We all love our furry friends as they are like soft toys that can be cuddled. But getting a dog with so much fur also means it will shed and create a mess in your home that you will have to deal with. A few dogs shed much more than others, which is quite normal. Longer hair dogs make more mess as compared to short-haired dogs. A few hypoallergenic breed dogs shed less, but most other dog breeds shed. Additionally, using a dog pooper scooper not only aids in maintaining cleanliness but also promotes responsible pet ownership by ensuring public areas remain hygienic for everyone.
There are a few ways to manage the shedding and even make it less than usual, and we have mentioned those below.
1. Brush Your Dog Daily:
It is advisable to brush your dog’s hair every day. This helps remove dead hair and stimulates the follicles that help produce new hair. Brush in the direction of the hair to prevent breakage at the end of strands. Loose hair irritates the dog, and you will see the itching increase. Once you start brushing your dog’s coat regularly, it also relieves it.
2. Know the Right Brush for Your Dog:
Depending on the type of coat, there are different types of brushes that you can make use of. If your dog is short-haired, you must use brushes with soft edges like rubber so that the dog’s skin does not get hurt. Rubber gloves or brushes work best in scenarios where the bristles do not roughly scratch the dog’s skin. If the dog has long hair, you can use brushes like a slicker brush that can dig a bit deeper and remove undercoat hair properly. You should not use this brush on a short-haired dog as it can injure its skin. Undercoat rack brush can also be used to groom long-haired dogs.
You can dig deeper to understand brushes that work best for different dog breeds, like the best brush for a Cockapoo, so that you do not go wrong in choosing the right brush for your dog.
3. Use a Good Shampoo and Conditioner:
A good quality shampoo makes the dog’s skin healthier and cleaner. It does not dry or irritate the skin, which helps in the reduction of hair loss. Additionally, a conditioner replenishes the skin with lost nutrients, making it healthier. An excellent de-shedding shampoo and conditioner also help the dog get rid of excess hair.
4. Send Your Dog for Professional Grooming:
If you send your dog to a mobile dog grooming company every once in a while, you will surely see the benefits. They work using specialized equipment such as high-velocity blowers to blow out excessive dog hair. They thoroughly clean the dog and help eliminate all the excess hair. They also use specialized products and tools to groom the dog; the results will last longer than when you groom the dog at home, while if you need other services like dog home boarding there are great options like the WoofConnect dog boarding United Kingdom to take care of your dog while you’re away.
5. Add Supplements to the Diet:
Sometimes lack of nutrients might be why your dog is shedding so much hair. Ask your vet for a few supplements that can help with healthy hair in dogs. Adding these supplements will reduce the shedding at the earliest. You should feed your dog a balanced diet. If you are providing the dog a home-cooked meal, consult the vet to understand if the diet is balanced. Probably, the vet will add some supplements to promote better health than the home-cooked meal may lack. You can add a few ingredients like olive oil, fish oil, etc., for healthy fur.
6. Use a Shedding Tool:
Many shedding tools are available in the market, best known for removing excess pet hair from its coat. These tools have closed-set teeth that make brushing loose hair from the dog’s skin easier. They are mainly used for dogs with long and thick coats but can also be used on shirt-haired dog breeds.
Using these tools is different from regular brushing and should not be substituted. You should brush the dog more often and use these tools on its coat once a week or twice when the shedding is more. De-shedding should be done outside the home so that the excess hair does not fly around the house.
7. Keep a Vacuum Handy:
Remember to always vacuum when you have a dog at home. This will help clean the house and avoid spreading hairs due to wind on furniture. You can invest in a robot vacuum to clean the floors every day. Use a handheld vacuum to clean the rest of the area once a week. This helps remove 90% of dog hair from your home. There are vacuums available with attachments specially designed to remove dog hair that can be used.
You should also consider investing in a vacuum with a HEPA filter to clear allergens and pet hair. If you have kids or elders who suffer from respiratory issues, this can help you deal with it. Additionally, you may also consider having regular carpet cleaning with the help of a professional carpet cleaning service. This can help remove stubborn pet odors, as well as revitalize and refresh your home.
8. It Might be Seasonal Shed:
A few dog breeds are prone to shedding a lot during specific seasons. If so, you have no choice but to deal with it. Brush the dog frequently to remove the excess shed hair from the skin, so it does not get tangled and matted. Use de-shedding tools on the dog to remove most of the shed hair outside the house without making the home dirty.
9. Visit the Vet:
Excessive hair loss can be a sign of something unusual. If the above tips do not work and you see the dog is balding at spots, it is best to immediately get the dog checked by the vet. If the dog is suffering from specific ailments, it could lead to
The Bottom Line:
Shedding is a common phenomenon in dogs that you can’t control completely. You can surely use the tips above to reduce it, but it cannot be eliminated. A few simple changes can help you manage hair loss, though. Remember, you are bringing home a fur ball of joy; hence, you have to learn to deal with a bit of fur too.
