Hi all, I have a 2 year old lab/shepherd mix. She keeps shedding a lot. I know dogs shed in the summer to keep them cooler and it is just part of the natural process. Hell I shed during different seasons too. However, I am afraid something may be wrong. I don't know for sure, and it seems kind of silly to go to the vet for this problem, but it is starting to worry me slightly. I brush her every day now, but even before I started that she shed pretty bad. Just petting her causes a huge mess. I don't really care about the mess so much, it can be swept up. I just want to rule out some sort of condition. I know German Shepherds have issues with skin problems, because when I was little we had one who lost all his fur on his butt and had flaky skin. But Ruby doesn't have that. She doesn't have any bald spots either. It seems that she can just keep producing hair no matter how much I take off of her. Does this sound normal? And do you think it would be ok to shave her? I would take her to a groomers, as I'm not sure how to do that myself. But I see a lot of dogs shaved in the summer months and I thought maybe this would help her feel better. She isn't having any other issues, and the fur doesn't seem to bother her coming off. I was wondering if it could be something in her diet maybe that is lacking. Any advice would be great. Thanks everyone!
It's completely normal; all you can really do is just keep brushing her, preferably 2 times a day, and/or shave your dog. i think if you do shave your dog, don't cut the hair to close to the skin, as you could nick it with a razor. but, that's just common sense! lol. my cat is a shedding machine, and it seems like it would've never ended. but, 2 brushings a day really helps. hope this helps you out!
I wouldn't say it's *normal*. The first thing I would check is her diet. Diet is a HUGE factor for dogs in many ways. A bad coat and constant shedding can defintely be impacted by a better diet. So, what are you feeding her? Next, I would bring her to a groomer. They have lots of tools that can get rid of the dead hair. Does she have a 2nd layer of fur? If you aren't sure, check with the groomer. Most groomers wont shave or would rather not shave a dog with 2 layers of fur. The first time I brought my fur ball to the groomer, I wasn't expecting a big difference because they weren't going to be giving her a haircut at all, BUT she came home feeling and looking a lot better. It really helps, especially in the summer months. Also, what kind of brushes are you using on her? I find the dog brush that most resembles a human hair brush, coincidentally, isn't always a good brush to use. But yeah, keep up the brushing! I wouldn't get too worried about it being a health condition, but you can always ring your vet and ask. Good luck!
Try feeding a nutritional supplement with omega fatty acids as they can help reduce shedding (excessive shedding can be related to a fatty acid deficiency). Search the net - they're very common. As strange as it may sound i've been told that heavy shedding in dogs can also be a symptom of arthritis - my boy (who's only 8 - i've included his pic...awww) has terrible arthritis in his hips and it seems over the last year or so he's started shedding like crazy. I know you said there's no other problems with your pup, but it's a point of interest. We found a woman who makes these specially formulated dog treats with omega 3 to help with arthritis (and shedding) so i'll see how effective it is in the coming months.
Yeah, my dog is on a brewer's yeast / omega supplement as well as flax oil....it helps her alot, but I still groom daily and feed Merricks only....
I had a huskey-and if you know huskeys they shed like crazy all the damn time-and the only time she didn't shed as much was when we cut her fur down short, she seemed more comfortable too.
My girl chum is a cute spoodle terrier cross that does nothing but lie on the couch all day so I had the same problem, you just learn to control it and accept a level of hair around. The lint brush for couches and a light colored carpet are the best for reducing visibility. There are some other tips you might want to check out on this apartment living with pets page.
It IS normal, You have a SHEPARD X, They have 2 layers of fur, a top coat and a softer under-coat, they shed there undercoat all year round. It doesnt change.
Actually, if you properly get the dead 2nd coat removed properly, usually via groomer, your dog wont shed much and you only have to get it done a couple(3 or 4?) times a year.
Yes that is perfectly normal for shepherd mixes. I had a german shepherd once and we could have woven blankets for every person in america from the amount she shed, LOL As others have suggested diet does help, but not a lot. One thing I have found to be invaluable with shepherds and retrievers is a coat stripper or shedding blade. They are also known as "rakes" to some people. They look like this: http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441778137&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302026118&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023689&bmUID=1185249852026&itemNo=11&In=Dog&N=2026118&Ne=2 You basically use it like a brush, only you apply it to them much lighter than you would a brush. You have to be careful using one, they are sharp and you can hurt their skin if you press too hard. As long as you use a light and gentle touch it doesn't hurt them and some even like it. It's pretty easy, all you do is lightly run it with the grain (not against) of their coat over and over and you will not believe the amount of fur that comes out. For this reason do it outside. We're talking TONS of fur, more than you thought possible. I have to do it at least once a day with my lab during the summer, but if I do it outside, it keeps my house from getting covered in as much fur. Also, if there's any kind of breeze, make sure the dog is downwind of you or you will get a face and mouth full of fur.
