What to do if my dog is shedding a lot?

Winning the battle against dog shedding takes vigilance and time (and understanding your pup's fur can go a long way, too).

Whether you're getting ready to adopt a new dog or are used to all your furniture and rugs covered in fur, learning to control dog shedding is an important aspect of pet care. And it's not just for keeping your house tidy: Loose hairs on your dog can get matted, trapping dirt, debris, and oils on the skin. This can make your dog uncomfortable and lead to skin issues.

Luckily, there are shedding remedies you can try to keep the fur from flying.

Why Is My Dog Shedding So Much?

Despite what you might have heard, all dogs shed. In fact, all animals with hair shed—even humans. We all just shed at different rates.

"To better understand how coat type affects shedding, you need to understand how a dog's hair grows," says groomer Dawn Squadrito, owner of Hairy Poppins, a mobile grooming service in Loxahatchee, Fla. Hair growth and shedding occurs over four phases:

• Anagen: This is an active period when hair grows to its genetically predetermined length. New hairs push out any remaining old hairs.
• Catagen: During this transitional phase, the hair stops growing and the root shrinks and attaches to the hair.
• Telogen: The hair and root rest while a new hair root develops underneath. 
• Exogenous: The old hair sheds to make room for new growth. The new root moves to the anagen phase.

Dog shedding frequency differs by breed. Some dogs will significantly shed only once or twice a year. Other pups shed hair from different parts of their bodies at different times, so it seems like they're constantly shedding. And if a dog's coat spends more time in the anagen phase, it can seem like he barely sheds at all. 

Dogs with low rates of shedding are sometimes misleadingly called "non-shedding breeds" because the process is infrequent and not very noticeable. But don't assume these dogs are low-maintenance—many low-shedding dogs have greater grooming needs than their high-shedding counterparts.  

To combat your dog's shedding, you have to know the kind of hair you're dealing with. Dog coats vary in length, texture, thickness, and hair-growth patterns, and fur can vary on different parts of a dog's body.

Before bringing home a new fur baby, know the types of dog coats (and how much shedding and grooming you can expect).

• Smooth coat: The hair is sleek, shiny, and close to the body. Some dogs with short, smooth coats (such as beagles, boxers, and bulldogs) need to be brushed daily to reduce shedding.
• Double coat: A short, thick undercoat beneath a longer topcoat of guard hairs. Double-coated dogs with wiry guard hairs—such as the Lakeland terrier—need their coats to be hand-stripped to remove dead hair by the root.
• Wire coat: Hair texture ranges from coarse and wiry to smooth. Dogs with wire coats, including Airedale terriers, Brussels griffons, and Scottish terriers, shed less than many other breeds, but you still need to remove tangles as necessary.
• Silky coat: The hair is long, straight, and silky. Such coats require daily brushing and are found on cocker spaniels, Irish setters, and Yorkshire terriers).
• Curly coat: Coats range from tight curls to beachy waves. Corded coats, like what's found on the pumi, are a variation of curly. Grooming needs vary dramatically between breeds, so check with a professional groomer for the best approach.

RELATED: 13 Glamorous Long-Haired Dog Breeds Giving Us Life

When Is Dog Shedding Season?

Not all dogs experience an obvious shedding season. Along with a range of hair types, dogs display a variety of shedding patterns influenced by seasonal conditions such as hours of daylight and temperature. 

Corinne Mucha / Julia Bohen

"They're also governed by hormones, metabolism, reproduction cycle, and age," says certified master dog groomer Christina Pawlosky, owner of Pet Connection Care Center in Warren, Ohio. "And with some dogs, the longer the hair grows, the less often that dog will shed."

When seasonal shedding does occur, it tends to be in the spring and fall as the coat prepares for summer and winter weather.

Tips for Reducing Dog Shedding

Research grooming requirements for your dog so you know what type of shedding patterns to expect and how to combat them year-round, Pawlosky says. If you've adopted a mixed-breed dog, use a DNA test to determine his primary breed makeup, which will give clues to how much shedding you're in for. Use this information to create a routine that matches your pup's needs.

It's important to establish a grooming routine soon after bringing home a new puppy. The same goes for adopting an older dog (although it may take a little longer to convince him that grooming time is a happy time). Positive reinforcement can help teach your dog that being brushed and combed is something to enjoy.

For practicality, set up a table outside on your patio or in the garage so you don't have to bend down during grooming sessions. Cover the table with a towel, yoga mat, or other surface your dog feels secure standing on.

Regular brushing and bathing greatly reduces dead hair accumulation, thus preventing it from sticking to your favorite chair or pair of black pants. "It's a good idea to brush before a bath and again afterward," Squadrito says. Pre-bath brushing helps loosen mats and knots that might get worse with water and shampoo. "I also like to use a rubber-backed curry brush in the tub to loosen the hair. It's an inexpensive but very effective tool. And most dogs love the gentle massage [it provides]."

You may need more than just one dog shedding brush. If your dog has curly hair or a thick double coat, he may require a slicker brush and spray conditioner to remove dead hair and tangles. Fortunately, most grooming tools spell out specifically what type of coat they're best suited for, so take time to read packaging descriptions or seek advice from a professional groomer.

Above all, keep your dog's comfort in mind. "It's important to find tools that are gentle on the skin; repetitive motion can cause irritation," Squadrito says. "A deep-conditioning shampoo followed by a conditioner helps soften skin so hair is released more easily."

Some pet parents turn to vitamins and supplements or even home remedies as dog shedding hacks. But while certain dog shedding products and tricks (like feeding your pup olive oil) may help improve the condition of the skin and coat, not all are risk-free. Always ask your veterinarian for advice before starting any treatments at home.

Shedding is a natural and healthy process for all creatures with hair, so don't expect to eliminate all signs of dog fur from your home. And as tempting as it may seem, shaving your dog down is not a great solution. Depending on your dog's coat type, pet hair removal may require frequent vacuuming and the use of other pet hair removal tools.

RELATED: ​​Here's How Often You Should Be Washing Your Dog

Is My Dog Shedding Too Much?

All pups shed, but it's important to understand what's normal for your dog and when to get help. If you think your dog is shedding more than normal based on his coat type, start with a good grooming session.

Brush your dog and look at the whole coat as well as the skin underneath. Contact your vet if you notice any patches of hair loss or baldness, redness or irritation of skin, crusting or severe dandruff, foul odor, discharge, or discomfort. Increased shedding may be a sign of a skin condition or other disease. If the skin appears normal, a professional groomer may be able to help you better manage your dog's coat.

A version of this article, written by Sandy Robins, first appeared in Happy Paws Spring/Summer 2020.

This article was verified and edited for accuracy by Dr. Katie Grzyb, DVM on February 2, 2018.

Eyes may be the windows to the soul, but skin is truly the window to the health of your pet.

Our furred pets rely on hair to protect their skin, help regulate body temperature, and insulate the internal organs from cold and heat. Like your own daily hair loss, some shedding is natural in pets. Some breeds of dogs and cats naturally shed more than others, especially during seasonal changes when they are exposed to less light.

But excess shedding can be a sign of disease or illness that requires veterinary care. That’s why it’s important to determine the normal shedding pattern of your dog or cat and monitor it for changes.

What is Regular Shedding?

The amount of shedding that is “normal” for your pet depends on many variables, including its breed, anatomy, physiology, and genetics, said Roy Cruzen, DVM, of Phoenix, AZ.

The amount of shedding that is “normal” depends on the breed of dog or cat and an array of variables including anatomy, physiology and genetics, he said. Ideally an owner should determine a pet’s baseline shedding as soon as it is adopted.

“It’s vital to pay close attention to our pet’s health when it is young,” said Jeff Levy, DVM, of New York, NY. “Allergies and other issues can be detected early and some preventative treatments may be available.”

The notion that longhaired dogs and cats shed the most is a fallacy, said Megan Mouser. Mouser is a certified groomer and Andis Co. animal education manager in Milwaukee, WI. Shorthaired animals have denser coats and generally shed more, but the length of their hair makes it less noticeable, she said.

Of course, there are no hard and fast rules, but some dogs and cats are just naturally heavy shedders, explained Cruzen.

“Labrador Retrievers are shedding machines,” said Cruzen. “When a lab comes in the vet clinic for 20 minutes, we have to immediately go in and vacuum. The floor is covered with hair.”

Akitas, Chow Chows, Siberian Huskys, and German Shepherds match the Lab in terms of shedding.

Cat breeds that are generally heavy shedders include Persians, Russian Blues, Maine Coons, and American shorthairs.

Ideally, owners should brush their dogs and cats once a day, but even once a week is helpful to remove excess hair, increase circulation to the skin and bond with the pet, said Mouser.

The Causes Behind Excessive Shedding

There are myriad reasons why a dog or cat sheds excessively. One of the first things to do if it occurs is to look at the animal’s hair. Does it have a healthy sheen? Does the skin beneath the fur appear normal, or is it flaky, dry, or discolored?

Feeding an Imbalanced Diet

“The number one reason for excessive shedding is a poor diet,” said Cruzen. “People go to discount stores, by a 40-pound bag of cheap food, and then see their pets’ shedding increase. Even though the food meets the minimum quality requirements, it may not have enough protein or nutrients for your pet.”

Although you shouldn’t buy the cheapest pet food, you also don’t need to spend $8 a pound, said Cruzen. A quality pet food generally costs about $4 a pound, he estimated.

“Besides the quality of food, the number one pet peeve I have is giving pets gluten-free diets,” said Pete Lands, DVM, of Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. A grain-free diet may actually cause health issues in the pet, said Lands. “There are very few breeds that are gluten [i.e., grain] intolerant.”

Using the Wrong Shampoo

If the pet sheds excessively but you don’t believe food quality, intolerance, or allergies are to blame, consider grooming.

“I cringe when people tell me they use their own shampoo on animals,” said Mouser. It’s too harsh on their skin and coats.”

“Rinsing is very important,” Mouser went on to explain. “I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve wet a dog’s coat and it lathers [from leftover soap]. I tell people rinse, rinse, rinse, and when you think you’re done, rinse again.”

Stress at Home

All of the doctors who spoke on this agree that excessive shedding can also be caused by stress. If the pet has a major change in routine, has welcomed a new person or pet into the home, or otherwise had change in its routine, the stress from the changes can cause extra shedding.

If eliminating or lessening the stress does not help, a veterinarian will consider the judicious use of drugs, supplements, and even acupuncture, said Cruzen.

Something to keep in mind, however, is that for pets, a visit to the vet is a highly stressful event, said Katie Grzyb, DVM, of One Love Animal Hospital in Brooklyn, NY “Stress is the underlying cause to excessive shedding in the veterinarian’s office. Nine times out of ten an owner will note that their pet is shedding excessively during a visit to the vet.”

Skin Parasites

If your pet is shedding and excessively scratching, it may have fleas, ticks, or mange mites. Those parasites and the itching and scratching they cause can lead to more serious health issues, including inflammation of the skin and secondary skin infections.

“If kittens have fleas, they can actually cause anemia and kill the kitten,” said Joan Vokes, a veterinary technician in Green Acres, FL. “But if your pet has fleas, check with your vet before you use any products.”

Vokes recounted pet owners using over-the-counter products to kill parasites in their pets, only to cause the pet to be violently ill, in some cases with seizures.

Because these parasites can hitch a ride on our clothing or come through screened windows and doors, even indoor cats and dogs can acquire skin parasites, so it’s important to talk to your vet about preventive strategies for all of your pets.

Hormonal Imbalances, Tumors, and Other Underlying Diseases

Excessive shedding may also be a sign of hormonal imbalances. Some breeds shed excessively after giving birth or after spaying or neutering, especially if the surgery occurs when they are older, said Levy.

Shedding on various parts of the body, clumps of shedding, and skin discoloration may also be signs of an array of serious issues, including bacterial infections, ringworm and other fungal infections, thyroid disease, Cushing’s disease, skin allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, and genetically related skin problems.

If the skin of the animal is dark or discolored it could be related to an endocrine imbalance, allergies, or even tumors, said Lands. He advised owners to report any loss of appetite, lethargy, or poor mental state to their veterinarians.

As well as loss of appetite and excessive tiredness, Dr. Grzyb adds that other signs to look for are sudden increase in appetite, including a ravenous appetite, vomiting, or a significant increase in thirst and urination.

“None of this is easy stuff to determine,” said Levy. “The most important thing to do if you suspect your pet has excessive shedding, scratching, or changes in behavior is to consult your veterinarian so we can help you determine the cause and treatment.”

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