My Dog Sheds a Lot in Spring

With the arrival of good weather, our dog starts one of its two big annual sheds, changing its whole coat. That's why we notice it losing a lot more hair than usual.

We shouldn't worry, since this is completely normal. As warmer temperatures arrive, dogs don't need a thick, heavy coat, but a fine, light one that's much cooler.

Diet Affects the Coat

It may sound strange, but diet actually has a huge influence on everything related to our dog's coat.

A diet based on natural products will give the best coat quality, while low-quality kibble will leave our dog's coat unhealthy.

The BARF diet, which consists of feeding a dog with natural products, is the most natural and healthy option, giving an unbeatable shine to the coat. It also makes shedding easier, so the process happens faster.

Commercial kibble is the most widely used option nowadays — low-quality ones give the coat a poor appearance, while some high-quality kibbles take very good care of our dog's coat.

Especially those made from fish, since they contain more Omega fatty acids, giving the coat greater health.

How to Avoid Excess Shedding at Home

We have the bad habit of brushing our dog too little, especially in spring and fall, which is when dogs go through their full sheds.

With a suitable brush, matched to my dog's coat thickness and length, we should brush our dog once a day, always in the direction of the coat (never against the grain).

This way we'll remove a lot of dead hair that would otherwise probably end up on our floor or our clothes. We'll also help keep our dog protected against parasites and prevent mats from forming.

If we don't want to brush it at home, we can do it during a walk. Once a day until the shedding process is over, which usually lasts between one and three weeks, depending on the dog.

Increase the Number of Baths

Another healthy measure that will prevent excessive hair loss in spring is increasing the number of baths we give our dog. We can even bathe it three or four times a month, as long as we use a shampoo specifically made for dogs.

With a good bath we'll remove loose and dead hair, prevent dirt buildup, and keep our dog more protected against fleas or ticks.

Remember to dry your dog well with towels, or even use a hair dryer on a very gentle setting so it doesn't burn them. And the next day, brush thoroughly to remove even more hair, taking advantage of its fluffy coat.

Home Remedies to Prevent Hair Loss

There are no miracle tricks that prevent shedding in spring, but we can apply a few tips to shorten the shedding period.

With these simple remedies we can apply at home, we'll help improve our dog's coat health, shine, and shedding:

• Add a bit of canned tuna to the dog's food, in vegetable oil or plain, with no salt. You can also use canned sardines in oil, since they contain a lot of Omega, which will help its coat.
• Avoid using coats, jackets, and clothing in general to prevent excess heat.
• Try to make sure there isn't too much difference in temperature between indoors and outside.
• Use a high-quality diet, since it will greatly help improve its skin and coat.