Simple and effective methods to reduce shedding in dogs

Shedding, unfortunately for pet owners, is a natural cycle in every pet’s life. There is no wonder cure, contrary to what some product manufacturers would have us believe. They offer pet coat tonics, tools that claim to remove all loose hair in one step, and of course, the cure-all supplement. Don’t waste your money, they won’t work.

To help ease the shedding dilemma, it’s important to examine the facts. It is necessary to determine if the pet is really shedding or if she is losing her fur. While the end result is the same, the causes of these two situations are very different.

Shedding typically occurs every spring and fall, and is primarily related to changes in the intensity and duration of sunlight cycles. Pets that live primarily in an outdoor environment tend to “blow their coats” twice a year, according to the natural sunlight schedules to which they are exposed. Pets that live most of their lives indoors are exposed to artificial light, which disrupts this natural shedding cycle and causes the pet to shed excessively.

Most indoor dogs typically go through at least one major shedding cycle each year, depending on the breed. Here’s the general rule of thumb: If the dog requires regular maintenance haircuts, chances are he won’t shed too much. Dogs with shorter hair that require brushing rather than clipping often have double coats and therefore tend to shed a lot more.

Fur loss is very different from shedding as it is not a natural phenomenon. The result is the same, but the actual layer loss can be due to many different factors. Older pets often have poor quality fur as their digestive systems don’t work as well as they used to. The same goes for pets that have been sick for a long period of time, or have been exposed to a significantly stressful situation, or have changed owners, etc. As always, an examination by a veterinarian is always a good option to rule out any obvious health deficiencies.

Studies have also shown that dogs that have been under anesthesia for an extended period of time typically blow their fur within two months. Females that have had cubs also tend to lose their fur soon after. Most of these situations are fixable and the coat will return to normal once the pet is back to good health.

Pet owners looking for a solution to alleviate excessive shedding need to evaluate the brand of dog food they feed. If a dog is being fed poor quality food, the dog’s body will use what little nutritional value the food has as energy to maintain bodily functions and therefore the quality of its coat will decrease. In most cases, good quality dog ​​food is usually the cheapest and easiest way to reduce excessive shedding. Talk to your veterinarian about choosing a premium dog food that is best for your pet’s individual health and well-being.

Finally, in addition to a quality meal, a good brushing of clothes will reduce the amount of hair that you will find in your house. Whether you institute the grooming ritual at home or turn to your favorite dog groomer to do your homework, you’ll be pleased with the results.