Why Is My Dog Shedding So Much It’s Going Bald

1 Why Dogs Shed Excessively

Seasonal coat change: During seasonal transitions dogs shed heavily as they grow a warmer winter coat or a lighter summer one. This kind of shedding is short-lived and stops once the new coat comes in.

Aging: Older dogs lose coat as their bodies shed calcium faster than they replace it, which slows hair growth and leads to thinning. Make sure an elderly dog gets enough calcium.

Poor diet: Feeding table scraps or food that is too high in salt gradually causes hair loss. Excess salt drains the body of water and unbalances nutrition, which disrupts normal hair growth.

Skin disease: Bacterial, fungal, or mite infections cause abnormal shedding along with itching and restlessness. These need prompt treatment.

Vitamin and mineral deficiency: A diet of nothing but kibble, with no fruit or vegetables, easily leads to shortages of the nutrients that promote coat growth, and that can trigger shedding.

2 How to Care for Your Dog’s Coat

Brush often, especially during shedding season, to clear away loose hair. Brushing also spreads the skin’s natural oils evenly across the coat.

Bathe on a regular schedule to clean skin and coat and reduce the risk of skin infection, and to wash away old flakes that cause itching.

If the shedding is caused by a skin infection, treat that infection first so the coat can grow back healthy.