Grooming Your Dog During Shedding Season: Best Practices

Although shedding is a natural process for pets, it can be annoying to have fur everywhere within a home. However, there are ways to manage your dog’s shedding and ensure they are healthy and comfortable while keeping your home clean. In this post, we’ll go over what shedding is, why it happens, and why it's important to use these best practices for grooming during the shedding season.

WHAT IS PET SHEDDING?

Shedding is a natural process in which animals lose old or damaged fur to make room for new growth. This process occurs due to several factors, including your pet's breed, climate, diet, and overall health. Moreover, shedding occurs seasonally for most pets, typically in the spring and fall, as they prepare for temperature changes.

WHAT CAUSES SHEDDING, AND WHY DOES IT HAPPEN?

Seasonal Changes

Temperature changes are one of the most common reasons pets shed their fur. In the spring, temperatures begin to rise. Many pets shed their thicker winter coats to stay cooler. In the fall, pets shed their lighter summer coats to grow thicker, warmer coats for winter. 

Breed Type

Certain breeds are genetically predisposed to shed more than others, and their shedding patterns are different due to their coat type, genetics, and origin. Some dog breeds that will experience heavy shedding include the Siberian Husky, Saint Bernard, Samoyed, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, and Bearded Collie. The more informed the pet guardian is about their pet’s breed-specific shedding, the more prepared and helpful they can be seasonally. 

Age

Just like humans, pets tend to shed more as they age. It is a natural process of aging. As puppies grow, they naturally shed their fur to make way for their adult coats. Soft, fluffy puppy hair turns into coarser, thick adult hair. Older pets also shed more as their metabolism slows along with any hormonal changes and dehydrated skin. 

Allergies

Pets can suffer from various allergies from things like food or environmental allergens like pollen or dust mites. Allergies often lead to itchy skin, prompting pets to scratch or bite at their fur, which can result in increased shedding and other issues that can make grooming more challenging, such as hotspots. Managing infection of the skin can be aggravating and problematic because it can hurt or get worse. Additionally, leaving a cone or wrap to manage the sore can lead to the matting of the fur around it. It is best to address the beginnings of skin irritations as soon as they are noticed to avoid this. 

Stress and Anxiety-Induced Shedding

Pets thrive on routine, as it helps them anticipate daily events. As a result, any changes in their environment or routine can lead to increased shedding due to stress and anxiety. If you have ever traveled in a car with an anxious pet, you may find extra fur or hair left on the seat when they exit. This is normal for anxious or stressed pets. 

Poor Diet and Nutrition

A balanced diet is crucial for maintaining a healthy coat. So, pets fed low-quality food lacking essential nutrients may experience increased shedding. There are hundreds of pet foods on the market, but the ones with the most freshness and least processed ingredients should be prioritized. Unfortunately, most traditional kibbles don’t fall into this category. If your dog is on a kibble diet and you are not sure what to change to, you can easily add whole food ingredients to your pet food bowl. Lightly cooked veggies like broccoli, asparagus, and carrots are simply great for most dogs. Adding a whole sardine a few times a week will offer your pet a completely different nutrition profile than any kibble. Sardines are full of vitamins like B, D, and E, along with important Omega 3’s, and hard-to-find micronutrients like selenium, which are important for hair growth. 

WHY IT'S CRUCIAL TO GROOM YOUR PET DURING SHEDDING SEASON

Prevent Matting

Mats form when loose fur gets tangled, leading to discomfort and potential skin problems. It is due to not brushing as it helps to remove loose fur. Frequent grooming helps prevent tangles and mats from forming in your pet's coat, which can cause discomfort and skin irritation. Mats can restrict movement and lead to skin infections if not addressed promptly. Depending on your dog's breed, you will need to be prepared with the right tools to minimize discomfort during the grooming process. You can find a list of suggested grooming tools here. 

Regular Grooming Helps Detect Skin Conditions

Regular grooming sessions allow you to spot any unusual bumps, redness, or signs of parasites. It also allows you to check for skin conditions and other health issues. Moreover, loose fur can cause itchiness and discomfort, which regular brushing can help alleviate and reduce overall stress and improve well being. 

Reduce Loose Hair around Your Home

While you can't stop shedding altogether, regular grooming significantly reduces the amount of fur on your furniture, clothes, food, and floors. It keeps your home cleaner and reduces the risk of allergic reactions for sensitive individuals.

Minimizing Allergens

Regular grooming helps reduce fur around the home that is full of loose pet dander. Pet dander is a primary pet allergen, and any reduction will help those sensitive to it feel better. Many dogs love to play outside and roll around in grasses and flowers which increases the opportunities for pollen to accumulate on their fur. Grooming during shedding season really helps to get the most dander and pollen out of your pet’s fur. 

BEST GROOMING PRACTICES FOR YOUR SHEDDING PET

Regular Brushing

The simplest yet most effective way to manage shedding is regular brushing. It will help remove loose hair, dirt, and debris while distributing natural oils that keep your pet's coat healthy. However, depending on your pet's coat type and shedding pattern, you may need to brush daily or several times a week during the shedding season. Pets with thick, double coats often benefit from daily brushing to some extent. These pets are the most susceptible to matting and require frequent attention to avoid making the grooming experience harder on them later.  The preferred tools for grooming these pets include slicker brushes, pin brushes, and de-matting/detangling tools. Pets with shorter or single coats may only need brushing a few times a week with a simple curry brush or silicon brush. These brushes are great at de-shedding the top coats of most dogs. 

Bathing

A study investigated the effect of dog washing on the subsequent recovery of Can f 1 (allergen present in dog dander extracts) from dog hair clippings and on the airborne allergen over seven days. Dogs not washed for at least three weeks did bathe using a hand-held shower and a specialized shampoo. Hair clippings and dander samples from 25 dogs were collected before and immediately after washing. The results revealed that washing significantly reduced allergens from clippings (84% reduction) and dander samples (86% reduction). There was also a significant reduction in allergen levels in dog hair over the observed 7-day period. Airborne allergen levels showed a modest downward trend as well. Bathing your pet during shedding season will help to remove loose fur, dirt, and subsequent dander.  After bathing, it's crucial to dry your pet thoroughly to prevent mats and mildew from forming in the coat. One of the best tools to have on hand for this is a small shop vac. These portable superpowered vacuums turn into a blower that doubles the speed of the drying process.

Utilize Deshedding Tools

As their names imply, these tools reduce and manage shedding in dogs. Among the tools available are grooming gloves, de-matting comb, de-shedding brushes, and shedding blades. These tools are particularly effective during heavy shedding periods. These tools reach the undercoat and remove loose fur without damaging the topcoat. When used correctly these de-matting combs and brushes help to minimize the pain and discomfort your pet experiences during the grooming process. A good run-through once or twice a week with these tools will help keep your pet’s coat in top shape.

Proper Diet

A study review explored diets and skin conditions in dogs and cats. Hair is composed of 95% protein. In fact, hair growth creates a high demand for protein and may account for between 25 and 30% of the animal's daily protein requirement. Failure to meet this demand results in the cutaneous manifestations of protein malnutrition, including depigmented hair (loss of hair color), which sheds and is slow to regrow. Therefore, a diet for your pets should be of high quality. If your pet has dry skin, a dull coat, or overly brittle hair, consider changing your dog's diet to a more bioavailable, less processed food. You might also supplement your pet's diet by adding omega 3’s and some fresh protein like beef, turkey, or chicken all high in protein and moreover zinc. Zinc is absolutely essential for proper hair health and growth. Always consult your veterinarian before starting any new supplement regimen or diet regimen. 

Hydration

It should be obvious, but also make sure your pet has enough fresh drinking water. Adequate hydration is essential for maintaining healthy skin and coats.

Professional Grooming Services

Professional grooming services take most of the guesswork out of grooming your dogs. However, it can’t be understated that without weekly grooming and maintenance, the grooming experience might be more challenging for both your dog and the groomer. This can save you lots of money, as grooming services can be fairly costly. When it comes to grooming your pet during shedding season, it is best to be consistent in grooming, understand your specific breed of dog or cat’s needs, and to incorporate plenty of food rewards and time to keep your pet less stressed. 

• When considering which groomer is best for your pet, please remember that, like dog training, pet grooming is an unregulated business. Anyone can say they are a professional pet groomer. Make sure you go to someone who has good credentials and experience. 
• It is common for some pets to experience initial fear about the grooming experience, and without proper training on how to reduce fear and stress, grooming can become a challenge. 

For this reason, pet owners may want to look into fear-free grooming options described here. 

CONCLUSION

Although shedding is a natural part of your pet's life, it must be managed during the process for their general health and well-being. One way to take care of them is through regular grooming. Grooming during shedding season will require a consistent routine and attention to detail but with these best practices in mind. Therefore, if you brush them daily, bathe them, use de-shedding tools, feed them a healthy diet, and get professional grooming services, it will ensure that your pet is more comfortable and your home is fur-free.