HELP! My Dog is Shedding!!

Anyone who owns a cat or dog knows that you are going to have to deal with hair. Some breeds a lot more than others but it will always be there. Does that mean you are destined to be vacuuming twice a day, EVERY day? Absolutely not! Unless of course you enjoy it. Here are some ways to reduce the amount of hair your dog sheds and ultimately the amount you have to pick up.

The most obvious thing to reduce shedding is to regularly brush your dog. We live in a world where we are extremely crunched for time, and do not usually have the time to spend brushing our pet. Some breeds of dogs require daily brushing. There are certain brushes as well that really get all the dead hair out. I have heard that the "Shed Ease" is an excellent brush. If you can fit in even 15 minutes of brushing each day, you will spend a lot less time picking up hair around the house.

Another way to reduce shedding is by shampooing your dog with special anti-shedding shampoos such as Furaway and Furminator De-shedding shampoo. It is always a good idea to try and bath your dog outside during the summer. The amount of hair that will accumulate in your bathtub drain is enough to have you calling a plumber. Obviously in the winter it will have to be done inside, where you can use a hair catcher in the drain. Rinse the shampoo out with lukewarm water. Hot water can cause more hair loss.

Give your dog virgin olive oil and wild salmon fish capsules. They contain omega 3 fatty acids which condition the skin and help create a healthy coat. That will more than likely shed less.

Check the food you are feeding your dog. If the food is not agreeing with your dog well, it can cause the hair to shed in larger amounts. Talk to your vet and see if there are certain ingredients in dog food that help or promote shedding. You may be feeding something to your dog that is causing the problem in which case switching foods should help.

If at all possible, try to have your dog groomed regularly. This may entail having your long haired dog shaved or groomed so it no longer has long hair. This will ultimately depend on the dog you have. I personally have a golden retriever/border collie mix, and she looks just fine with no hair.

As I mentioned before, all pets generally shed. If this is going to be a major cause for concern, you should do your research before buying a dog and talk to other people who have the same breed of dog. This will prevent an unhappy owner, and possibly an unhappy dog.