Four Vet Clinic Approved Ways to Control Dog Shedding

Your dog sheds hair all over your home making it messy for you. While you would not trade your pet, you would really like to reduce the amount of hair around your home. Follow four vet clinic approved tips and control your dog's shedding year round.

1. Groom Regularly

Brushing your dog removes excess fur and keeps your home neater. You need the correct brushes, however, to remove enough fur to make a difference. Our pet hospital can advise you on which type of grooming tools work best for the specific dog breed you own.

After you secure the correct tools, brush your dog every day so that its coat will be smooth, healthy and less likely to shed. Be sure to brush both with and against the direction of your dog's coat growth. Additionally, loosen hair follicles when you brush the undercoat next to the skin, and finish the job by wiping your pet's coat with a grooming mitten that attracts leftover fur.

2. Buy High Quality Food 

Your dog may eat whatever you place before it, but high quality food protects its coat and reduces shedding. Look for a brand with protein, Omega-3 or -6 and no filler. Our vet clinic will offer additional advice about the best food to keep your furry friend's coat shiny and healthy.

3. Bathe Your Pet Regularly

All dogs need regular baths, particularly in the spring and fall when they are most prone to shed. Those baths remove excess hair and speed up the shedding process. Be sure to always use a gentle shampoo and conditioner designed for dogs because it reduces dandruff, lessens skin irritation and reduces loose fur.

4. Control Pests

Fleas and ticks irritate your pet. They cause your dog to itch, scratch and shed. Use a topical treatment from our pet hospital to reduce these irritants and the shedding that result from scratching.

Shedding is part of your dog's life. Reduce the hair in your home when you follow four tips from our Orange County vet. What other shedding reduction tips can you share with fellow dog owners?