why does my dog shed so bad?

Question

I have a corgy mix, she is 4 yrs. old. I have only had her a couple months, She sheds so bad, there is dog hair everywhere, is there anything i can do to keep her from losing so nuch hair, and will she shed like this in the winter months?

Answer 1

There are a few possibilities. She could be shedding her summer coat to fill in with thicker courser hair for the upcoming winter.

Some vets link diet to hair loss.

Or she could have a skin condition which is causing her hair to fall out.

Monitor for a week or two and if it doesn't get better, or if it gets worse I would take her to the vet and have her checked.

In the meantime, try adding a little bit of olive oil to her food if you feed her dry food, or mix in a small amount of canned food. It is suppose to be good for their coats.

Its always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your pets.

Answer 2

First of all, it would be helpful to know what breed of dogs you have. Some breeds are natorious shedders while others hardly shed at all. The amount that a dog sheds also depends directly on how cold winter was and how hot summer is. I have a Husky (serious shedder) and he shed a good amount of his winter coat in spring but now that the Hot weather is here, he is having another huge shedding. Shedding is natural and will never stop. Most breeds shed 2 times a year, some up to 4 times a year and there is NOTHING that will prevent this!!!! All you can do is give the dog several brushings a day with a shedding comb (A shedding comb looks like a tiny garden rake with metal prongs.) Which is designed to pull the loose undercoat out and help prevent tangling hair. Good luck and I hope this helps.

Answer 3

Corgis naturally shed a LOT. They area double coated breed. Right now, the best thing you can do is bring her to a groomer for a bath and forced-air blowdrying. The blowdrying will blow out a lot of the dead/loose fur. It's not like a regular human blowdryer. After that, every day brush her with a grooming rake for at least 10 minutes, apying attention to the butt and hindquarters area. I find that's where a lot of the fur comes from. She should be professionally bathed every 4 to six weeks. You can do it at home, but beware that the hair that comes out from bathing will get everywhere in the tub, drain, everything.

If you do end up bathing at home make sure to rinse VERY well to get any soap out. Leftover soap will cause itching and flaking. Brush and dry thoroughly. Don't use a hot blowdryer on your dog, it could burn her. If you must, use it on the low or cool setting, brushing through the coat while holding the dryer 6 to 8 inches from skin.

Provide a quality food for your dog such as Nutro or even Pro Plan (one of the better less expensive brands). This will help keep her skin and coat healthy and reduce shedding due to dry skin. Also make sure she always has plenty of fresh water and daily walks to keep her whole system healthy.

Shedding will lessen in the winter months but it won't stop. It will increase once it gets warmer again because she will be "blowing" her winter fur for a summer fur.

Answer 4

BRUSHING your dog's coat with a stiff wire brush from the pet store can remove most of the loose hair before it sheds to the floor. With some breeds, that's just part and parcel of having the dog. It's also very good for their skin and coat, giving them a good brushing a couple of times a week. Shedding will also be worse in the summer and less so in the winter.

Answer 5

A dogs diet has a lot to due with excessive shedding. My Labrador Retriever had the same problem until I switched him to Royal Canin Labrador Retriever 30,the food supplied him with the proper nutrients and cut his shedding down by 75%. He also takes a coat supplement with Omega 3 Fatty Acids. Check your dog's dog food and think about maybe trying a viatim for her coat.

Answer 6

It is obvious that this is your first dog with a coat that sheds. Unless the dog is getting bald spots, you need not worry. Most dogs shed seasonally, usually in the Spring and Summer when they don't need the protection from cold weather. Bush your dog daily with a bush recommend by a pet shop or vet. I use a wire bush on both dogs and cats.

If your dog is getting bald spots, go directly to your vet.

Answer 7

I also have a corgi mix and he sheds like CRAZY! I think it is just that breed. I looked it up online once and I read that they have different layers of fur that they shed... it's just the way that their coat is. I bathe my corgi twice a months and that seems to help him. He still sheds but it's not as bad as when we first got him. Also, it depends on where you live, I am in Florida and it is VERY hot here so he will shed his fur more when it is hot to stay cool and probable will not shed as much in the winter.

Answer 8

No, they stop shedding some in the winter but they will shed all year round. Daily brushing helps a lot because you're getting alot of the extra hair out that way.

Answer 9

Some breads just shed. Regular bathing(not more than once a week) and brushing(everyday) help some. If your bread is not a bread that normally sheds alot you should ask the vet, they may give you vitamins for the dog.

Answer 10

it could be the climate where you live. if she has a thick coat and you live somewhere warm she's going to shed a lot. it could be a skin condition. i recommend brushing her a lot so it's not all over your house, and bath her at least every 2-3 weeks if your in a warm area, as this helps to. it also helps prevent hot spots and dander.

as for winter, she should shed noticeably less, if not take her to the vet because it might be a skin condition.