What are the reasons for dogs shedding skin?

Dog skin shedding may be due to normal metabolism, overly dry skin, frequent inappropriate bathing, external parasite infections, or skin diseases. If a dog is just slightly shedding skin with no other abnormalities, it's considered a normal part of their metabolism, and owners don't need to worry too much. However, if the dog's skin shedding is severe, accompanied by symptoms such as hair loss, crusting, redness, and swelling, it's necessary to consult a veterinarian for medication treatment.

1. Normal Metabolism

When a dog is in its growth stage, the rapid renewal of the skin's epithelial tissue leads to skin shedding. As long as the shedding is not severe and there are no ulcers or itching, it's unnecessary to worry about it. The dog's skin will fully recover as it gets older.

1. Overly Dry Skin

Due to the dry and cold winter weather and low humidity, dogs are prone to having dry skin, which leads to excessive shedding. Therefore, owners should make sure that their dogs drink plenty of water daily to maintain water balance in their bodies. If conditions permit, using a humidifier to improve the environment and regulate indoor humidity can also help.

1. Inappropriate Bathing

Frequent dog baths or using human shampoo can disrupt the dog's skin surface oil layer, causing the skin to lose its barrier protection, leading to dryness, redness, and shedding. So, do not bathe your dog too frequently; it's recommended to bathe them once a week, or every half month in winter. Also, use pet-specific shampoo or soap when bathing your dog to prevent allergies.

1. External Parasite Infection

If a dog has a large amount of skin shedding accompanied by itching, redness, and hair loss, it could be due to an external parasite infection, such as lice or fleas. Therefore, owners should pay attention to regularly deworming their dogs, both internally and externally. It's generally recommended to deworm the dog internally every three months and externally every month.

1. Skin Diseases

Dogs with skin diseases, such as fungal or bacterial infections, can also experience skin shedding, itching, redness, and crusting. It's advisable for owners to consult a veterinarian or take their dogs to a pet hospital for inspection to determine the specific cause and then adopt appropriate treatment measures.