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While it is healthy for a dog to shed his coat and remove damaged hair, it can be annoying for pet owners who feel like all they do is vacuum up mountains of fluff!
The amount and frequency with which hair is shed depend on a variety of conditions, but dog owners who opt to groom their dog at home may typically keep shedding under control.
During the spring and fall seasons, the majority of dogs shed a great deal of hair.
During the shedding season, it is normal to lose 3-5 handfuls of hair per day by brushing them out.
Eventually, it becomes too much when the dog begins to develop bald patches on his skin and sheds large chunks of hair at a rapid rate.
Everyday Shedding
Every hair on your dog’s body has its own “life cycle,” which consists of three stages:
Anagen phase: The period during which hair actively develops.
When hair stops growing, it is said to be in the Catagen phase.
When hair falls out and is replaced by new hair, this is referred to as the Telogen phase.
Shedding occurs when your dog’s hair reaches its natural length and begins to come out.
When this happens all at once in the undercoat, it’s referred to as “The Shed.” The thick, protective undercoat is the majority of what is shed.
Breeds like Siberian Huskies “blow their coat” twice a year, which may encourage some pet parents to schedule a vacation and leave those fuzzy strands of love to a sitter!
Historically, when dogs were kept outside all year, excessive shedding was limited to the spring and fall seasons. However, today’s indoor dogs can be observed shedding considerably all year.
The breed of your pet also influences how frequently they shed. If you own a double-coated breed, such as a Golden Retriever or a Pomeranian, you will most certainly be prepared for dog shedding season in the spring and fall.
Allergies, food, and stress are all causes that might cause a dog to shed more than is normal for their breed.
Most dog shedding is normal, but Non-typical shedding patterns, such as hair loss in patches, symmetrical hair loss on some portions of the body, hair loss accompanied by another skin disease, and so on, should be addressed by a veterinarian.
What Causes Dogs to Shed?
1. It’s just the season for shedding.
Regardless of what you do, most dogs will begin shedding twice a year. You can find out when the shedding season is for dogs right here.
This usually happens in early spring as the dog sheds some of its thick winter coat in preparation for warmer weather. It happens again in late October when the dog sheds his summer coat to make room for his heavier winter coat.
This is especially true for dogs with two layers of fur, such as double-coated dogs.
When we talk about Labradors and Golden Retrievers, we’re talking about enormous dogs with thick coats.
During the spring and fall seasons, they will always shed heavily, as would a long list of other dogs with double-coated fur.
How to Handle It
It isn’t much you can do about it except make sure you brush the dog thoroughly every day.
To get all of the hairs in line, always start with a “Curry Comb.” After that, you can begin using the de-shedding brush to pull some of the deeper coat out before it ends up on the sofa.
| Season | Amount Of Shedding |
| Spring | A lot of shedding as the dog changes from a winter coat to a summer coat |
| Summer | Least shedding |
| Fall | Lots of shedding as the dog changes from a summer coat to a winter coat |
| Winter | Moderate shedding as the coat is thicker |
2. Your Female Pooch is pregnant
When a dog is pregnant, it will often begin shedding significantly more than usual.
This is also known as “blowing her a coat,” and it is very typical. The mother dog will do so even if you feed it properly and provide the best care available.
This occurs as a result of the dog’s natural hormonal changes and the garment the dog wears throughout pregnancy and the birth of the puppies.
How to Deal with it:
There isn’t anything to do here.
Simply ensure that the soon-to-be mother is fed the finest possible diet, and given good daily Excercise and don’t forget to consult your Local vet asap!
3. Shedding Caused by Stress
Excessive shedding in dogs can be caused by stress.
This occurs when the dog is stressed out due to anxiety, depression, or other factors, and the skin retracts and the hair comes out as a result. It may even cause premature hair loss.
This is a frequent stress-related signal for mammals, and we observe it in a variety of other animals as well.
In truth, this does not simply occur when the dog is under “bad stress.” When we talk about stress, we divide it into two categories: “Eustress” (good stress) and “Distress” (negative stress).
For the same reason, your dog will frequently start shedding more when things get particularly exciting.
This can happen when you return home from a trip or if you are simply full of energy.
As a result, stress-related shedding in dogs is not usually associated with anxiety, despair, or other negative emotions.
How to Deal with it!
Make sure the dog is in a stable and peaceful setting.
It is necessary for dogs to rest occasionally, and they should not be exposed to stressful work environments or other areas with a large number of new people. Allow it a few days away from tiny children, energetic people, and other animals.
It’s also completely acceptable to leave the dog at home alone as long as it can cope with being alone.
The amount of shedding should return to normal as soon as it finds more rest.
4. Bacterial Infections
Bacterial infections can also cause shedding issues in dogs. Bacterial illnesses, such as salmonella, can be contracted by consuming raw food, such as uncooked chicken.
Fungal infections might also be a source of the problem. This is possible if the dog comes into touch with mould or other types of fungus.
Remember that dogs are naturally inquisitive, and they will sniff out anything they can discover in the corners of your home. As a result, ensure that your home is free of mould and moisture on the walls.
The fungus can also be found in nature by dogs.
It can occur after a pleasant walk if the dog inhales spores found in soil containing bird dung, for example.
This can also lead to a slew of other issues beyond than shedding, so it’s critical to get the dog to the doctor as soon as possible.
There are numerous more methods to contract an illness that will not be discussed in depth here.
How to deal with it
If you feel this is the case, you should consult a veterinarian. Professional care is required for a dog with a bacterial infection.
If you do not, the dog may develop far more serious problems than excessive shedding. It may become blind, or the brain and skin may develop flaws that may never entirely repair.
5. Fleas and mites
Fleas and mites can also cause your dog to begin shedding compulsively.
When this occurs, the shedding will continue until the parasite is eradicated. This might happen if the dog is itching and starts scratching himself, causing bald places.
When this happens, the dog’s owners usually suffer together with the dog since the dog has difficulty resting at night. As a result, he/she will make noises and scratch himself/herself, keeping you awake.
How to deal with it!
The most important thing to do here is to seek adequate treatment from your Vet , as soon as possible in order to get the fleas and mites off the dog.
6. Food or medication allergies
It is also normal for dogs to develop allergies to certain foods or medications.
If you can’t figure out why your dog is shedding so much, the first thing you can do is switch to a different kind of food. We addressed how to distinguish between good and terrible brands in the beginning of this post.
If you have recently started giving your dog medicine or medical treatment, you can also check to see if your dog is having an allergic reaction.
You can also experiment with different shampoo brands.
How to deal with it
If your dog is shedding excessively, make sure he is eating a well-balanced diet and experiment with different diets.
If this does not work, you can also check for medication allergies. Try switching to a different brand or type of medication to see if the problem goes away.
7. Sun Burns
Sunburns If your dog has been exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period of time, the skin may slough off the hair and fur.
This is more common in dogs with short hair and/or brightly coloured hair. This skin type is far more prone to sunburn, so keep the dog out of direct sunshine.
As the sun reflects up from the ground, dogs might get burnt under the belly. When the sun shines on the bald spot beneath the dog, it might cause burns that you may not detect at first.
Sunburns can be excruciatingly unpleasant for the dog, so make sure he/she drinks plenty of water and rests on a moist towel if possible. This may provide some alleviation while diverting the dog’s attention away from the pain.
How to Deal with it.
Bring the dog into the shade and make sure it does not spend too much time in direct sunshine.
Take walks in the forest or somewhere else where trees will provide shade and cover from the sun. If the dog is not severely burned, it will usually recover very fast.
As always, if you have any doubts or if the sunburn is extremely severe, take him/her to the vet right away.
As soon as the skin returns to normal, the hair should begin to grow normally, and the excessive shedding should cease.
8.A scarcity of fresh air
The cause of the shedding in this case is not what you may expect. But we couldn’t think of a more specific title than “lack of fresh air.”
Your dog does not require fresh air to keep its coat on, but if it spends most of its time indoors, it may be unable to identify when the seasons change.
Dogs’ coats naturally alter as the seasons change from winter to spring and summer to fall. You may learn all about the different shedding seasons by clicking here.
The issue here is that a dog who spends all of his time indoors will not know when to convert his winter coat into a lighter coat during the hot summer months.
Because the internal clock is thrown off, the dog may begin shedding consistently (all year).
This is usually caused by excessive usage of air conditioning and heating in the vicinity of the dog. It is far better to get the dog out in the fresh air as often as possible so that it can appropriately “sense” the season.
This is something the dog will know instinctively, but if you keep them indoors all day, they will be unable to sense variations in the quantity of sunlight and heat.
How to deal with it
At least once a day, take the dog for a lengthy walk. You’d be shocked how many dogs never see the light of day. Your dog was not designed to spend the entire day indoors.
They require fresh air and broad fields to grow.
How Much Shedding Is Too Much?
During the spring and fall seasons, most dogs shed a lot of hair. During the shedding season, it is normal to brush out 3-5 handfuls of hair per day. It becomes too much when the dog develops bald areas on his skin and sheds large pieces of hair.
Before we begin, one point needs to be clarified.
Every dog sheds to some extent, and some dog breeds shed a lot when they lose their winter coat (or preparing themselves for the winter coat). This is quite normal, and you should always expect to be able to brush out many chunks of hair when brushing your dog from the neck to the tail.
Dogs shed to get rid of old and damaged hair, and they also shed to regulate their body temperature when the seasons change from winter to spring.
So you shouldn’t expect your dog to quit shedding, and a little bit of shedding is never an issue.
However, there are instances when it becomes WAY too much, and the dog begins to lose fur in large chunks. This is referred to as lengthy dog sitting, and we must pay special attention to what is going on when this occurs..
Low-Shedding Dog Breeds
Several popular dog breeds are low shedders, which is excellent news for persons allergic to dander. Bear in mind that many of these breeds lack fur and are therefore more prone to matting.
- Cavapoo
- Cockapoo
- Bichon Frise
- Italian Greyhound
- Maltese
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Poodle
- Portuguese Water Dog
- Scottish Terrier
- Shih Tzu
- Yorkshire Terrier
High-Shedding Dog Breeds
While you may believe that large dogs with long coats shed the most, this is a widespread misunderstanding.
Certain tiny and short-coated breeds shed the most.
- Alaskan Malamute
- Beagle
- Chow Chow
- Akita
- Pug
- German Shepherd
- Golden Retriever
- Great Pyrenees
- Labrador Retriever
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi
- Saint Bernard
- Siberian Husky
How to Keep Your Dog from Shedding Excessively
While it is impossible to prevent a dog from shedding, you may follow these suggestions to minimise the amount of loose hair flying around your home.
Every Day, brush
The most critical step you can take is to brush your dog daily. Brushing regularly not only removes loose hair but also promotes the oils in living hair, making it smoother and sleeker. This healthy hair is more likely to stay on your dog’s body (and away from the furnishings)!
Additionally, it is critical to utilise the proper brush. A dog-shedding rake is an absolute necessity because it eliminates dead hair from the undercoat without causing damage to the outer coat.
Slicker brushes, shedding blades, grooming gloves, and mat removers are also beneficial for dogs that shed heavily. If your dog’s coat is short, a quick comb-over with a curry brush will do the trick.
For long-haired breeds, the best time to bring out the heavy equipment is late winter or mid-fall, just before the new coat begins to come in.
Feed a Balanced Diet
Provide an appropriate meal for your dog that has an acceptable amount of fatty acids and digestible protein. The best dog foods, on the whole, are grain-free.
Food-allergic dogs are particularly prone to diet-related shedding, so be aware of any dietary limitations when selecting food for your furry companion.
Dehydration also causes healthy hair to shed, so make sure to provide lots of fresh, cool water for your dog—especially if their major diet is dry kibble.
Additionally, you may choose to incorporate a small amount of olive or flaxseed oil into your dog’s food, as these oils contain Omega-3 fatty acids that are critical for their health.
Make them Take Frequent Baths
Speaking of Omega-3 fatty acids, our Magic Coat Reduces Shedding Shampoo is developed with them to help reduce excessive shedding. Bathe your puppy frequently, massaging the shampoo into a sudsy lather and thoroughly rinsing your dog to remove loose hair.
Once finished, rapidly dry your pooch with a towel and blot up any remaining water.
Pest Control for Your Pet
Pests cause dogs to scratch, resulting in skin discomfort and increased shedding. Fleas and ticks on your dog’s skin should be controlled to help decrease discomfort and shedding.
While these pests can be found on any part of the body, they are most frequently seen on the head, neck, rump, and bottom.
Consult your veterinarian if you are having difficulty eradicating pests or suspect your dog may have a skin problem.
Shedding is a natural part of the dog’s life. Understanding when and why it occurs, using the appropriate grooming equipment, and giving a nutritious diet will help you keep your pooch and home clean for many more shedding seasons!
When it is alarming to shedding
Shedding vs. Fur Loss
Fur loss caused by illness is not technically “shedding,” but rather hair loss caused by a condition other than the natural rhythms of hair growth.
In the case of adrenal disorders such as Cushing’s disease, illness-related traumas, or infections, you’re more likely to observe patchy or sporadic hair loss than more widespread shedding.
In rare circumstances, such as when a dog has hypothyroidism, hair loss will be symmetrical but limited to specific areas of the dog’s body.
Hair Loss in Dogs Is Perplexing
Unusual hair loss is one of the most reliable indicators of an underlying health problem. If you detect any of the following conditions, you should discuss them with your dog’s veterinarian.
Fur has grown brittle and dry.
Fur that is broken or falls out in an uneven manner.
Bald spots or clumps of hair that have fallen off.
Hair loss in conjunction with another skin condition
The dog is sensitive to touch or resists being touched in the area where they are losing fur.
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About the Author: Ash loves Pets! Ash is an animal lover. She loves caring for and sharing her knowledge of all kinds of pets.
Ash is a long-time pet lover. There has always been a soft spot in her heart for dogs. Although she has owned many dog breeds in her lifetime, Cavoodles have become her favourite.
Her Love for pets made her Join the pet paws hub Team, to share knowledge with the world.