Dogs are wonderful companions, but they can also be a lot of work. One of the most common issues dog owners face is dealing with dog shedding.
You can take some simple steps to help reduce or stop dog shedding altogether.
Let’s discuss some of the best home remedies for stopping dog shedding. We will also provide tips on grooming your dog to minimize shedding properly. Keep reading to learn more!
- Why Dogs Shed?
- 11 Home Remedies for Shedding
- 1. Regularly Bath the Fido
- 2. Get Yourself a Deshedding Tool
- 3. Follow a Grooming/Deshedding Routine
- 4. Improve and Provide a Balanced Diet
- 5. Add Fish Oil to Diet
- 6. Provide Enough Water / Hydrate
- 7. Protect Him From Allergies
- 8. Use Supplements and Olive Oil
- 9. Blow-Dry Your Dog
- 10. Vacuum the Hairs Everyday
- 11. Organize Your Pet's Living Space
- Bottom Line
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Why Dogs Shed?
Dogs shed their fur for multiple reasons. For one, it’s a natural process by which dogs lose old or damaged hair. Secondly, your dog sheds to adapt to the weather.
Thick coats are plentiful in the winter but become too much during the summer months when you want them to cool down.
Here are some common reasons for shedding
- Nutrition Deficiencies
- Changing Seasons
- Allergies and Irritations
- Infections like Ringworm
- Infestation by Parasites such as Fleas, Lice, or Mites
- Chronic Licking
- Skin conditions like Dandruff and Eczema
- Hormonal Changes
- Stress
11 Home Remedies for Shedding
1. Regularly Bath the Fido
Before you can begin to stop dog shedding, you first need to understand why your pet sheds. Many people think it is due to dry skin, but that is not the case.
Dog shedding occurs when a dog’s old hairs are pushed out by new growth. As a result, the old hair falls out and gets distributed around the home.
If you want to ensure that your dog has healthy fur, then baths may be just what they need. Often, dog owners notice more shedding after bath time because their pets are losing damaged or unhealthy hair along with the new growth.
To reduce the amount of loose fur in your home after bathing your pet, avoid using soap. Soap typically strips the natural oils from your pet’s coat and skin, leaving them drier and more itchy.
Instead, use a high-quality shampoo that is pH balanced to protect your dog’s skin and fur. If you cannot find a specific shampoo for dogs and cats, most shampoos produced for people will work just fine.
2. Get Yourself a Deshedding Tool
A deshedding tool is ideal for removing excess hair from dogs with moderate shedding issues.
Deshedding tools range in price, but the best quality ones range between $30-$40 USD. There are many different types of these tools, such as Furminator or Hertzko.
There are also some cheaper options like Shed Ender (This particular one is not ideal because it does not work very well don’t buy).
You can also make your deshedding tool at home. All you need are some grooming gloves and a wire dog brush.
3. Follow a Grooming/Deshedding Routine
If your pet gets too much hair all over the house, you should regularly brush or comb them. Depending on how often they shed, it can be done daily or every other day.
Grooming is an effective way to prevent excess fur from being left behind throughout your home. However, even if you have the best deshedding tool, there may still be enough hair in your pet’s coat to spread if they are not groomed regularly.
Dogs with short coats should be brushed several times a week to reduce shedding. Longer-haired dogs should be combed at least once every few days.
If you find that all of this grooming is becoming too time-consuming, other options are available. Deshedding sprays and wipes can also help keep your home hair-free, so you don’t have to brush or comb your pet every day.
4. Improve and Provide a Balanced Diet
What you feed your dog can significantly impact their health, including how much they shed. Poor nutrition may cause your pet to lose its hair at an increased rate.
When you’re looking for ways to reduce shedding, your pet must get enough protein and other nutrients in their food. If you aren’t sure what kind of diet is best for your fur baby, then talk to your vet about what they recommend.
It’s also helpful if the food is easy for them to digest. The last thing you want is for them to be uncomfortable while trying to get all of the nutrients they need from each meal. Feeding senior dogs or puppies are usually more difficult because their smaller stomachs can’t always handle large meals.
You can also try adding supplements to your pet’s diet, such as Omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to strengthen hair and reduce shedding.
5. Add Fish Oil to Diet
Adding fish oil to your dog’s diet is one of the easiest ways to reduce shedding and keep their skin healthy. Fish oil contains high concentrations of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, which can help strengthen and hydrate fur and skin.
Dogs that are deficient in these oils may end up with dry, flaky skin that causes them to overproduce oils to make up for their deficiencies.
This is why fish oil can be very beneficial in reducing shedding, as it helps regulate the amount of oil on the skin and fur.
Make sure you pick out a high-quality brand that an independent lab has tested.
6. Provide Enough Water / Hydrate
It’s important to keep your pet hydrated at all times. Many pet owners make a common mistake is thinking that dogs can drink what they want and when they want it.
This usually leads to them not drinking enough water, leading to dehydration.
Dehydration causes the skin and fur to dry out, leading to more shedding.
In addition to making sure your pet is getting enough water each day, it’s helpful if you add fruits and vegetables into their diet as well.
Fruits and vegetables are naturally high in important nutrients that help keep skin hydrated and healthy. However, in order for the body to properly absorb these benefits, they should be consumed alongside a protein-rich food source.
Feeding your pet high-quality dog food can help ensure that they are getting all of the vitamins and nutrients they need to stay healthy. In addition, the more balanced their diet, the less likely skin issues will become dry and cause them to lose hair.
7. Protect Him From Allergies
Allergies are a major cause of excessive shedding in dogs, especially if your pet is allergic to the natural oils produced by their own bodies. Enzymes in saliva can also trigger allergies that make pets produce more hair.
If you suspect your dog may have any kind of allergy, talk to your vet about transitioning them onto an allergen-free diet, especially if they have a food allergy.
You can do several things to help reduce dog shedding in your home. Read on below to learn more about ways to control hair loss and stop dogs from shedding so much.
8. Use Supplements and Olive Oil
Adding supplements to your pet’s diet is one of the easiest ways to reduce shedding and keep their skin healthy. For example, fish oil contains high concentrations of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, which can help strengthen and hydrate fur and skin.
Dogs deficient in these oils may end up with dry, flaky skin that causes them to overproduce oils to make up for their deficiencies.
This is why fish oil can be very beneficial in reducing shedding, as it helps regulate the amount of oil on the skin and fur.
Make sure you pick out a high-quality brand that an independent lab has tested.
Adding olive oil to your dog’s diet can also help reduce shedding. In addition, olive oil contains high levels of vitamin E, which helps increase blood circulation in the skin.
This is essential for reducing shedding because healthy blood flow to the skin allows it to regenerate faster, producing less excess hair.
You have to be careful when adding olive oil to your dog’s diet because too much can be unhealthy for them.
Olive oil should only be added to their food once or twice a week, not every day.
9. Blow-Dry Your Dog
Blow-drying your dog after a bath can help reduce shedding, especially if you use a high-frequency dryer. Swirl the dryer around each section of their body for several minutes to evenly distribute heat and speed up the drying process.
Doing so helps them dry faster and helps their skin and fur by reducing the amount of time it’s exposed to intense heat.
Be sure not to hold the dryer too close, as this can cause discomfort and even burn your dog’s skin.
When blow-drying your pet at home, always keep a distance of at least 12 inches from their body. Never point the dryer directly at their face, and make sure you’re moving it back and forth rather than in a stationary position.
10. Vacuum the Hairs Everyday
One of the best ways to stop dog shedding in your home is by vacuuming around it daily. Doing so can help collect loose hairs before they fall off, reducing the amount that gets scattered throughout the house.
The best way to do this is by using an attachment specifically designed for pet hair.
These special attachments are longer than standard vacuum hoses, which helps them better collect the hair sitting on couches or carpets.
They also come with brushes and bristles to help lift stubborn hairs off the floor.
Cleaning your home daily is another great way to keep pet-related messes under control.
Regularly washing your floors, furniture, and bedding will reduce the amount of hair that ends up there in the first place, but it can also help reduce the amount of dander and dust that accumulates on these surfaces over time.
Frequently, wiping your floors with an antibacterial cleaner can also help kill off bacteria that may be living on the surface, reducing the number of allergens in your home.
11. Organize Your Pet’s Living Space
Shedding can quickly get out of control if a bunch of clutter constantly surrounds your dog. Removing obstacles that are within your dog’s reach can help reduce the amount of fur they have to deal with daily.
For example, placing a barrier between your pet’s bedding and their food dish can help prevent them from tracking excess dog hair into these areas.
Another thing you can do is to place their food dish on a low or elevated platform. Doing so makes it easier for them to clean up any excess hair that’s stuck or spilled on the edges of their dish.
To reduce the number of hairs they’re likely to track into their bedding, make sure to wash and replace their bedding regularly.
The frequency of doing this will depend on your dog’s size and how often they shed. In general, it’s a good idea to wash your dog’s bedding at least twice a week to keep it fresh and clean.
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Bottom Line
Showering your dog with affection and love is the best way to help them stop shedding. Also, the more time you spend with them, the less they’ll want to be alone with their thoughts.
Please do not yell at them, as this will make them more anxious about being in your presence.
When you need to discipline them, try to do so calmly and gently without raising your voice. Here are some other natural ingredients which help to stop shedding.
- Molasses
- Flaxseed
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
- Tea Tree oil
- CBD Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Oatmeal
- Plain Yoghurt
- Vitamin E
- Chia Seeds
- Vitamin E
- Novel or Hydrolyzed Protein Diets
- Fruits and Vegetables