Clumps of Fur Everywhere? Is Your Dog’s Shedding Normal?

Cleaning the house every day and finding clumps of dog hair -- this can make us worried owners wonder whether our dog's hair loss could be a sign of something dangerous. Or maybe you've heard that certain breeds shed seasonally, but your dog seems to be shedding constantly. How do we know which is natural shedding and which is hair loss caused by an underlying illness?

So today, Thonglor Pet Hospital is sharing information about hair loss in dogs, to help ease your worries and give you more knowledge about skin conditions in dogs. If you're ready, let's dive into the details below!

What Causes Hair Loss in Dogs?

Shedding in animals, especially pets like dogs and cats, is a natural behavior in which these animals remove dead or damaged fur, much like human hair that falls out every day. But dogs, especially long-haired breeds, will shed a larger amount of fur per day compared to short-haired breeds. So owners of these dogs may notice shed fur floating in the air, sticking to furniture, or gathering in corners.

So when we talk about hair loss in dogs, it can be divided into 2 main causes:

Normal shedding -- as mentioned, this is a normal behavior in dogs, shedding dead fur every day. Some breeds have a shedding season, during which you'll notice more hair loss than usual. However, shedding isn't determined by breed alone -- other factors can contribute as well, such as:

• Low-quality food -- your dog may not be getting complete nutrition from low-quality food, or from eating the same repetitive diet too often, which can affect not only their coat but also their overall long-term health.
• Pregnancy -- when a dog is pregnant, the mother needs more nutrients than usual to share with the puppies growing inside her. So if she doesn't get enough nutrition, this can affect the health of both the mother and the puppies to come.
• Poor grooming care -- dogs that haven't been bathed for a long time may develop fleas and ticks, or skin conditions that aren't visible from the outside, which can affect hair loss, odor, and overall hygiene.

Abnormal hair loss -- this can be harder to notice in long-haired breeds, since they have a lot of fur covering their body, but it may be noticeable through changes in behavior, or an unusually large amount of fur collected during cleaning. Dogs with skin conditions may show clear signs such as patchy hair loss, slower regrowth of new fur, and red circular patches on the skin.

Hair loss can stem from various underlying causes, including:

• Skin infections -- one of the most common skin conditions found in dogs, where the skin becomes infected by bacteria, fungus, or parasites, which can come from an unclean living environment or from contact with other infected dogs.
• Other underlying diseases -- for diseases not directly related to the skin, hair loss can be another sign to watch for, such as chronic stress, circulatory disorders, or gastrointestinal diseases. These conditions affect the dog's overall immune system, which can result in abnormal hair loss.
• Allergic reactions -- this can be noticed after switching products used on your dog, such as sprays, shampoos, or conditioning oils -- observe whether your dog shows any abnormal symptoms after switching to these products. It's best to bring your dog to see a veterinarian to determine the actual cause.
• Hormonal imbalance -- most often caused by reproductive hormones, such as estrogen, low thyroid hormone, or excessively high cortisol levels.

If you notice any of the abnormal signs mentioned above, you should bring your dog to see a veterinarian for a proper evaluation and to find the true underlying cause, which will allow for targeted, effective treatment of the hair loss.

How Can Hair Loss in Dogs Be Treated?

If you want your dog to have a strong, soft, and shiny coat, Thonglor Pet Hospital has some great tips to share today, to help ease your worries about hair loss and keep your furniture free of dog hair for good.

• Brush daily -- especially for long-haired breeds such as Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Golden Retrievers, Samoyeds, Corgis, and Pomeranians. These breeds shed quite a large amount of fur per day. If owners take good care and regularly brush out the fur every day, this will help reduce the amount of fur that sheds.
• Choose gentle products -- use dog products that are certified to standard and formulated to be gentle on the skin, which will greatly reduce the risk of allergic reactions in your dog.
• Choose food with complete nutrition -- planning a nutritious diet for your dog helps dramatically improve their overall health and mood. Delicious food packed with complete nutrition helps keep your dog interested in eating and noticeably improves their health.
• Reduce stress -- dogs living in unsuitable environments, or who are frequently punished, hit, or yelled at, tend to be unhappy, which can show up as declining health. So owners should regularly play with their dog, take them out for walks, or give them rewards on occasion.

No Matter What's Causing Your Dog's Hair Loss, It Can Be Treated at Thonglor Pet Hospital

As you can see, hair loss in dogs isn't as scary as it might seem. Owners just need to regularly observe the amount of fur and their dog's overall condition to know whether your dog is happy and healthy. If you're a dog lover looking for comprehensive pet care -- including health checkups, bathing and grooming, and vaccinations -- you can contact us at any Thonglor Pet Hospital branch near you.

We're ready to provide treatment for all pet illnesses, for pets of every size and breed, with a team of specialist veterinarians, along with clean, sterile equipment and facilities of international quality, open to care for your dog 24 hours a day. Because we believe every illness deserves timely treatment, every problem your pet faces is our problem too. Trust us to care for your pet at Thonglor Pet Hospital.