Cures for Dog Shedding
Most dogs will shed, even the so-called "hairless" or "non-shedding" breeds. Some dogs shed more often than others. Shedding hair is completely normal and is a healthy part of a dog's bodily functions. There are some things you can do to keep dog shedding to a minimum.
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Function
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Dogs shed their coats twice a year in the spring and autumn. Changes in temperature set off shedding. The spring shed gets rid of the winter coat and the autumn shed gets rid of the summer coat. When living in temperature-controlled environments, the dog's body often gets confused over what coat it is supposed to have on. The coat of a pet dog will often go into a constant grow-shed-grow cycle when living indoors.
Considerations
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Bathing a dog too often will encourage the coat to shed even more because bathing reduces the dog's natural skin oils, causing the skin and hair to get dry and be more prone to fall out. Dogs should only be bathed when absolutely necessary. It's best to brush a dog once a day in order to gather up all of the shed hair at the same time instead of having it scatter all over the home.
Warning
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A dog that suddenly sheds most of their coat and has never done that before may be ill. If the dog has bald patches, this is a sign of illness, skin allergies or parasite infestation and the dog should go to the vet. Please do not this article in the place of your veterinarian's advice and help.
Misconceptions
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Some breeds of dog like poodles or schnauzers are often marketed as "non-shedding breeds." This is not true. They do shed, but often the dead hair stays in the coat and doesn't fall off as much and can cause severe matting. Schnauzer-type dogs need their coats professionally stripped once or twice a year. Poodle-types need their coats trimmed about every six weeks. Some breeds like the Siberian husky shed very dramatically twice a year in what is called "blowing a coat."
Prevention/Solution
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Proper nutrition and brushing every day can help reduce the amount of shed dog hair about the home as well as create a healthy dog. Talk with your vet if a change in diet or the addition of a, omega-3 nutritional supplement can help your dog's shedding problem or any skin problem. When you do give your dog a bath, use only very gentle shampoos and conditioners made for dogs or, in a pinch, Dawn dish detergent. Human hair products are far too strong for dogs. For dogs that need their coat stripped or who blow their coats, a variety of shedding brushes can be used to help the process along quicker. (See Resources).
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Resources
- Photo Credit Short haired dogs are more prone to shed. Image from Wikimeida Commons
