Hello pet parents! It is common for dogs to change their furry coats according to the season, as humans do. But we won’t wear a winter coat on a hot summer day unless we live at the North Pole.
We cannot completely prevent our dogs from shedding because it’s an inevitable part of their lives. Fortunately, there are several all-natural solutions for controlling your dog’s coat.
Keep reading to discover some potent home remedies for dog shedding and understand why your furry pal sheds.
Why Does Your Furry Buddy Shed
As we’ve already mentioned, your dog sheds in the first place because it wants to adapt to the season. Your dog will stay cool during the hot months and warm during the cold months, thanks to the built-in temperature control that a dog’s coat provides.
Also, shedding can shield your pet’s skin from irritation and injury from foreign items like branches and burrs, which is why broadly speaking, shaving your dog’s fur is not a smart option.
The fur will eventually fall out of the skin when it reaches maturity, which is how nature keeps things in balance in dogs. Dogs may keep their coats looking silky and smooth by shedding to remove any dead or loose hair.
Dogs vary in how much they shed. Some species shed continuously throughout the year, while others shed periodically.
Consider when and how frequently your dog sheds so you can determine if something doesn’t look quite right.
However, the following are some causes of excessive dog shedding:
Health Issues
Health conditions, both psychological and physical, can cause excessive shedding. Causative agents of shedding and hair loss include parasites, medicines, tension, anxiety, and poor nutrition.
Bacteria on the skin or fungal infections like yeast and ringworm are major indices of shedding dogs. Also, hormone imbalance, especially in pregnant dogs, can cause shedding.
Contact your veterinarian if your dog develops bald spots due to excessive shedding or if you notice worrying symptoms.
Change of Season
Dogs can shed more or less frequently, depending on the season. Many dogs lose their furry coats in the spring and autumn to prepare for warmer weather or switch to a thicker coat for the cold months.
If your dog sheds more than usual when the seasons change, there’s probably no need to worry.
Allergies
Your dog may shed more because of environmental, dietary, or other allergies.
Consult your veterinarian for advice on keeping your dog comfortable if you observe excessive shedding and cannot pinpoint or eliminate the allergen in question.
The Best Home Remedies for Dog Shedding
You can reduce the proportion of pet hair in your home by taking a few preventive actions. Although it takes time, dramatically reducing shedding is relatively easy. Here are some of the finest methods for doing that:
Regular Baths
When a dog is properly bathed, a lot of dead hair lodged in your pet’s fur will come loose. Before grooming your dog, ensure its coat is fully dry. The comb will tug the fur and hurt your pal if the fur is still moist.
The best shampoo for reducing dog shedding is one that won’t dry out the coat. Dogs’ dry hair is prone to breaking, so anything hydrating and non-drying will help lessen shedding.
Never bathe your dog with human shampoo because it will cause dry skin and harm its fur.
Buy a Deshedding Tool
While regular dog combs can eliminate some shed hair,deshedding tools are more powerful and often used. You can buy them from any pet shop, and they are often available in a wide selection. These tools include blade-on-a-handle metal combs, slicker brushes, wide-toothed combs, and bristle, rubber, and pin brushes.
Note that these deshedding tools are only suited for some dog breeds. Some breeds that don’t require deshedding tools include Maltese, Curly-coated retriever, Poodle, Dandie dinmont, Kerry blue terrier, Puli, Portuguese water dog, and many others.
Before choosing your dog’s type of de-shedding device, remember that not all are created equal. As a result, ensure you purchase the tool suited for your dog’s length and type of hair.
De-shed Your Pal
Once you have the proper equipment, you can begin brushing your dog. This method appears to be rather straightforward, but there’s more to it than you realize – it’s all in the approach.
You must brush your dog’s fur the same way it grows. This is done to make your dog happier and more comfortable while ensuring the most effective technique to de-shed a dog. You should use long strokes to brush the pet from tail to head.
When necessary, pause to collect the fallen hair from the brush. But don’t apply pressure to the brush since the brush’s teeth may harm your dog.
Brush until there is no longer any fur in the brush and then stop. Your dog’s shedding can only be decreased in this way.
Improve Diet
Dog foods are not all made equal! Always give your dog high-quality food filled with nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, and especially Omega-3 essential fatty acids with a balanced combination ofOmega-6 for healthier fur and much less shedding.
Although higher quality dog food is more pricey, it will cost you less in the long term as you’ll spend less on nutrients, grooming, and vet fees. Both you and your furry pal will be happier!
Add Fish Oil
Fish oil is one of the greatest sources for minimizing dog hair loss. Scientific studies have shown that these nutrients enhance the skin and hair of dogs and may even lessen shedding. Omega-3 fatty acids, abundant in fish oil, help dogs’ coats stay stronger and preserve better skin conditions.
Although it’s best to go by the serving suggestions on the supplement’s bottle, a serving size of 1 tablespoon for 20 pounds of body weight per day is ideal. Fish oil is available as a liquid or in pill form.
Hydrate
A balanced diet and adequate water go hand in hand. By keeping a dog hydrated, water encourages fur development and strengthens it, resulting in a fuller, healthier one. In addition to minimizing itchiness and irritation, proper hydration also reduces the amount of dead hair loss.
Ensure there is always enough clean water available, and remember that some pets either forget or choose not to drink enough.
These home remedies for dog shedding will greatly lessen the amount of hair that comes off a dog’s coat, however, not completely stop it.
Avoid Putting Common Allergens in Your Dog’s Food
Food-allergic dogs frequently shed more than their unaffected peers do. Such dogs may also get bald patches in addition to having itchy skin.
Consult your veterinarian if you think your dog could have food allergies so they can verify the diagnosis and suggest a course of action.
Luckily, food allergies are occasionally simple to treat. Switch your dog’s food to a high-quality hypoallergenic alternative to remove the allergens.
Chicken, meat, dairy, artificial flavors and sweeteners, corn, and soy are among the most popular foods associated with dog allergies.
Purchase a Quality Pet Vacuum
Whatever steps you take to lessen your dog’s shedding, you’ll need to remove the fur he does leave behind around your home.
Any vacuum cleaner will be useful in this area, but those made especially for houses with pets are frequently far more effective.
Many vacuums have strong suction and unique attachments to aid in getting rid of hair from your floor, draperies, and couch.
Additionally, most of the top vacuums for pet hair include strong filtration systems that help remove even the tiniest amounts of dander, frequently triggering allergy patients’ symptoms.
Prevent Fleas
Fleas are dog parasites that feed on blood, can cause discomfort in dogs, and pose a risk of anemia, tapeworms, and dermatitis. Severe flea invasions can frequently result in skin and coat issues that cause your dog to shed.
Preventive flea treatment is the best approach to getting rid of flea issues. There are numerous solutions available, most of which are inexpensive, efficient, and simple to use. A few examples include tick and flea collars and topical and oral medications.
Also, consider your dog’s age, medical history, breed, lifestyle, and locality when choosing a flea treatment option.
Final Thoughts
No one enjoys it, but we have to realize that every dog goes through the process of shedding. Although we cannot totally stop it, there are many home remedies for dog shedding.
In light of what we have discussed so far, give your dog regular brushings and proper washes with their favorite dog shampoo. Additionally, provide your dogs with nutritious foods and use effective deshedding combs.
Finally, buy a high-quality pet vacuum to remove the dead hair from your home, as there isn’t a method to completely stop your dog from shedding.
Visitnaturalpuppies.com for more suggestions and expert guidance on how to raise your puppy into a mature, healthy dog.
