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A lot changes when you welcome a dog into the family! Walks become part of your everyday routine, couch snuggles become mandatory, and dog hair appears on clothing and furniture. While this last one might be a hassle, shedding is a normal part of caring for a dog.
But when does shedding become a sign of an underlying health issue? What differentiates healthy shedding from abnormal hair loss? Dr. Jordan Beauchamp, DMV, of GoodVets, talks with Rover about why dogs shed—and when to book a visit to your vet.
How Much Should a Dog Shed?
If you’re constantly turning to the lint roller, you’re not alone. All dogs shed as a way to rid themselves of old hair and grow a fresh, healthy coat. What’s “normal” will depend on the breed.
Double-coated breeds such as the Siberian Husky, the Alaskan Malamute, or the Bernese Mountain Dog will shed a lot, especially as the seasons change. Dr. Beauchamp says that pet parents of heavy-coated breeds shouldn’t be surprised to see handfuls of undercoat come out in large tufts during seasonal shifts, with more moderate topcoat shedding during the rest of the year.
Dogs with a single coat, such as the French Bulldog or Pit Bull, typically shed less than their heavy-coated counterparts. Rather than shedding due to seasonal changes, these breeds shed a smaller amount year-round.
Normal Reasons for Extra Shedding
It can be perfectly normal for a dog to suddenly start shedding more. Changing seasons, advancing age, a bath, or the side effects of a medication can all cause a dog to lose more fur than usual. Here are the healthy causes of increased shedding, plus what to look for.
Seasonal shedding
A change in weather is one of the most common reasons many dogs shed more. According to Dr. Beauchamp, most canines up their shedding quota during spring and fall, to prepare for drastic temperature changes.
“To avoid getting too hot during summer, dogs with thick double coats will blow out their coat in the spring,” she says. “To prepare for winter, dogs shed some of their outer coat so that new hair can grow and keep them warm. It’s normal to notice more dog hair on your clothes or around the house during these seasons.”
Increasing your grooming routine with daily brushing is the best way to stay on top of seasonal shedding.
Age-related shedding
Your dog’s life stage can also factor into the amount they shed. “Puppies will shed their puppy coat around four to six months of age, depending on the breed,” says Dr. Beauchamp. “Dogs with a double coat have a puppy, adolescent, and adult coat. For example, the Bernese Mountain Dog doesn’t get its full adult coat until age two.”
Beauchamp also notes that healthy senior dogs may begin to shed less. “Their thyroid gland and other aspects that govern a healthy coat function a little bit less efficiently than they used to,” she says. “You’ll usually find the most shedding during a dog’s prime between ages two and six years old.”
A healthy diet, routine brushing, and regular baths can help remove excess fur and keep your canine’s coat looking its best.
Post-bath shedding
Speaking of bath time, washing your dog is not only a hygienic practice but one of the most efficient ways to help remove excess undercoat. You might notice a little extra shedding after bathing your dog, and that’s normal. If your dog has a heavy coat, consider using a de-shedding shampoo to manage excess shedding. Round out bath time with a thorough brushing to remove loose tufts of fur.
Medication-related shedding
Certain drugs or medications, such as corticosteroids used to treat inflammation, allergies, and other conditions, may cause excess shedding. While this is a common side effect for dogs, it’s worth discussing with your vet if your dog is on medication. If this is the case for your pet, a little extra TLC (brushing and baths) can go a long way.
Other common causes of shedding
As their body provides nutrients and minerals to their babies, excess shedding can be common in female dogs during pregnancy and the days following birth. Dehydration can also cause coats to shed. Providing your dog with clean, fresh water will help keep their coat shining!
When Shedding Indicates a Health Problem
If your pet begins to experience atypical hair loss that results in bare, red, or scabbed skin, it’s worth visiting your vet.
“Anytime dog hair falls out in a big grouping and there is a bald spot left behind, it could indicate something more,” says Dr. Beauchamp. “Even when double-coated breeds lose big tufts of hair, fur remains underneath. Balding is considered abnormal. You might notice the bare skin is red, scabbed, or crusting.”
Here are some of the reasons a dog might experience abnormal shedding and hair loss.
Stress and anxiety
If your dog is experiencing hair loss, anxiety may be to blame. Dr. Beauchamp says stress commonly manifests in dogs as over-grooming to the point of hair loss and bald patches. Due to stress hormones, their coat may also not grow as it normally does.
“Stressors can vary, though they often stem from a change to the environment—like welcoming a baby or home construction,” Dr. Beauchamp explains. “If you suspect that your dog is stressed, the first step is finding out what the trigger is so it can be removed. If it can’t be removed, step two becomes helping the dog cope with that trigger.”
Beauchamp recommends a calming pheromone diffuser called ThunderEase and Purina’s Calming Care supplement to lower stress.
Desensitization training can also help a dog relax around their triggers, especially when paired with anti-anxiety medication. “We don’t only want to rely on meds; the goal is to bring down that scary threshold and help the dog move forward,” Dr. Beauchamp cautions.
Diet
Much like humans, dogs require a balanced diet. A common reason for hair loss in canines is malnutrition. If your pup isn’t getting enough protein or fat, they may not have enough nutrients to keep their coat shining and healthy. One sign of a diet-related issue is the fur becoming brittle, dull, and falling out in clumps.
Talking to your vet about the proper diet for your dog is the best solution.
Allergies
Another common cause of itchiness and hair loss is allergies. According to Dr. Beauchamp, there are three types of allergies that dogs experience:
- seasonal (such as a pollen or dander allergy)
- environmental (such as an allergy to dust mites or a detergent in the home)
- food (such as an allergic reaction to a certain protein)
If your dog is constantly scratching themselves, it’s important to visit your vet as soon as possible. They may provide your pet with medication to alleviate itchiness, but allergy testing will identify the root cause.
Fleas & skin parasites
Persistent itchiness and scratching can play a big role in unhealthy shedding. If your dog is scratching to the point of red, irritated skin, fleas or another skin parasite could be the culprit. You may notice hair coming out in patchy clumps around the body.
Depending on the situation, your vet may suggest an at-home flea bath and/or prescribe medication as treatment. If your dog has fleas, you’ll also want to clean your home with flea-treatment products to prevent infestation.
Illness & infection
“If your dog’s skin looks healthy but their coat is dull and shedding, this could be a sign of a thyroid issue, diabetes, or other health problem,” says Dr. Beauchamp. “If organs aren’t functioning properly, they can’t produce a healthy coat like they should.”
Underlying issues can range from disease to infection to hormonal imbalances, and your vet might suggest a skin scrape to look for bacteria, a topical for the skin, or medication.
Poor grooming
If your heavy-coated dog has been shaved close to the skin (whether for grooming or a surgical procedure), they may experience something called “post-grooming alopecia.” This condition causes hair to grow back unevenly, and you may notice bald patches or wispy, thin fur. While post-grooming alopecia may treat itself over time, your vet might also provide medication to help with healthy regrowth.