Excessive Shedding
Excessive shedding is one of the most common complaints among dog owners. From shedding on your favorite shirt to shedding everywhere inside of your home resulting in much more frequent vacuuming sessions, any amount of shedding will pose to be at least somewhat of a nuisance or raise some health concerns for both you and your pup. In this blog, we will go over how you can reduce the amount your pup sheds and alleviate some health concerns you might have. I hope you find the information useful!
Understanding Shedding
Before we get into how we can reduce the amount your pup is shedding, we have to first understand what drives shedding. Shedding occurs when a dog loses dead or damaged fur so new and healthy fur can have room to grow. Shedding is a normal process that can be found in every dog breed. Yes, every dog sheds, even dogs that have to be taken to grooming salons frequently such as the poodle. The amount your pup sheds also depends on some factors such as the time of the year. You might ask, what does the time of the year have to do with shedding? The time of year directly impacts how much fur your dog will be shedding. Because dogs evolved from wolves, they too similarly to their wild cousins (most dogs) have a seasonal coat change: a summer and winter coat as an adaptation to better regulate their body temperature throughout the year. What this means is that your dog will be shedding more in the spring as your pup changes his/her coat from a winter to a summer one and will also be shedding more in the fall as they change their coat from a summer to a winter one.
The Factors (Part I)
One major factor that can help reduce the amount your pup sheds is ensuring your dog is having a healthy and balanced diet. Every nutrient in your pup’s food serves a purpose just like us! The following is what PetMD says about the importance of maintaining a healthy and balanced diet for your pup, “Each and every nutrient in your dog’s food has a purpose. Without adequate nutrition, your dog would not be able to maintain muscle tone, build and repair muscles, teeth, and bone, perform normal daily activities with ease or fight-off infection. Proteins provide a source of energy and help with muscle function and growth. Fats provide energy, help the brain function, and keep the skin and hair coat shiny and healthy. Carbohydrates supply a source of quick energy that allow your dog to be active and energetic. Vitamins and minerals are necessary for muscle contraction and nerve conduction and they work to prevent disease”. One important idea to keep in mind is that you do not have to spend a fortune on “fancy” dog food so your pup can be healthy. All that matters is the quality of the food your pup consumes. The better the quality, the less fur your pup will drop and as a bonus, will have softer fur, healthier hair and skin, be more active, and have an overall healthier life.
The Factors (Part II)
Water is a major factor that can affect how much fur your dog drops. Not only is water very important to your pup’s overall health and wellbeing, it can help to reduce the amount your dog is shedding. Making sure that your dog is adequately hydrated can help remedy the problem. Now you might wonder, “but how much water is enough?” and that is a good question. The general consensus is that dogs should be drinking about one ounce of water per pound of body weight everyday. However this rule is not exactly one that you can stick to reliably because if your pup has been outside for a while in hot weather, she/he will need a drink, making the amount of water consumed higher than what the general consensus recommends. This rule is a good one to keep in mind though!
The Factors (Part III)
Did you know that the quality of dog shampoo and brush you use on your dog can affect the amount your pup sheds? Using good quality shampoo that does not contain a lot of harsh chemicals that could potentially dry out, irritate, or damage your pups skin can make a major difference in the amount your pup sheds. Personally, I would recommend not using human shampoo because while it may be beneficial for our hair and skin, we have to remember that the biology of our dogs is different and that their bodies can react negatively to a chemical that would otherwise be beneficial for us. In other words, it is better to be safe than sorry. As for brushes, it can too reduce the amount of fur your pup drops. This is because when you brush, you will be removing dead fur from your dog’s coat, getting rid of the excess hair before it lands on your favorite furniture. That is not the only reason why brushing is beneficial to your pup though as brushing your dog can help distribute the natural oils evenly over his/her skin. As an additional bonus, most dogs love being brushed and brushing your pup can serve as a great bonding experience!
The Factors (Part IV)
Another great way that can not only reduce the amount of fur your puppy is dropping but can also strengthen the bond between human and dog is making sure your pup is getting enough exercise. Yes, another reason to exercise both yourself and your dog! Regular exercise will not completely stop your dog from shedding but a healthy dog that is getting adequate amounts of exercise is likely to develop both a healthier skin and coat. One important thing to remember is that the amount of exercise depends on your dog’s breed. For example, English Bulldogs tend to be fairly relaxed so one walk a day should be enough to meet their walking needs whereas a much more energetic breed that needs more physical and mental stimulation like a Border Collie would need longer walks and even runs. Regardless of the type of breed your pup is, exercise will help reduce the amount your pup sheds!
What dog breeds shed the most and shed the least?
The dog breeds that take the top 9 spots for the most amount of shed are Akitas, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Boston Terriers, Chow Chows, Corgis, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Newfoundlands, and Siberian Huskies. If you or a family member happens to be allergic to dogs and want enjoy the experience to having your own pup, there are hypoallergenic dogs (dogs that have hair more similar to human hair, produce less dander than other dogs, and have minimal shed). These dogs include the Afghan Hound, Bichon Frise, Chinese Crested, Maltese, Schnauzer, Poodle, and the Portuguese Water Dog. This list does not include all hypoallergenic dogs as there are many more. A current popular and trendy breed of dog right now is the Golden Doodle, a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. However, just because a mixed breed of dog is part Poodle or has a relative that is a hypoallergenic dog does not necessarily mean that their pups will also be hypoallergenic. On the bright side, it is likely that the mixed pup will not shed as much as other dog breeds!
What if my dog seems to be shedding too much?
Shedding that seems to be excessive can be considered to be normal unless symptoms such as skin irritation (redness, bumps, rashes, or scabs), bald spots, severely thinning coat, open sores, excessive itching or face rubbing, and more frequent licking are present. In that case, these symptoms can indicate that there is an underlying medical problem. If you notice any of these symptoms lasting longer than a week, you should take your pup to a trip to your veterinarian to rule out any potential medical conditions. However, sometimes these symptoms are not caused by medical conditions but are instead caused by pesky fleas. Not only are they annoying, but they can cause skin irritation and excessive shedding in dogs. In fact, fleas can cause a dermatologic disease in dogs called Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) which is one of the most common dermatologic diseases in household dogs in the United States. How can fleas cause this disease and cause an excessive shedding of fur you may ask? This disease is brought up upon due to the itchiness of the bite sites and potential skin irritation causing excessive scratching and therefore more hair loss in dogs. So the moral of the story is that if you suspect that your pup has some fleas on him/her, its worth getting the fleas under control to avoid potential health issues in the future. You will also have a happier pup as well!
A Solution…?
If you are doing all of the above and are still having trouble getting rid of all that fur your furry friend is constantly dropping or you have dog allergies and have a dog that is constantly dropping fur and dandruff, I have two ways that can hopefully help you. One way is to purchase a vacuum cleaner that is specialized for vacuuming up dead dog fur and dandruff. No more will you have to use a lint roller, pick up your dog’s fur by hand, or in desperation use your regular vacuum cleaner to suck up all of your pup’s fur. Buying one should make your life easier. Another fantastic way is to get an air purifier. Air purifiers are great at not only filtering the dust from your home out of the air, but is also excellent for sucking in all of the dandruff and dead fur your dog is dropping!
I hope you found this blog useful and learned something interesting about your pup. Make sure to continue wearing a mask, wash your hands thoroughly, and sanitize. It is better to be safe than sorry. Thank you for reading and I will see you soon!
Citations:
[1] “Dog Shedding: How to Stop or Reduce Excessive Shedding.” WebMD, WebMD, pets.webmd.com/dogs/excessive-shedding-dogs#2.
[2] Editorial, PetMD. “The Benefits of Proper Nutrition.” PetMD, PetMD, 12 Mar. 2018, www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_dg_the_benefits_of_proper_nutrition.
[3] Hayes, Sarah, et al. “13 Ways To Stop Your Dog Shedding Excessively.” Stop My Dog Shedding |, 14 Mar. 2021, stopmydogshedding.com/stop-your-dog-shedding.
[4] “Is Your Dog Shedding Like Crazy? Here's What to Do.” TopDog Health, 29 Apr. 2021, topdoghealth.com/what-to-do-when-dog-is-shedding-too-much/.