Many pets lose their hair when the weather turns warm, causing them to emerge in the summer with a lighter coat. During the shedding process, you may find clumps of hair on your couch, in your bed, on the carpet, and virtually everywhere else. Admittedly, shedding is a messy process, but is a given with many breeds of dogs and cats. If your pet is shedding excessively, you may want to research your pet's breed and the tendencies to shed. For example, if you have a Persian cat, you can expect the animal to shed excessively. Also, sheepdogs such as Australian Shepherds and collies, or golden retrievers will generally shed a lot.

While shedding is natural, it is more excessive in outdoor pets. This is because the sun can encourage the fur to fall out and reveal a shiny, shorter, thinner coat underneath. While outdoor pets tend to shed seasonally, indoor animals will also shed. Normally, they lose hair year-round. If you groom your pet frequently, this will leave the excess hair to a minimum. Vets also suggest that you try to vacuum up hair regularly. It is important to remove as much excess hair manually so that your animal will not get a hairball trying to remove the fur itself.

While animals shed, excessive shedding leading to bald spots may cause concern. In cats, stress can cause excessive hair loss. Also, if your cat has bald patches it could be a result of a bacterial infection or allergies. Sometimes shedding is a sign of ringworm in cats, or fleas. Severe sunburn can cause the hair to fall out, or a poor diet may cause the hair to dull and eventually fall out. When your pet has hyperthyroidism, shedding is a common indication.

You can normally reduce your pet's shedding tendencies with a healthy diet. Cheap dog foods are normally hard for pets to digest, and don't have the same vitamin ingredients as a healthy, better quality food. While better nutrition can reduce shedding, it won't eliminate it completely. You can also reduce your pet's tendency to shed by adding some moist, human-grade foods to your animal's diet. Dry kibble can cause the dog's skin to become dry. You may want to add some unprocessed human foods, such as eggs, raw meats without bones, or finely grated steamed veggies to your animal's kibble three times a week. This can help keep the skin healthy, which will eventually result in reducing shedding.

Also, if you add omega-3s to your dog's daily foods, this can reduce dog shedding and calm inflamed skin. Omega-3s are also known to decrease dandruff and improve overall coat texture. When your pet is shedding more than normal, you may want to consider checking the animal for fleas. Pesky insects can cause the pet's skin to dry and the hair may start falling out. Giving your dog baths on a regular basis will also help encourage loose hair to fall out in the tub or outside. Over-bathing can cause a dog to suffer from dry skin, which will cause the fur to fall out. You may want to ask a veterinarian about the nature of your dog's coat and determine the best schedule for bathing.

If your pet loses a lot of hair without any explanation, take your animal to the vet immediately. You may need to give your animal regular treatments or change his or her diet in order to improve the animal's health. Learn more about this with the help of a local veterinarian today. If you do not currently have a veterinarian, use our directory to find a reliable and trusted vet near you!