Remedies for Excessive Pet Hair Shedding

While most dogs shed once or twice a year to replace a summer or winter coat, they should not shed excessively throughout the year. Humidifiers prevent dry heat in winter months from drying out skin follicles and increasing hair loss and flea control prevents fleas from irritating skin that results in hair loss. The most effective shedding remedies are preventive maintenance for healthy skin and coat.

  1. Diet

    • The most common cause for excessive shedding is poor nutrition, which can lead to hormonal imbalances, allergies and poor coat quality. Feeding your pet quality dog food that is high in essential vitamins and nutrients as well as marine fatty acids 3 and 6 prevent dry, itchy skin and excessive scratching and shedding. Natural and organic raw foods are also good sources of digestible protein that is essential for a healthy coat.

    Regular Grooming

    • The second remedy for excessive shedding is a regular grooming schedule with effective dog grooming tools. A thorough brushing once a week cleans hair follicles, stimulates circulation and distributes natural oils throughout the coat. Shedding blades and brushes are designed for specific coat types that vary from long woolly to smooth short coats; having the correct shedding blade is key to effective brushing. Further, having your dog professionally groomed at peak shedding times can reduce excessive shedding.

    Bathing

    • Reduce bathing frequency during winter months to prevent overdrying skin.

      How often a bath should be given depends on the breed of dog, the time of year and how often the coat gets soiled. Smaller breeds tend to get baths more often because they are indoor dogs; however, larger breeds should also have a regular bathing schedule that keeps the coat clean but not stressed from over-washing. Oatmeal shampoos and conditioners are effective in soothing dry, irritated skin for a soft and flexible coat. Another remedy is to towel-dry the coat, rather than blow-dry, to prevent over-drying damaged hair follicles.

    Supplements

    • If a change in food, grooming and bathing does not remedy your pet's excessive shedding, bottled supplements such as fish oil and meal can be added to the existing diet. Many pet supply stores will carry skin and coat supplements in treat form along with coat mists that reduce shedding. Additionally, while the term "supplements" can refer to bottle tablets, there are also foods that can be incorporated into a dog's diet that will provide omega fatty acids that promote healthy coat, eyes and skin. These include boiled white meat chicken, boiled eggs and plain baked fish.