Why Dogs Shed and What to Do About It

We’re halfway through spring and many of us are dealing with runny noses and red eyes. Our pets shedding probably isn’t helping.

Why dogs shed

Shedding is a normal process which many animals take to help them adapt to seasons and to make way for new hair.

The amount of shedding can be affected by:

• The breed of your dog
• Your dog’s pregnancy status
• A change in season and temperature
• The overall health of your dog

If your pet is shedding or losing more hair than it usually does, you should see your vet as soon as you can. Excessive hair loss could be caused by hypothyroidism or adrenal gland disorders. 

Click here to make a booking with local Highfields Vet.

What to do about your dog shedding

As mentioned above, your dog sheds its hair for a reason and you shouldn’t want to prevent it from doing so.

To make it a bit easier on your living conditions or guests with allergies, you could try the following steps:

• Regularly brushing your dog with a brush suited to their coat
• Bathing your dog regularly with a suitable shampoo for its coat
• Having your dog groomed regularly
• Controlling your dog’s allergies and coat to help them reduce their scratching

How to clean dog hair

As is the case with most cleaning like washing the dishes or removing stains, the best time to clean hair is sooner rather than later. 

Recently shed hair is a lot easier to collect with a broom or vacuum than hair that has been walked on or pushed into fabrics or carpets. 

And for your clothes, you might need to keep a lint roller handy…

So which breeds of dog shed the most?

The biggest offenders when it comes to shedding and filling your house with dog hair are dogs that have double coats. 

And so, if you have allergies or are sensitive to dog hair, you might want to avoid some of the breeds from this list:

• Golden Retriever
• Labrador Retriever
• Chow Chow
• Akita
• German Shepherd
• Corgi
• Alaskan Malamute
• Bernese Mountain Dog

As above, some breeds of dogs shed more as the seasons and temperatures change. Mainly spring and autumn, dogs will adapt to the changes by producing and losing extra hair. 

During these months, lots of Australian pet owners book in for a professional grooming serviceto help their pets adjust to the temperature change and to help prevent dog hair throughout their homes. 

Which breeds of dog shed the least?

For Australians that struggle with loose dog hair throughout their homes or have guests with allergies and sensitivities, this list will help you.

Some of the low shedding breeds of dogs are:

• Shih Tzu
• Maltese
• Breeds and crossbreeds of poodle
• Whippet
• Greyhound
• Australian Silky Terrier
• Schnauzer

There are plenty more choices and things to consider when choosing your pet. Learn more about that in How Do I Choose the Right Breed of Dog For Me?

For more advice:

Highfields Veterinary Surgery services our suburb and the Toowoomba region's pets to help them be the best they can be. 

If you’re concerned about your dog’s shedding habits, call us on (03) 9596 4804 or click here to book an appointment online.

We’re open Monday to Friday from 7 am to 6 pm and Saturday mornings until 1 pm - you can find us here.