Key Takeaways
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Shedding is biological: every dog sheds as part of a normal hair growth cycle, with the heaviest sheds in spring and fall.
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Nutrition shapes coat quality: what your dog eats directly influences how much hair sheds and how quickly the coat recovers.
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EPA and DHA matter most: omega-3 fatty acids for dogs from whole fish support skin barrier health and a softer, fuller coat.
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Source quality changes the outcome: marine ingredients deliver EPA and DHA directly, while plant oils make your dog do the heavy lifting.
Why Dogs Shed (And Why Some Shed More Than Others)
You sit down on the couch, stand back up, and your favorite jeans look like a fur coat. If you have a dog, you know the feeling. Before we blame the food, the weather, or the season, it helps to understand what shedding actually is and why your dog does it in the first place.
Your dog's hair moves through a three-stage cycle: a growth phase, a short transition phase, and a resting phase where the hair finally falls out (the technical names are anagen, catagen, and telogen). Every dog sheds during that resting phase. How often and how heavily depends on breed, coat type, and the time of year. [1]
How much a dog sheds depends largely on coat type and season. Single-coated breeds, such as Poodles and Maltese, typically shed in smaller amounts. Double-coated breeds, including Huskies, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds, have both a dense undercoat and a longer guard coat, which makes shedding more noticeable.
Light shedding throughout the year is normal. Heavier shedding in spring and fall is also expected, as the coat responds to changing daylight and prepares for seasonal temperature shifts.
Sometimes you will notice more hair than usual. Common reasons include the seasonal coat blow, stress, pregnancy or lactation, dehydration, an underlying health issue, or a diet that is not giving your dog what their skin and coat need to thrive.
When Shedding Is a Red Flag
You expect a little extra fur during a heavy shed. What you do not expect is a bare patch behind your dog's ear or angry pink skin on their belly. That is the moment to pay closer attention.
Watch for bald patches, red or irritated skin, sores, constant scratching, a dull or brittle coat, or shedding that comes suddenly after a change in food, environment, or routine. [3] These signs can point to something more than seasonal change.
Possible underlying causes include an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), an overactive adrenal condition (Cushing's disease), food or environmental allergies, parasites like fleas and mites, or fungal infections. [2]
If your dog's coat has changed quickly or you see bare skin, call your vet before you change the food bowl. A medical issue needs a medical answer first. [4]
If your dog is experiencing sudden or excessive hair loss, bald patches, or skin irritation, consult your veterinarian. Dietary changes alone cannot treat underlying medical conditions.
Seasonal Shedding: What's Actually Happening
Every spring you swear your dog is hiding a second dog inside their coat. Tufts come out in handfuls. That is your dog responding to the light outside more than the temperature on the thermostat.
Shedding is driven by changes in both day length and temperature. As days get longer and warmer in spring, your dog releases the winter coat. As days shorten and cool in fall, the process runs in reverse. [5] Dogs that live mostly indoors, under steady artificial light and consistent heat, often shed more evenly across the whole year because their bodies never get a strong seasonal cue.
You cannot turn seasonal shedding off. It is biology doing its job. What you can influence is how the coat looks and feels during and after the shed, and that brings us to the food bowl.
How Nutrition Affects Skin and Coat Health
You pick up a bag of food at the store, flip it over, and try to make sense of an ingredient list that reads like a chemistry exam. The skin and coat are usually where the answers show up first.
Your dog's skin is their largest organ, and it costs the body real resources to keep it healthy. When the diet falls short, the coat usually shows it first, before almost anything else. [4]
Several nutrients matter for coat quality. Protein supplies the amino acids (especially cysteine and methionine) that build keratin, the structural protein in hair. Omega fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, support the skin's protective outer layer (the skin barrier). Zinc helps skin cells regenerate. B vitamins, including biotin, support keratin production from the inside.
Nutrient gaps usually show up as dry, flaky skin, heavier shedding, or a dull, brittle coat. These are early signals that the diet is not pulling its weight. [6]
Proportion matters as much as presence. A recipe that lists omega fatty acids in trace amounts, or pulls them from low-quality sources, will not deliver the same benefit as a Biologically Appropriate recipe built around ingredient quality from the start.
The Omega Fatty Acid Mechanism: EPA and DHA for Dogs
You have seen the words omega-3, omega-6, EPA, DHA, and ALA on the back of every premium bag. They are not interchangeable, and the differences matter more than the marketing suggests.
Omega-3s, specifically EPA and DHA, are the heavy lifters for skin and coat. Omega-6s (like linoleic acid) also play a role in the skin barrier, but most modern commercial diets already deliver plenty of omega-6 from plant fats. The gap most diets need to fill is adequate omega-3. [7]
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) has properties that can calm inflammation in the skin, which can help with shedding tied to skin irritation or allergies. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) supports the cell membranes that hold skin cells and hair follicles together. [8]
Where those omega-3s come from matters. ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) is the plant-based omega-3 found in oils like flaxseed. Your dog's body has to convert ALA into EPA and DHA before it can use them, and dogs do that conversion poorly: estimates put it at less than 10%. [9] Marine sources like whole fish and fish oil deliver EPA and DHA already in the usable form, so your dog skips the conversion step entirely.
Whole-fish ingredients also bring more than just omega-3s. They carry protein, minerals, and fat-soluble vitamins in their original nutritional matrix, the kind of complete package an isolated oil supplement cannot match. [10] That is the heart of the WHOLEPREY philosophy: animal ingredients delivered whole, not stripped down.
How to Reduce Dog Shedding: Start with the Food Bowl
You have brushed, you have bathed, you have vacuumed twice this week. The next place to look is the bowl. Food will not stop shedding, but it can change the quality of the coat that does shed.
Here is the simplest rule for how to reduce dog shedding through diet: look for a recipe that names whole marine protein sources, like whole fish or fish meal from identified species, near the top of the ingredient list. Generic "fish oil" added at the end of the list is not the same thing.
A diet rich in named animal ingredients also delivers the amino acids your dog needs to build healthy hair structure. Recipes that lean heavily on plant-based fats for their omega profile will not match the EPA and DHA you get directly from marine sources.
Brushing, bathing with an appropriate shampoo, and steady hydration all help on the surface. They remove loose hair, support the skin, and make the coat look its best between sheds. But the deeper change starts inside, and it takes time. Most coat improvements from a diet change show up around six to eight weeks in, as the hair growth cycle turns over.
If you are looking for a diet built around the WHOLEPREY philosophy with whole marine ingredients, explore our ORIJEN™ Six Fish recipe and other great options through our Where To Buy locator.
*Approximate and derived from the unprocessed state of the ingredients.
Article Sources
1. Hair Growth Cycle in Dogs (NCBI/PMC)
2. Coat and Skin Appearance in the Healthy Dog (VCA Hospitals)
3. Hair Loss in Dogs (American Kennel Club)
4. Nutrition, Skin and Dogs (VCA Hospitals)
5. Dog Shedding: What to Expect and How to Manage It (American Kennel Club)
6. The Importance of Your Pet's Skin and Coat and the Role of Diet (VCA Hospitals)
7. Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Canine Skin Health (NCBI/PMC)
8. EPA and DHA Effects on Canine Skin and Coat (NCBI/PMC)
9. ALA Conversion to EPA and DHA in Dogs (PubMed)
10. Fish Oil for Dogs (American Kennel Club)
11. Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acid Sources for Dogs (NCBI/PMC)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my dog shedding so much?
Shedding is a normal biological process driven by the hair growth cycle, coat type, season, and daylight changes. Heavy shedding usually peaks in spring and fall. Unusually heavy shedding, especially with bald patches, skin changes, or a sudden onset, can point to a nutritional gap, stress, a hormonal issue, or an underlying health condition. If the shedding looks unusual, a vet check is the right first step. [5]
How do I stop my dog from shedding?
You cannot stop shedding entirely; it is a normal part of every dog's biology. You can reduce shedding by supporting coat health through nutrition (especially EPA and DHA from marine ingredients), regular brushing to lift loose hair before it lands on the couch, and the right bathing routine. A higher-quality diet built around whole marine protein sources usually produces a healthier coat that sheds less excessively over time. [4]
Is my dog's shedding seasonal?
For many dogs, yes. Shedding is triggered primarily by changes in daylight and temperature. Most dogs blow their coat in spring (shedding the winter undercoat) and again in fall (preparing for winter). Indoor dogs that spend most of their time under artificial light tend to shed more evenly year-round. Seasonal shedding is normal and cannot be prevented, but the condition of the coat during shedding season reflects your dog's overall nutritional health. [5]
What food is best for reducing dog shedding?
Look for a recipe that names whole fish or marine protein sources high on the ingredient list. These deliver EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids directly, the forms most useful for skin and coat health in dogs. Recipes that rely on plant-based oils like flaxseed for their omega content require your dog's body to convert ALA into EPA and DHA, a process dogs do inefficiently. [11]
Are omega-3 fatty acids good for dogs?
Yes. EPA and DHA, the omega-3 fatty acids found in marine ingredients, support skin barrier integrity, help calm inflammatory responses in the skin, and contribute to hair follicle health. Research in dogs has shown measurable improvements in coat quality with adequate EPA and DHA intake. Marine food sources, whole fish and fish meal, deliver these fatty acids more efficiently than plant-based omega-3 sources. [8]
Published by: Champion Petfoods Global Digital Team
Reviewed by: Champion Petfoods Global Marketing Team and Veterinary & Nutrition Science Experts
