Dog owners will notice a phenomenon: dog shedding! It is especially severe in the spring and autumn seasons. Mild shedding in dogs is normal, but if there is heavy shedding, owners should pay attention. The editor has compiled related information on dog shedding. What are the reasons for dog shedding? Owners can use it as a reference.

1. Seasonal Change: During the growth and development process from puppy to adult dog, around three to four months, they will gradually shed their baby hair, which is normal; and breeds like the Samoyed grow dense and thick undercoat every winter to resist the cold. When spring turns to summer, the undercoat gradually sheds, replaced by coarse hair to cope with the heat. Therefore, dog shedding during seasonal change is generally nothing to worry about.

2. Diet: The best food for dogs is dog food, which contains all the nutrients needed for a dog's growth. Feeding dogs homemade dog food or human food can easily cause excessive salt intake, leading to shedding. Excess salt can also increase the burden on the dog's internal organs and cause more serious problems. Additionally, spicy and irritating foods should also be avoided for the same reason.

3. Malnutrition: Dogs that are malnourished or have an unbalanced diet may lack certain vitamins and minerals essential for their body, causing health issues and shedding. This mainly targets owners who are either overly strict with scientific feeding, like only feeding a fixed number of dog kibble pieces per meal and nothing else; or those who do not pay attention to nutritional balance, just feeding leftovers or whatever is available at home. Both extremes can lead to malnutrition or nutritional imbalance in dogs.

4. Skin Problems: This condition is easily overlooked because the dog's fur covers the skin, especially in breeds with dense fur, making skin infections hard to detect without parting the fur for inspection. Also, dogs with light-colored fur may shed skin flakes due to skin infections, which are not easy to notice. Localized skin problems and persistent scratching also cause shedding.

5. Health Issues: Dogs will also shed when unwell, similar to how poor human health affects hair quality. The most common cause is skin disease, such as folliculitis or eczema caused by mites, fungi, bacteria, etc., and fleas usually cause severe itching. Dogs scratching or biting their skin out of itching can easily cause hair loss.

6. Bathing: The frequency and choice of bathing products are strictly regulated. Bathing too frequently can disrupt the dog's skin PH, damage the oil protective layer, and make skin more sensitive, causing easier shedding. Using improper products, like human shampoo, can cause itching, dandruff, and heavy shedding because human products are alkaline and unsuitable for dog skin. Choosing pet-specific bathing and shampoo products can effectively avoid shedding.

7. Sun Exposure: Sunlight helps maintain healthy skin and coat in dogs. Insufficient light exposure makes dogs more prone to shedding.

8. Emotional Changes: Like humans, dogs experience fear, anxiety, and depression, which can trigger shedding. Owners are advised to pay attention to their dogs, interact with them often, comfort them, and promptly eliminate negative emotions.

9. Medication Use: For example, using steroids to treat certain diseases can cause shedding as a common side effect. It is necessary to contact a vet promptly. The best method is to gradually reduce the dosage until completely stopped, strictly following medical advice. Self-medication carries great risks.

After reading so much, regardless of the cause, there are solutions. So when encountering dog shedding issues, owners should not panic but calmly analyze and solve the problem accordingly.