Why Your Pet Sheds — and Why It Sometimes Gets Worse

Shedding is a completely normal, healthy process. A coat constantly renews itself, and the old hairs have to go somewhere — usually onto your sofa, your black jeans and the one rug that never seems to come clean. What surprises most new owners, particularly those who have just adopted a rescue animal, is simply how much fur a healthy pet can produce in a single week.

Two things tend to make it worse. The first is seasonal change: most dogs and cats "blow" their coat in spring and autumn, shedding heavily for a few weeks. The second is our indoor environment. Central heating keeps homes warm and dry all year round, and artificial light can blur the natural seasonal signals, so many pets now shed steadily rather than in two dramatic bursts. Stress, a recent move to a new home and dry skin all add to the pile.

Grooming: Little and Often Beats One Long Session

The single most effective thing you can do is brush your pet regularly. Every loose hair you remove with a brush is a hair that will not end up on your carpet. Aim for five to ten minutes a day rather than one marathon session at the weekend — short, calm grooming is easier for your pet to tolerate and far more effective at catching fur before it falls.

Use the right tool for the coat in front of you. A rubber curry brush or grooming mitt is ideal for short, smooth coats. Slicker brushes suit medium and long coats, while a metal comb gets down to the skin on thick or double coats. Undercoat rakes are brilliant during a heavy moult, but use them gently and never on a pet with sensitive or broken skin.

• Brush in the direction the coat grows, then against it lightly to lift dead undercoat.
• Work in sections, paying attention to the chest, behind the ears, the "trousers" on the back legs and under the tail — all classic mat hotspots.
• Bathe sparingly and always use a pet-specific shampoo; human shampoo strips the natural oils that keep skin healthy.
• Dry thoroughly afterwards, as damp undercoat holds loose fur and can cause skin problems.

Feed the Coat from the Inside

A dull, flaky, heavily shedding coat is often a sign that something in the diet is lacking. Look for a complete food with a named meat as the first ingredient and a decent level of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These support the skin barrier and help hairs stay in place until they are ready to fall, rather than snapping off all over your hallway.

Oily fish, or a veterinary-approved fish oil supplement, can make a visible difference within a few weeks. Fresh water matters too — dehydrated pets tend to have drier skin. If you have recently adopted, keep the food consistent for the first month or two, then change anything gradually over seven to ten days to avoid an upset stomach.

Keeping the Home Fresher Between Brushes

Good housekeeping is not about scrubbing constantly; it is about being consistent. Vacuum high-traffic areas two or three times a week and don't neglect soft furnishings, curtains and under the sofa, where tumbleweed of fur quietly gathers. A vacuum with a proper pet attachment and a HEPA filter will trap fine dander as well as visible hair.

• Keep a lint roller by the front door and another in the car for last-minute touch-ups.
• Wash pet bedding weekly on a warm cycle — it holds an enormous amount of loose fur.
• Use washable throws on the sofa and your pet's favourite chair, then shake them outside before washing.
• Groom outside or in the bathroom where fur is easy to sweep up, and always before a bath or a car journey.
• Change your own clothes after a grooming session — it saves a lot of picking hairs off yourself later.

When Shedding Deserves a Vet's Attention

Some shedding is not simply a coat doing its job. Speak to your vet if you notice bald patches, redness, scabs, constant scratching or licking, a sudden dramatic increase in hair loss, or a coat that has become thin and brittle. Parasites such as fleas and mites, allergies, thyroid problems and skin infections are all common culprits, and most are straightforward to treat once identified.

Remember too that rescue animals often arrive with a poor coat after months of uncertainty or an inadequate diet. With good food, regular gentle grooming and a calm routine, most will bloom within a couple of months — and that first glossy, healthy coat is one of the loveliest signs that a new pet is truly settling in.