Dealing With Your Dog’s Excessive Shedding

Tired of dealing with dog hair all over your furniture, clothing, and carpets? While the majority of our canine companions shed as a natural part of life, it can get excessive at times. If you’d like to reduce your dog’s shedding, follow these tips from a Brampton, ON vet. For more detailed strategies specifically tailored to shedding season, check out our article on “Dealing With Shedding Season.”

Brushing

You’ll be amazed at what regular brushing can do to cut down on your pooch’s shedding. Not only will a daily brushing session trap much of the loose or dead fur in the brush itself, thereby preventing it from winding up all around your home, it spreads essential skin oils through the coat. This moisturizes your dog’s fur naturally, making for a healthy, shiny coat and reducing shedding initially.

Diet Change

Did you know that what your dog eats has a lot to do with his outward appearance? The vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and other nutrients that are important for good health are also key to coat quality. Feed your dog a premium diet that is appropriate for his age. This is the best way to keep your dog’s skin and fur health—not to mention his overall well-being—in top form! Consult your vet for a recommendation on a great diet choice for your dog.

Dietary Supplements

Certain dietary supplements, like fish oil, coconut oil, or omega-3 fatty acids, have proven helpful for some dogs when it comes to improving the skin and fur health. Your dog might benefit as well—consult your veterinarian before choosing a dietary supplement, though, as not all of our canine companions need them.

See Your Vet

If you still can’t seem to get your dog’s shedding under control, or if your dog’s shedding has seemingly increased out of nowhere, it’s time to pay a visit to the vet’s office. Various medical concerns—parasites, skin infection, internal disease, and much more—could be to blame! You’ll want to have your dog examined to rule out or treat any conditions. If you’re concerned about allergies or skin conditions, consider consulting our service on “pet allergies and veterinary dermatology.”

For Natural Shedders

Some dogs just shed more than others; there’s not much to be done about it. There are some options for making your life easier, though—try training your dog to stay on one floor of the home, or only get up on one piece of living-room furniture. This makes the area you have to keep clean much easier to manage!

For more tips on your dog’s grooming, call your Brampton, ON veterinarian.