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Shedding in dogs is the
natural process of losing an
old coat to make room for a
new one. This is usually
triggered by seasonal
changes and varies from dog
to dog depending on it's
living arrangements.
Dogs that are kept outside
more than others will most
likely lose their coats
twice a year, once in the
spring when they lose their
winter coats and then once
again in late fall/early
winter as the winter coat
grows in. If your dog is
kept mostly indoors, his
body might not register the
seasonal changes which can
cause him to shed all year
long.
Although it's normal for all
dogs to shed, (and for some
dogs to shed a lot), if your
dog is shedding excessively
or there is a sudden
increase in her shedding,
this could be the sign of a
problem. It's always best to
check with your vet first to
exclude any possibilities of
illness. If you know your
pet is just shedding
naturally and there is no
underlying cause of illness
(sometimes it can be stress
too!) there are a few things
you can do to cut down all
the hair.
Of course, the number one
most obvious thing you can
do is brush your dog daily.
That hair has to go
somewhere. It's either on
your floor or in a brush! If
you are brushing your dog
everyday and you're still
finding hair everywhere in
your house, you might want
to ask yourself a few
questions;
What kind of food is
your dog eating? Is
it high in protein and omega
fatty acids? If your dog
isn't eating a balanced diet
with these key nutrients it
can cause him to shed more.
Are you using the
right kind of brush?
If you are brushing your dog
every day and still getting
no results, you may be using
the wrong brush. Check out
our
Grooming Tools
page for a selection of the
best-selling and top-rated
brushes and combs for dogs.
How Often are you
Bathing your dog?
It's good to give your dog a
good bath every once in
awhile but if you are
bathing your dog more than
once a month it can strip
the natural oils in the skin
which in turn can cause an
increase in shedding. If you
want to bathe your dog and
help her coat, try using a
natural oatmeal shampoo or
something with all-natural
ingredients.
Is your dog living in
a dry environment?
Some places are a lot dryer
than others and this can be
a major factor in how much
coat your dog loses.
Remember, dry skin equals
shedding. If your dog is
mostly kept indoors
sometimes using a humidifier
in the house can help.
Have you tried giving
your dog supplements?
If you have tried everything
else and your dog is still
losing an undesirable amount
of hair, you might want to
try giving your dog
supplements. You can buy
supplements specifically
formulated with all of the
key nutrients that are known
for reducing hair loss.
You can find all you need
including shampoos, sprays,
conditioners, grooming
tools, vitamins and
supplements on our
Shedding page.
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