Dogs lose their hair as part of a natural process called shedding, which allows them to get rid of old or damaged hair as well as shed their own hair. The growth of a dog’s hair goes through a number of stages, and once it reaches the length that is predetermined for it, the hair will begin to fall out. Of course, it’s frustrating for the humans who are responsible for paying them back. Hook up till the very end if you really want to get rid of this, but don’t worry about it!
Factors that affect shedding in the dogs
1.Breed of the dog
Whenever you think of keeping a pet dog, always prefer a hypo-allergic, less shedding breed. Some breeds shed once in a year, others shed twice a year. Similarly, some breeds show less shedding and the rest of them shed more hairs. If you want to keep your house free from hairy mess, you can select the following particular breeds of dog:
- Poodle
- Bichon Frise
- Afghan Hound
- Portuguese Water Dog
- Chinese Crested
- Schnauzer
- Maltese
- Yorkshire Terrior
- Shih Tzu
However, if you mix those breeds, the results are not guaranteed whether the baby breed will shed or not.
Never go for the following breeds as they are high shedding:
- Golden Retriever
- Akita
- Pug
- Siberian Husky
- Chow Chow
- Saint Bernard
- Beagle
- Great Pyrenees
- German Shepherd
2.Time of the year/season
Dogs typically shed their coats twice a year, in the spring and the fall. They do this in the spring so that by the time summer comes around, they would have lighter fur coats and be more prepared for the heat. Through the same fashion, their fur coats become thicker and go through other changes in the fall in preparation for the coming winter.
3.Layers of fur
The number of fur layers that a dog has determines whether or not this phenomena occurs. The likelihood of your dog shedding its coat is increased if it has thick layers of fur. When there is a relatively thin layer, there is a decreased likelihood of shedding occurring.
4.Temperature
The warmth of the environment and exposure to sunshine cause the dog to lose their old coat in order to make place for their new one. This occurs because the length of the day has an effect on the growth of a new hair coat.
5.Medical conditions
When compared to an unhealthy dog, a healthy dog will have less shedding. The following are some examples of medical conditions that may cause a dog’s shedding to be affected:
- Allergies (can be food-related, topical or inhalant)
- Anxiety
- Immune diseases
- Infections (bacterial, fungal)
- Cancers
- Parasites (fleas, mites, lice)
- Kidney diseases
- Sunburns
- Liver diseases
- Thyroid diseases
- Adrenal gland diseases
- Prolonged use of medications
How can you prevent shedding in dogs?
To prevent the shedding in dogs, you need to work on the following things:
1.Maintain hydration level of pup
Water is absolutely necessary for the survival of all species. It is beneficial to health, and in particular to the skin, and it helps to keep the skin of the puppy wet. Maintaining an adequate quantity of water helps prevent hair loss in the puppy. Make sure, though, that your dog always has access to clean water.
2.Healthy diet of pup
When a dog consumes nutritious food, the hair follicles are given the nutrients they need to become robust and nourished. As a result, it lessens the amount of hair that is lost by stopping any more shedding.
3.Use of shedding tool
The shedding instruments resemble brushes but have stainless steel tines instead of bristles. Depending on how often your dog sheds its coat, you can use them once or twice a year. This is determined on the breed of your dog. Before the coat begins to shed on its own, these instruments can be used to pluck away hair that is superfluous or damaged from the coat. The utilization of a tool might lessen the likelihood of producing a mess.
4.Regular bath
Bathing your dog on a regular basis not only keeps them clean but also helps remove any damaged hairs. In addition to this, shampoos that reduce shedding are an excellent choice for those interested in an easier process.
5.Regular brushing
The type of the dog’s fur should be taken into consideration while selecting a brush. Rubber combs are an excellent choice for short-haired dogs, while bristle brushes are versatile enough to be utilized on dogs with any type of coat.
6.Take control of fleas
It is essential to provide routine care for your puppy, especially with regard to flea prevention and treatment. Because the skin exhibits a fast reaction to the symptoms generated by fleas, the presence of fleas might cause an individual to shed their skin all over their body.
7.Use of supplements
One of the helpful supplements for reducing the amount of hair that a dog sheds is omega-3 fatty acids. It helps reduce the amount of dander as well as the dryness of the dog’s skin. It is expected that skin that has been well nourished will shed less. In addition to this, it makes the naturally shiny coat of the animal shine even more.
Most commonly used omega-3 fatty acid supplements are:
- Linoleic acid
- Lovaza
- Omega-3 acid ethyl esters
- Vascazen
- Omtryg
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