How to Stop Hair Shedding in a Dog

Shedding is a natural way for dogs to lose old hair and make room for new growth. This normal process, however, can be quite frustrating when the hair is all over the floor, furniture and you. Unfortunately, there is no way to completely stop a dog from shedding. However, there are methods you can use to reduce the hair loss.

Things You'll Need

  • Slicker brush
  • Undercoat rake
  • Shedding blade
  • Oatmeal shampoo
  • High-quality food
  • Fatty-acid supplement
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Instructions

    • 1

      Brush your dog daily. Use a slicker brush, undercoat rake or shedding blade to remove the excess hair. These tools are designed to reach underneath your dog's coat and pull up the dead hair that would otherwise fall on your floor. The more you brush your dog, the more hair you collect and prevent from covering your home. Always brush in the direction the hair grows and pay more attention to particularly thick areas, such as the backs of the legs.

    • 2

      Take your dog to the vet. According to the Dog Breed Info Center website, there are certain health conditions that can make a dog shed more profusely than normal. These issues include stress, mange, cancer, ringworm and some skin infections. Once the veterinarian diagnoses the issue, she can prescribe medication that will resolve the problem and ultimately, tone down the shedding. Allergies can also cause a dog to shed, as they cause excessive scratching. This scratching can remove the hair, resulting in shedding.

    • 3

      Bathe your dog regularly. Massaging and scrubbing your dog's coat when you bathe him helps to work out some of the dead hair. Dogs typically only need baths about once a month. Use an oatmeal shampoo to prevent the dog's hair and skin from drying, which can exacerbate shedding.

    • 4

      Feed your dog a high-quality diet. The Doctors Foster and Smith website states that food with good digestible protein sources can reduce the amount of hair your dog sheds.

    • 5

      Give your dog fatty acid supplements, if your veterinarian approves. These products can help to prevent broken and damaged hair that provokes shedding.