How to Eliminate Shedding From a Dog

Shedding is a natural process in dogs, but it causes allergies, messiness and cleanliness problems for dogs̵7; human families. All dogs shed, even if some breeds shed more or less than others. To control shedding and the problems it causes, you need to be diligent, especially about brushing and vacuuming. You can prevent some of the causes of excessive shedding and you can cut down on the amount of fur all over your home, but you are not likely to eliminate shedding from your dog.

Things You'll Need

  • Brushes
  • Shedding blade
  • Vacuum cleaner
  • High quality dog food
  • Supplements and vitamins
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Instructions

  1. Brushing

    • 1

      Brush your dog regularly. Daily brushing helps keep your dog̵7;s fur softer and cleaner, removes loose hair, reduces shedding and brings the amount of fur in your home down to a manageable level.

    • 2

      Choose the correct brush or brushes. Each brush has a specific function and will work best on the type of coat it is designed for. Types of brushes include slicker, bristle and pin brushes.

    • 3

      Brush with short, firm, deep strokes to penetrate through the fur. Simply running a brush over the top of the coat will do little or nothing to eliminate shedding from a dog.

    • 4

      Continue grooming with a shedding blade, consisting of a strip of metal with a serrated edge attached to a handle. Some products use the shedding blade concept to remove large amounts of loose fur with little effort in a relatively short time.

    Hygiene and Health

    • 5

      Bathe your dog occasionally with a gentle shampoo and use warm water to help loosen hair. Clean dogs have healthier coats and shed less, but should not be bathed too frequently as this can reduce production of natural skin oils.

    • 6

      Groom your dog while she's still in the tub, using a waterproof rubber brush.

    • 7

      Control fleas by vacuuming, brushing and using flea treatments. When dogs are itchy from flea bites they will scratch themselves, which leads to excessive shedding and overall discomfort.

    • 8

      Take your dog to the veterinarian for checkups and to rule out medical conditions that cause excessive shedding such as allergies, skin diseases, hormonal problems, ringworm, mange and some forms of cancer. Your dog̵7;s shedding cycle may change with age.

    Diet and Stress

    • 9

      Feed your dog high quality food. An improper diet can cause unnatural shedding, so you may need to experiment with different brands and formulations of dog food to ascertain which food works best for your dog̵7;s fur, skin and overall health.

    • 10

      Supplement your dog̵7;s diet with vitamins and Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids to help skin retain moisture. Veterinarian and animal nutrition expert, Edmund R. Dorosz, DVM, reports that a dog̵7;s ̶0;hair coat is the first sign of nutritional health,̶1; and psychological well-being.

    • 11

      Manage stress. According to VetInfo, ̶0;Stress in dogs may be caused by environmental changes,̶1; diet changes or by emotional responses to events in their lives. A stressed dog may lose more hair than usual and dog caretakers should ̶0;identify the source of [their] pet̵7;s stress and try to handle it with affection, therapy or even medication.̶1;