How to Minimise Your Dog's Shedding

Some dogs are low shedders whereas others leave their hair all over the place throughout the year. There are certain breeds that don't shed at all which includes the Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer, a relatively unknown breed in the UK that's building up a fan base. Regular brushing will reduce the amount of hair a dog leaves around the house, but it will not decrease the amount that a dog will regularly shed.

Regular Grooming

Some dogs need to be regularly groomed by a professional which means they get bathed, brushed and trimmed if needed every few weeks and sometimes months which all helps keep their skin in top condition and their coats looking good. However, some dogs don't need to be taken to a grooming parlour because they can be taken care of in their own homes with frequent or regular grooming sessions. It's never a good idea to over-bath a dog, but most dogs get dirty when they are exercised in the great outdoors especially if they are allowed to run off their leads and it’s been raining. In short, bathing them every few weeks or months is a good idea.

Bathing a dog certainly goes a long way in keeping on top of the hair they leave lying around, but it's important to thoroughly rinse off a dog once their coats have been shampooed or they could end up with dry and itchy skin. This could lead to an infection which is to be avoided at all costs because they could prove hard to clear up.

Is Your Dog Healthy?

There are quite a few health conditions that can result in a dog shedding more hair than usual so it's important to keep an eye on their health by taking them along to the vets for regular check-ups. If your dog seems to be shedding more of their coat than usual, they could be suffering from the following health disorders and as such need to be examined by a vet sooner rather than later:

• Hypothyrodism - a hormonal disorder
• Cushing's disease which is when a dog's adrenal gland is overactive
• A parasite infestation caused by fleas
• A mite infestation which can be the cause of mange
• A fungus infection namely ringworm
• Environmental allergies

The Importance of a Good Diet

Dogs should be fed a good quality diet unless a vet has prescribed a specific diet for them. Research has established that omega-3 fatty acids work well at repairing skin especially when it's been damaged by some form of allergy, but it is also a very good supplement to give to healthy dogs too.

A good quality diet will help ensure your dog's skin and coat are kept in top condition and this in turn means it could reduce the amount of hair they shed, bearing in mind that an unhealthy dog tends to shed more copious amounts of hair. It's also important to feed a diet that corresponds to a dog's age whether they are puppies, mature or in their golden years.

Make Sure Your Dog is Drinking Enough Water

Having access to fresh, clean water is essential for dogs because just like us they are made of around 80% water and as such they need to stay well hydrated at all times. A dehydrated dog will have dry skin and this can end up cracking and causing all sorts of skin issues resulting in them losing their hair.

If your dog likes to just sip at their water bowl which makes you think they are not drinking enough, it's a good idea to add canned food to their diet to make sure they are getting enough water in their systems bearing in mind that the majority of wet dog food is made up of 70% moisture.

Non or Low Shedding Breeds

There are some low shedding or non-shedding breeds like the Poodle which are a great choice for house proud people or anyone who might suffer from allergies. With this said, there are quite a few terrier breeds that are known not to shed too. Then there are the newer hybrid dogs"" many of which are Poodle crosses like the Goldendoodle, a dog that does not shed as much as a Golden Labrador. When it comes to pedigrees that definitely don't shed any hair, you have the Chinese Crested or the lovely Xoloitzcuintli more commonly known as the Mexican Hairless although it is worth bearing in mind that both these breeds still shed dander which is more commonly known as dead skin.

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