How to deal with dog shedding

Reviewed and Updated on May 5, 2020 by Jennifer Coates, DVM

Although shedding is usually normal, you’re probably looking for ways to reduce your dog’s shedding so you don’t have to constantly rid your clothes, car, and home of all the hair.  

The first step is determining whether the amount of hair that your dog is shedding is normal, or if they are shedding excessively due to a health problem. Here’s what to look for, plus tips for how you can reduce shedding in your dog.

Is Your Dog Shedding Too Much?

What’s considered a normal amount of fur for dogs to shed? In many cases, this will depend upon the breed.

Breed-Related Shedding

“Some breeds shed year-round, as in Boxers or most short-coated dogs, while others, such as Huskies or Akitas, usually shed most [of their hair] twice a year.

Many people think that long-coated dogs shed more often, but that is not usually true. Most long-coated dogs have shedding seasons when the weather changes,” says Dr. Adam Denish of Rhawnhurst Animal Hospital in Pennsylvania.

Once you have an idea of your dog’s usual amount of shedding, then you can monitor your dog for changes. Are they shedding more or less, or at different times than usual? If your dog is shedding more than they usually do, there might be an underlying health condition.

Shedding Due to Health Issues

According to Dr. Jennifer Coates, a veterinarian in Fort Collins, Colorado, you should be concerned if you see an increase in shedding, particularly when it’s accompanied by:

• Itchiness

• Patchy hair loss

• Skin lesions

• Signs of generalized illness

If you see these signs, your dog needs to see a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.

“If shedding is abnormal, such as with thyroid disorders, diabetes, or poor nutrition, it can be helped by improving the health of your pet,” says Dr. Denish. “Animals that have dry skin, dandruff, or skin diseases will tend to have more shedding problems as well.” 

How to Reduce Shedding

If you’ve determined that your dog is healthy but just sheds a lot, then follow these tips to help reduce your dog’s shedding.

How to Control Dog Shedding With Diet

Whether your dog leaves a light coating of fur in their wake or clumps the size of small mammals, here are some things you can do to help control their shedding.

According to Dr. Coates, once health problems have been ruled out, a well-balanced and healthy diet can go a long way towards keeping shedding at an acceptable level.

“A poor diet will not supply all the nutrients a pet needs to grow and maintain a healthy coat. Adequate amounts of high-quality protein and fat, particularly essential fatty acids, are needed to reduce excessive shedding,” says Dr. Coates.

When it comes to choosing a dog food, it’s best not to skimp, says Dr. Denish. “The quality of food that your pet eats greatly influences the degree of shedding and the quality of the coat,” says Dr. Denish.

How to Control Shedding With Grooming

A dog groomer is your best resource for controlling your dog’s shedding through grooming.

Mari Rozanski of Plush Pups Boutique and Grooming in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, has been grooming pets for more than 25 years and believes that you’ve got to help keep your pet groomed at home. But how often?

“In a perfect world, I would say [to] brush your dog on a daily basis. It's good for their coat and skin, and it can serve as quality time with your dog,” says Rozanski. “More realistically, brushing your dog at least once or twice a week should help keep shedding to a minimum.”

The Best Grooming Tools for Controlling Shedding

A few basic (and inexpensive) items are all that you’ll need to manage your dog’s shedding.

“I personally prefer a slicker brush and a metal comb,” says Rozanski. “A hand-mitt, although I have never tried one, is good for a very short-haired dog such as a Doberman or a Dalmatian.”

She continues, “There’s a wide assortment of tools available, but some instruction on choosing the right one is necessary. Usually a groomer or breeder can help with this.”

When to See a Professional Groomer

When it comes to grooming, sometimes it’s best to leave it to the pros.

“Professional grooming every 4-6 weeks is a good way to keep shedding at a minimum and to avoid a mess at home; groomers have all the proper tools and specialty shampoos for shedding dogs,” says Rozanski.

“Bathing at home can be fun, but if the dog is not rinsed or dried properly, or if the wrong shampoo is used, a skin condition can occur. Also, the pH balance for a dog is different than a person, so only dog shampoos should be used,” adds Rozanski.

You’ll still want to brush your dog at least a few times a week in between professional grooming sessions, however.

Keeping Your Home Clean of Pet Hair

If you’re looking to keep pet hair out of your home, you can either pick up cast-off dog hair or keep it from becoming a problem in the first place.

According to Rozanski, it’s always a good idea to keep furniture and other spots that are heavily used by your dog covered with a throw or sheet to make those surfaces easier to clean.

Also, vacuuming is your best weapon in the fight against dog hair. While a conventional vacuum can be used, there are special vacuums with devices and attachments that are designed to deal with pet fur, which can make the job easier.

For quick pickups of dog hair from clothes and furniture, Rozanski is partial to hair rollers (like those for your clothes) from companies such as 3M. 

Again, none of these actions will completely eliminate the hair from your home, but they will help you fight it.

Using Air Filters to Control Pet Hair in the Home

Pet hair and dander in the air can exacerbate allergies, asthma, and other conditions. Often, the conventional filtering that comes with heating and air conditioning systems won’t be robust enough to create an easy breathing environment.

There are many standalone air filters you can purchase, but Rozanski says she has had particular success with Aprilaire products.

Be Consistent About Changing Filters

Obviously, frequent filter changes are a must, and for heavily shedding dogs, you might even want to change filters more often than the company recommends.

Perhaps the most important thing you can do to stay ahead of shedding is to think ahead.

“My suggestion for most owners is to learn about your dog and the breed before making a decision on adopting the pet. You need to understand the requirements for that pet in terms of veterinary care, nutrition, and maintenance,” says Dr. Denish.

By David F. Kramer

Featured Image: iStock.com/Petko Ninov

First things first, don’t panic. For the most part, dogs shed – it’s what they do. Shedding is a normal process in which your dog’s body naturally removes old or damaged hair. Even shedding that seems excessive (i.e. when the lint roller has become your new best friend) can be normal, depending on your dog’s breed, the weather, and a number of other factors.

But how much is too much? As a pet parent, it’s important to be able to identify what constitutes abnormal shedding in your dog and to educate yourself on the right steps to take to get your beloved pup healthy again if an underlying medical condition lies at its source.

Good News: There are natural supplements to improve your dog’s coat and skin health. Flexerna Omega and MSM can help with your dog’s shedding issues and improve comfort, support, and mobility in your dog’s joints at the same time! Talk about a win-win.

So if your dog is shedding like crazy, here’s our step-by-step guide to determining when you should be concerned, how to minimize shedding, and how to deal with all that hair!

Step 1: Understand Normal Shedding

All dogs shed (except, as you might have guessed, for the American Hairless Terrier). Some breeds shed more than others, and even within breeds, your individual dog may shed more than another dog of the same breed. The 9 breeds of dog that naturally shed the most are:

• Akitas
• Bernese Mountain Dogs
• Boston Terriers
• Chow Chows
• Corgis
• German Shepherds (aka German Shedders)
• Labrador Retrievers
• Newfoundlands
• Siberian Huskies

In addition to their breed, the weather may be to blame for your dog’s excessive shedding. Many dogs develop thick coats in the colder months of winter that are then shed as temperatures rise in the spring. Cold spells, followed by sudden and extreme warmth can also cause higher than average shedding, as well as long bouts of heat, especially for dogs with thick undercoats.

If you can trace your dog’s excessive shedding to their breed, the time of year, or the weather (and they seem their usual happy, healthy self), there’s likely nothing to worry about. However, if you still feel concerned, there are several ways to identify what constitutes abnormal shedding.

Step 2: Identify Abnormal Shedding

So what if the weather is mild, and your dog seems to be shedding even more than normal for their breed? If that’s the case, here are several symptoms to keep an eye out for that may indicate an underlying medical condition:

• Skin irritation (redness, bumps, rashes, and/or scabs)
• Bald spots
• Severely thinning coat
• Open sores
• Excessive itching or face rubbing
• Higher than average licking

If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, especially if they last more than a week, it’s time for a trip to your veterinarian to rule out any medical conditions.

Step 3: Rule Out Medical Conditions

If your dog exhibits signs of abnormal shedding, your veterinarian can best determine if their excessive hair loss is a symptom of an underlying disorder. Medical conditions that can cause abnormal shedding include:

• Infections (fungal or bacterial)
• Parasites (fleas, lice, or mites)
• Allergies (inhalant, food-related, or topical)
• Kidney, liver, thyroid, or adrenal disease (including Cushing’s Disease)
• Medications
• Cancer
• Immune disease
• Sunburn
• Skin contact with irritating substances

Your veterinarian will be able to determine if one of these medical conditions is contributing to your dog’s abnormal shedding, and will work with you to develop the best course of action to get them back on the path to health.

Know that if your dog is exhibiting signs of a possible underlying medical condition (irritated skin, sores, excessive itching, etc.), it’s important to take them to the veterinarian ASAP. These conditions can be extremely uncomfortable for your pet and can go from bad to worse quickly, so it’s best to start treatment with your veterinarian’s advice as quickly as possible.

Step 4: Up Your Dog’s Nutrition

Excessive shedding can sometimes be prevented through proper nutrition, and your dog’s skin and coat are a direct reflection of the essential nutrients they are or aren’t receiving. While many pet parents and even animal professionals have long believed fish oil and omega 3-fatty acids are the keys to healthy skin and coat, the truth is that omega-3s alone is only one part of a much greater solution.

Optimal skin and coat health actually require the right ratio of both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (from both marine and plant sources), along with the addition of some key vitamins and minerals essential to your dog’s skin. These can easily be provided to your dog with a high-quality daily supplement such as Flexerna Omega.

 A key bonus ingredient you may want to explore is methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). This bio-available sulfur naturally supports the structural integrity of your dog’s skin by providing the key sulfur component of collagen and keratin. It also naturally eliminates free radical damage to the skin by supporting glutathione production. Our new MSM Joint Boost is a quick and inexpensive way to make sure your dog is getting enough MSM, most joint supplements do not contain enough MSM to provide the full benefits to your furry friend. Simply add a boost of MSM to improve your dog’s skin and coat health.

Step 5: Reduce Stress

Just like humans, dogs get stressed. And just like in our bodies, emotional responses are powerful and can manifest physically in your dog’s body. If there’s been a big change in your home environment, your dog’s excessive shedding could be a reaction to stress. Have you recently moved homes? Has a family member passed away or moved out? Maybe there’s been a higher-than-normal level of conflict in your household? Dogs are sensitive to all these things.

If you suspect your dog may be losing their hair due to stress, do everything you can to provide a normal, predictable daily routine for them. Walk them at the same time each day, avoid switching up their food or mealtimes, and as much as possible, do what they likely expect to be coming next. And of course, give them plenty of TLC around the clock.

Step 6: Ensure Consistent Brushings

So what to do about the crazy amount of hair floating around your house? One of the best things you can do to curb excessive shedding is to brush your dog on a regular basis. This collects your dog’s old or damaged hair into one convenient spot instead of them spreading it all over the carpet.

Depending on your dog, consistent brushings may mean daily, weekly, or monthly grooming. Keep in mind that certain brushes work better on certain types of coats. For example, bristle brushes are great for dogs with short or wiry coats, pin brushes tend to work well for long and silky-haired dogs, and undercoat rakes are designed to get deep into double and heavy coats. Do your research and shop around before committing to a brush to ensure you get the most bang for your buck.

Step 7: Bathe Your Dog Regularly

Another great way to damper excessive shedding is to bathe your dog on a regular basis. This will help rinse off much of the dead and damaged hair that would eventually come off during shedding, significantly reducing the amount of hair floating around your house. For most dogs, a once per month bath is sufficient. If needed, it may help to up this to twice per month during the warmer spring and summer months when natural shedding may increase.

Now that you have a greater understanding of when you should be concerned about your dog’s excessive shedding, it’s in your hands to take the next steps – whether that’s managing it through regular brushing and bathing, upping nutrition and lowering stress, taking your dog to the veterinarian to address underlying medical concerns or all of the above. Your dog (and your upholstery!) will thank you.