Why Is My Dog Losing Hair?

We all love our pets, and especially our dogs. They are friendly, fun loving, and entertaining all throughout our day. However, there are some things about our pups that we just have to live with, including all of the sheddings that occurs. Yes, dogs lose their hair like it’s their job, and you may think there is no end in sight. Your vacuum cleaner will get tired cleaning these hairs.

So, why do our pets lose so much fur over the course of their lifetime, and how can we help to minimize it as much as possible? Well, we are here to answer those questions, plus gives some tips and tricks to help with your shedding situation.

Why Do They Shed?

As with humans alike, our dogs lose their hair, both natural and damaged. Shedding is a totally normal occurrence, as it allows for new follicles to grow healthy hair. However, the frequency and amount of hair that your pooch is shedding on a daily basis can be determined by many factors, including their breed, seasonal changes, and most importantly, their health. Luckily, there are many different options and tips that can be used in your home to help minimize shedding and keep it more under control.

Watch Their Nutrition/Dog Food

One factor that can really affect your dog’s shedding situation is their medical health. Excessive shedding can be brought on by a multitude of scenarios, including things like stress, an underlying medical issue, or inadequate nutrition. Your local vet can help to determine which of these factors, if any, are effecting your family pet, and can help to provide solutions for the problem as well.

It may be just as simple as changing out your dog’s kibble to a brand that is more suited for healthy pups and doesn’t cause any type of allergic reactions or malnourishment.

Grooming With Proper Dog Shampoo

I’m sure this seems rather common sense, but it is so important to groom and brush your puppy on a regular basis as well. As we said before, it is completely normal for there to be a bit of shedding in your dog; It’s just a natural circumstance, just as it is for humans. However, using the proper brush for your dog’s specific breed and fur type can help to also minimize the amount of hair that is falling out.

It can also be beneficial to use proper dog conditioning shampoos that aren’t harsh or irritating for their hair and skin. Once again, your local vet or groomer will be able to point you in the right direction in terms of which grooming supplies will work best for your specific dog.

Living In An Inviting Space/Dog Carrier

As we also said before, if you are finding that your dog is having an increased amount of hair and fur falling out, it may be part of a seasonal change. This is a major indicator for dogs who spent a good amount of time outside as well, as they change their coats to adapt to the weather. So, with that said, if you are wanting to minimize the hair present in your home, it may be a good idea to keep them indoors more.

This may seem strange, but it has been shown that dogs who spend the majority of their time inside have a minimal amount of shedding in the long run. This is because of the regulated temperatures that reduce the need for a seasonally thicker coat. It may be helpful to find a comfy dog carrier for your puppy to rest in during the day if you are typically out of the house, and that can also take the brunt of most of the shedding that occurs during that time period.

There are obviously many different factors and scenarios that can go into the amount of hair your puppy is losing, but it is important to always remember that in most circumstances, it is nothing major. It is a natural habit to lose some hair here or there. The time to call your vet with major concern is when you see blatant bald spots and patches, or even behavior, that is out of the norm for your pet.

If this is the case, your dog’s vet will be able to determine what is causing the erratic behavior and excessive shedding, as well as provide a multitude of solutions to help resolve the problem and minimize the amount of hair you are seeing on your floors and furniture. You and your dog will both be happy once with hair shedding is at a minimum, and all is well.