Shedding is one of the normal process dogs go through. This is the process dogs use to get rid of old and damaged hairs. Shedding is very common in dogs but the amount of shedding may vary from breed to breed and can also change with the season.
Some of the dog’s breeds develop coat in winter season which they will shed in spring, similar to this different dog’s breed have different shedding season. It may also depend upon the environment they are kept in. A dog which is kept in an apartment and mostly remain their will shed throughout the year than the dog who enjoys indoor as well as outdoor activities.
What causes excessive shedding in dogs?
Excessive hair loss in some dogs is normal but if it exceeds a certain limit it may be because of some underlying issue. Better to take advice from your veterinarian who can guide you well whether this shedding is normal or because of some diseases.
Mainly if you find your dog losing more hair it may be because of stress, malnutrition or medical problem. Better to consult a vet, because except these problems other causes may include:
- Some parasites like Fleas lice and mites.
- Infections caused by fungi or bacteria.
- It may be due to the allergy with some food items.
- Diseases including Kidney, liver, thyroid or adrenal diseases can also cause excessive shedding.
- Cancer can also be one reason.
- Some parasites like Fleas lice and mites. Flea and tick bites can cause serious allergies, rashes and even lime disease. Therefore, you must bath your dog with flea shampoo once a week.
Shedding rate can also increase when a dog comes in contact with caustic or irritating substances.
What causes excessive itching in dogs?
Itching skin, linking of paws and chewing of the tail is normal to an extent but if the exceeds such limit it might be because of some medical problem.
This can also be a sign of a dreadful problem. Signs that can make you sure that the itching is not normal is the formation of red spots on the scratching area.
Consult the veterinarian when you see the formation of red and wet areas on your dog’s body. Mostly these are formed at head, chest, or hips. It is because these areas are easily reachable and mostly dogs lick and bite here.
Some of the reasons why a dog can itch includes:
The dog may be allergic:
Excessive itching in dogs, in most cases, is caused by the Allergy. The dog may be allergic to food and some environmental factors like hotness etc. they can also itch when they come in contact with allergic substances like soap or pesticides.
The dog may be a victim of anxiety:
As a human in anxiety condition can show some abnormal behaviors like cutting their nails with teeth and twisting hairs for any reason. The dogs also adopt abnormal behavior in most of the cases it is itching, licking and biting.
The dog’s skin has become dry and dull:
Due to the deficiencies of fatty acid, mainly the winter season can make your dog’s skin dry. Which in turn can make a dog itch.
The dog is a victim of hormonal imbalance:
If your dog’s body failed to produce enough thyroid hormone this can cause superficial infections of the skin. This is also one of the possible reason of itching.
Presence of the parasites:
Dogs playing outside are prone to be attacked by flea bites and ticks. Which can cause itching? Ticks are usually visible and can be removed easily but the flea goes inside the fur of the dog and is not easily seen same is the case with mites these are small in size and cannot be seen but can bite. To get relief from these dogs usually, itch or bite.
How to reduce shedding in dogs?
Shedding in dogs is natural cannot be stopped but the excessive rate can be controlled through a variety of ways. Regular checkups are very important to know whether it is normal any medical problem along with this there are several ways you can control hair fall.
Some of them are discussed here:
Treatment of excessive shedding with water:
Sometimes dry skin is the cause of excessive hair fall. Skin becomes dry due to dehydration hence hair fall because of the dry skin can be controlled by drinking the surplus amount of pure water.
Water intake can be increased by feeding wet foods which contain about 78% which is a good amount as compared to dry foods which contain a low quantity of water.
Treatment of excess shedding with nutrition:
Experts declare that coat of a dog always reflects what they feed. To keep the beauty of your pet constant and shed in control you need to feed it balanced diet with good quality and digestible protein and fatty acid supplements.
Treatment of excess shedding with grooming:
Grooming can be a helpful tool in the reduction of the high rate of hair fall. Grooming removes loose and glut hairs. Depending on the fur of the dog, you can use different combs. Like,
If you have got a dog with a smooth coat and short hairs Bristle brushes can be a good option, for medium haired fur you can use Slicker brushes and for large hairs rakes can be the best choice.
Treatment of excess shedding with regular bath:
The limited regular bath can help to make lose hair fall in the tub instead of falling everywhere in your home. It is very important to know how often you should shower your dog according to its breed because excess baths can make the skin dry and increase the fall rate of hairs. It is therefore always advisable to consult the veterinarian to know the exact times you can shower your dog according to its breed.
How to treat excess itching in dogs?
The first step to treat itching gets to know the cause of itching if there is a medical problem then go through clinical processes and medication however if there is a small problem like the dry skin you can apply some natural remedies like vitamins E, yogurt, herbal tea and ground oatmeal. This can also be treated by feeding fatty acidic foods and pretentious foods.
When is time to see the veterinarian?
In both of the cases shedding and itching initially, it seems that it is not a big problem, it is normal in dogs. But sometimes it is not as normal as you think, it may be a sign of some fatal disease like cancer. So it is always better to consult a vet as soon as possible. Here are some symptoms after the appearance of these sign one must without wasting time go to vet.
- When you see redness, bumps, rashes or scabs on the skin
- When you see any kind of open sore
- When you see dry hairs
- When you see constant face licking, body scratching, and tail biting