Dog Hair Loss

What to do when your dog is shedding

Your dog loves to lounge on your dark brown sofa and being the loving dog parent you are, you allow him to do so. Yet whenever he jumps down, he leaves ample fur behind, and prior to sitting in that chair yourself, you will need to “shave” it, or risk wearing your canine’s hair yourself. Similarly, when you look down at your rugs and carpets you see a trail of hair your canine companion left behind. Visitors to your home as somewhat reluctant to sit on the sofa, and at times you look a bit furry yourself when you arrive to work. Face it, your dog is shedding and you will need to deal with it. Yet you often wonder if there is anything you can do to tame that falling doggie fur?

While it is not possible to completely stop your dog’s shedding, there are actually a number of things that can be done:

Brush daily

Brush your dog daily. This will allow you to eliminate a lot of the falling fur before it hits the sofa or the carpet. A well-kept secret is the lint-roller – not on the sofa but on the dog! It does not hurt the pet, but instead allows some of the hair to be picked off in between brushings.

Stripping tools

If you are in the midst of a season change, such as from winter to spring, then odds are that your canine companion is loosing his winter coat. There is nothing you can do from stopping this process, yet there are a number of grooming tools available that will permit you to strip the winter fur yourself before it finds it way onto your sofa. Discuss your predicament with your veterinarian or groomer and see if she or he cannot recommend a tool that will help you.  Before using an unfamiliar grooming tool for the first time, be sure to read all of the instructions, or even better, ask your groomer or vet to demonstrate the proper use.

Visit the dog groomer

Set up a grooming appointment. Proper grooming will get rid of a lot of the dead hair that is being shed in between seasons, and will also ensure that your dog’s skin remains healthy. Your groomer will also be able to recommend some things to try at home to keep the flying doggie hair under control until it is time for the next grooming appointment.

Could the shedding be caused by a health problem?

Of course, there will be times when shedding may actually be an indicator of a health problem.

If the shedding is accompanied by the advent of bald patches in your dog’s fur, it is time to visit the veterinarian.  You want to rule out any illness, such as mange, or other problems that cause patterned hair loss. Hair loss is a very important indicator in failing or declining health, and if caught early, many health problems may be fixed before they become more serious.

Sometimes malnutrition will be indicated by a loss or fur.  Discuss your dog’s nutrition with your vet, or, if you have just gotten the dog, have him checked for nutritional deficiencies. At such a vet appointment it is extremely helpful if you bring a sample of the food you are giving to your dog, preferably in its original packaging to permit the veterinarian to take a look at the list of ingredients in case she or he feels the need to change the dog’s diet.

Sometimes a vitamin deficiency will also contribute to irritated skin which may result in shedding.  There are a number of over the counter remedies available, but it is advisable to discuss any such supplementation with your vet first. Self-medicating your dog should only be done if you are absolutely certain of what you are doing.

As you can see, a shedding dog is something you will need to live with, but the amount of shedding can be controlled with a few simple steps and a bit of easy know-how. So go ahead and embrace the changing of the seasons, and make sure you know where your doggie brush is!

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