How to Stop or Minimize Excessive Shedding in Dogs

May 12, 2017

While some breeds of dogs don’t shed at all or only very little, there are others who can end up covering everything in your home in fur. This can start to drive you crazy, especially if your dog is a year-round shedder.

While there is no way to completely stop shedding altogether, you can practice a few simple habits that will drastically cut down on the problem so that it’s manageable. We’ll give you a few suggestions in this article to help you manage excessive shedding in dogs:

Regular Grooming

Brushing your dog’s coat regularly is the absolute best way to control shedding. By brushing, you are removing all the dead fur that would normally fall onto your upholstery with the brush.

Depending on how excessively your dog sheds, regular brushing could mean just once a week or it could mean a daily routine. The more often you brush, the less fur you’ll find around your house. We recommend putting a tarp or old blanket down while you brush so that you can easily clean up the hair afterward.

Monitor Their Diet

Just as a healthy diet is important for you, it’s also important for your pooch. Look for quality dog foods made with healthy ingredients. Avoid foods with corn and soy fillers. A diet high in healthy proteins and fats will help improve your dog’s coat and minimize shedding.

Most dog foods aren’t particularly high in fat so you can supplement by adding fish oil or other healthy oil to your dog’s food. If a dog has loose stool consider adding a probiotic to their diet.

Clean Carpets and Upholstery Regularly

The longer hair stays on a couch or in the carpet, the more time it has to work its way into the fibers of the fabric. That makes it more difficult for you to remove it. Fur that has been shed recently is still lying loose on the surface so you vacuum it up or brush it away more easily.

Take Your Dog for Regular Check Ups

While shedding is a perfectly normal thing for dogs to do, excessive shedding can be a sign of certain health problems like allergies or other illnesses. By taking your dog for checkups every 6 months, you can make sure you catch any health problems early on.

A healthy dog will shed less than an unhealthy dog so these regular checkups to keep your dog healthy is not only good for your pooch, but also good for your upholstery!

By making these simple changes to your routine, you can help control shedding AND make sure your dog is as healthy and happy as possible. That’s the perfect win-win situation!

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