How Much Shedding Is TOO Much Shedding?

Are you tired of brushing the fur off your clothes with sticky rolls? Is daily vacuuming becoming too much of a chore? Do you find yourself constantly sweeping and mopping up pet fur? You are not alone! But why is this happening? Can you control it? There must be some end to this, right? We’ll take a look at some of the causes as well as some of the remedies in this article.
 

Dogs and cats will almost always shed at least some fur on a daily basis. Sometimes this can be due to the season. Shedding usually increases with the onset of spring. This is because they’ve grown thick coats to protect them during the cold season. For their ancestors, this process was a matter of life and even death.  However, an overabundance of shedding can be caused by something more serious. Some health conditions can trigger excessive shedding. These can include:
 

·      Fungal Infection such as yeast and hot spots

·      Food Related Allergies

·      Thyroid and other Auto – Immune Diseases

·      Cushing’s (Adrenal Disease)

·      Fleas (Last week we talked about one cause: Fleas. If you missed that article you can check it out at: https://www.barfworld.com/blog/fleas_no_more)
 

Serious or chronic conditions such as Cushings or other Auto Immune factors generally manifest hair loss in patches. If your dog has such patches, it’s likely time to see the Vet. Your veterinarian will run diagnostic tests to help diagnose the underlying issue and work on a treatment plan for your pet. Always remember proper nutrition is the foundation of any successful plan.  A species appropriate diet can help keep your pet stay healthy and back on track.  How? One way is by eliminating carbs in the diet that prompt insulin and cortisol that the body simply can’t process properly. Your dog also needs a “low stress diet”.  A low stress diet is one that is moisture rich. The BARF World recipe has moisture content of approximately 70% while commercial dry dog food recipes are generally in the 10-12% range.  I guess you can say dry dog food is a recipe for disaster!
 

Food allergies ARE preventable! In many cases dogs are fed kibble or dry food composed of inferior quality ingredients that have been cooked or heat processed. Heat processing alters the protein molecular structure and renders the product harder to assimilate and utilize in the body leading to a higher accumulation of toxins, inefficient organ system function and not surprisingly, allergies and skin conditions.  If your pet is suffering from itchy skin and dull coat, that kibble diet might be to blame. By choosing the right protein for your pet’s needs, you can provide them with a longer and better quality of life. You are the only voice for your pets, and only YOU can decide what to put in their digestive system.

Fungal infections are often caused by yeast. Yeast is fed by sugar. But your dog isn’t eating ice cream and lollipops right? He or she may however be eating a high carbohydrate diet mainly consisting of dry or kibble type dog food. Unfortunately carbohydrates transition to sugar in the body.  Yeast feeds on the sugar and spreads on the skin and inside the ears. Many of our clients report an improvement in these conditions in just 30 days! A species appropriate diet can work well and fast to improve skin issues triggered by the wrong diet. 
 

Assuming that your dog and cat are otherwise healthy, some shedding is a natural process for domestic and wild pets. Some breeds shed a little more, some a little less. There are some basic things you can do such as regular bathing and daily brushing of the coat. But is there more?
 

You might consider adding Omega 3 to your pet’s diet. Omega 3 can help promote healthy hair growth as well as moisturize the skin. It strengthens the hair follicles reducing loss through damage and can give the coat a shiny luster. Most dogs and cats alike are fans of the taste and will be happy to enjoy this healthy “treat”. 
 

Another tried and true supplement to reduce hair loss is Brewer’s Yeast. This is not the bad yeast we talked about above. Brewer’s yeast is a rich source of biotin as well as many of the B vitamins. Both are important factors in healthy skin and coat. Sources rich in Vitamin B have also been reported to reduce stress and calm nerves. This could be beneficial to dogs that are chewing or licking their skin and fur due to anxiety. Over licking and chewing can trigger hair loss and skin irritation.
 

Dealing with fur everywhere tends to become the “norm” for us pet owners. But we don’t have to live with excessive hair loss. If your dog is showing symptoms of something more serious, see a licensed Veterinarian. If you’d simply like to reduce and better control your dog’s normal shedding process, contact BARF World today. One of our raw food specialists can recommend our Jump Start bundle. It consists of Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil and our signature E-BARF Plus powder. You’ll be surprised to hear how many great benefits this bundle has for your best friend PLUS we can tell you how you can start earning them for free with our Platinum Auto BARF membership.  Soon you will be able to simply sweep THIS furry problem under the mat! Call us at 866-282-2273!