- Affected immune system
- Hormonal disbalance
- Reaction to certain medicines
- Cancer
Based on the examination, the vet will prescribe preventive measures and treatment.
How Can You Manage Your Dog’s Excessive Shedding?
Other than medical treatment, you can also do a few things to reduce your dog’s shedding.
Proper Nutrition
Managing your dog’s nutrition is one of the best things you can do to ensure that your dog has a healthy coat. Whether you make your dog’s food or buy it from online stores like PetCareRx.com, make sure that it contains adequate animal protein. Animal protein has the right amount of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids essential for a dog to maintain healthy skin and coat.
If your dog likes eating fish, you can buy dog foods that contain fishes like tuna, salmon, or mackerel that are high in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. You can also add some olive oil or flaxseed oil to your dog’s food to make sure it gets adequate amounts of essential fatty acids.
Stress Management
Your dog might shed a lot of hair if it is feeling stressed. You may not realize it, but dogs can be sensitive to the slightest changes in their routines or environment. Make sure that you maintain its routine, such as feeding, walking, bedtime, and others, to ensure that you do not cause excessive stress for your dog. If you have to leave your dog alone at home, make sure it has some activity to indulge with.
Also, ensure that you leave home and return at the same time each day. If your dog seems agitated or scared due to changes in the environment, such as a new person coming to your house every day, you will have to reassure it verbally or by petting it. You can also use treats to help out get used to environmental changes.
Regular Bathing and Grooming
Regular bathing and brushing your dog stimulates new hair growth and helps in maintaining its coat. It will also help in reducing the spread of hair all over the house. You will find several choices of shampoos and brushes, each meant for different kinds of coats.
Make sure that you choose the right one to get the best results for your dog. You may have to brush or bathe more frequently during spring as it sheds more during that time.
It might be impossible to stop your pet’s shedding altogether. However, you can manage it effectively if you follow the factors that we discussed in this article. If your dog is shedding too much, you have to understand the reason behind it first. That will help you to find the best possible solution for the problem.
Also, make sure that you consult a veterinary doctor as soon as you notice any signs of excessive hair loss. You can try putting on some clothes on your dog as that will prevent the hair from spreading everywhere.
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