What should I do to keep my dog from shedding?

Question

My dog is a chihuahua and he sheds ALOT. He is not long haired. I know that I need to get a brush to help remove the dead hair. I tried using a rubber type brush, and it helped, but not even a minute after brushing him, he started shedding even more. I tried using another brush that I found at walmart(it was made for removing the dead hair), and it has metal bristtles, but they were sharp, and after one try at brushing him it didn't do it any more because they were hurting his skin. So, I guess my question is, what kind of brush should I purchase, and where can I get it?

He doesn't shed so much to where it could be a skin problem. He still has lots of hair. He usually sheds most when scratching him. I am going to start bathing in once a week. I usually bathe him about once every 2-3 weeks. He stays indoors most of the time, so he doesn't smell or anything...Just sheds. Lol. He isn't completely short haired...It is more course than baby soft and his hair is maybe an inch long... But, I was hoping to find a brush to help get out the dead hair so that the shedding is down to minimal...

Answer 1

What are you feeding him? Excessive shedding could be caused from a lack of essential oils in his diet. You need to do one of two things or even both.

1. Get him off of any cheap foods with fillers in it. I use Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Fish. I can't find it in any stores close to me so I order it off of www.petfooddirect.com

2. You can also find in the vitamin section of any petfood store or online the oils that he needs. I use ShedX, its meat flavored. You can also order that on www.petfooddirect.com.

As far as a brush goes, get one with natural bristles that way you are not hurting his skin.

I also feed my dog salmon once a week with his food. The salmon has fish oils in it and his coat is so shiny. I hope this helps!

Answer 2

I currently have a corgi, but before him I had a min pin who shed like what you are talking about. Partially due to the fact that His food wasn't as good as they said it was. One type of comb you can get is a flea comb. They have metal "nubs" they should be rounded, and not hurt to brush with, can take a little bit longer to brush with though. But the bristles are so much closer together that they will grab the undercoat that is shedding the most. As for the brush you got that the dog didn't like. It's a wire slicker brush and is made for dogs with longer coats, and if used incorrectly on short/medium haired breeds can cause skin damage/pain. Do take the dog to the vet and see if it's just a nutritional imbalance, then work from there.

Answer 3

You can use a soft bristle brush on him. Also giving him a bath once a week and using a good skin conditioner would work well too.

But the thing is, I have a soft hair Chi and he doesnt shed very much. You might want to get your little guy checked out. There may be an underlying problem that is causing him to shed so much.

Answer 4

I haven't had a dog in a long time. Is your chihuahua one of the nervous shaky ones? They are so cute.

Anyway. Shedding.

You have to attack the problem from a few different angles.

For cleaning up, you need a good cyclonic bagless vacuum cleaner, this is a super-sucking one, the first time you use it, you will probably be able to make a second dog with it. Most cyclonics have hepa filtration so any dander gets removed from the air as well. These can be used on the hard floors but you could also get a static broom with a terrycloth pad. You can use vac attachments to get surfaces above the floor. A good vac is imperative when you have a dog.

Also a cleaning thing, you might want to cover your upholstered furniture, at least temporarily, with slipcovers that are washable. And if the dog gets on your bed, use your most durable comforter so you can wash that too and make the bed daily to protect your sheets from hair and allergens. Fabric softener will help release the hair from your fabrics and it will also come out in the dryer lint filter.

From there, look at grooming. Brush him daily outside...he will love it or get used to it...most dogs enjoy being brushed, it's good bonding time with him too. Use a soft bristle brush that doesn't scratch him and use tender but short, repetitive raking kind of strokes to bring up hair from underneath. Ruffle his fur in a way that is comfortable for him, without petting him backwards, this hurts. You also need to bathe the dog more often, this releases hair in more of a controlled way. When you shampoo hair, any hair, you work from one end to the other, little back and forth motions, massaging with tips of your fingers, not your nails. Use a conditioning formula so the more frequent baths don't irritate his hide, and rinse him well. As the weather improves you can get him outside more often for baths, or take him to play in the lake, or hose him down while you play, etc...and this will release some hairs with zero efforts.

Third, is to improve his nutrition. You probably can improve things with a more oily diet (good fats) as well as protein. I have heard that eggs are really good for a dog's coat. Just careful that you don't make him all fat and unhealthy.

It does tend to come and go during the seasons. Are you in a part of the world that is coming out of winter? If so he is shedding more than usual to get rid of excess winter hair. It should decrease, maybe just play with him more outside, or bed him down outdoors until it calms down a bit.

Answer 5

My Bulldog had the same problem until his vet gave him some skin and coat pills. There called A3/N it has omega -3, 6 fatty acids and antioxidants.He had really dry skin that was making his shedding worse because he was scratching all the time. Know he hardly sheds at all, his coat is soft and shiny and he doesn't have to have an oatmeal bath any more for his skin. I won't let him go without it.

Answer 6

Well first off you need to know an important fact.. House dogs she dyear round, if they were wild dogs they would only shed twice a year.

Of course your dog sheds more when you scratch him you loosen his hair.

try: one raw egg a week, cod liver oil a couple times a week, and bacon grease once in a while.

If you bath him to much he will then develope dry skin and have white smelly flakes and if it gets bad it will become scabby and then the dog will have bald spots.

If you wanna try something that i have never had but was suggested once.. is a small dose of car oil rubbed into fur.

Answer 7

chihuahuas are natural shedders. they do it often all year long. this will be the worst part cause all shed more in spring to lose the winter coat. you need to brush the dog and try to keep it in an area that will be easy to clean. not on rugs or beds and stuff. and you need to sweep slow so it doesnt get in the air and into other places. if it is in the rugs use powder first to keep it down while you vacuum it up

Answer 8

well the best thing to look for are round and smooth ended bristled brush. that would prevent skin damage thus prevent hair fall. try using other brand of dog shampoo yours right now my be harsh on your dog. stress can also be the cause, give your pet something to play with when your not around.

Answer 9

dogs shed. simple as that. excessive brushing and bathing will lead to skin irritation problems, then you'll have 2 issues on your hands!

Answer 10

I have a husky, a chihuahua, and a cocker spaniel , the cocker spaniel doesn't shed, if it does I don't notice it. the husky is the worse, my son shaves her in the summer, and by the time winter comes her hair is back to normal. my chihuahua sheds alittle on your clothes, but I do not brush him at all. because he doesn't shed alot.