Every dog shed, and pit bulls are no exception to that rule. Technically, Pitbulls are not hypoallergenic dogs despite them having shorter hair. This is because they still shed quite a bit, releasing dander and causing allergies in humans.
So, if you’re tired of cleaning up all the hair that sticks on your clothes, couch, carpet etc., there are ways to minimize it. In this article, we’ll discuss ways to reduce the amount of hair that your pitbull sheds, as well as why they shed.
How To Stop Pitbull From Shedding
Unfortunately, you can’t stop pitbull from shedding their hair. As a matter of fact, it’s a natural process that every dog needs to have and should not be stopped.
For most dogs, including Pitbulls, shedding is the key in keeping their skin and fur healthy. Similar to humans, where our hair falls when it’s unhealthy or has reached its limit, dogs too need to get rid of these unhealthy hair or fur by shedding.
Nevertheless, the amount of hair a dog sheds depends on what breed they are. Pit bulls, for instance, shed their entire coat twice a year. Even so, they regularly shed throughout the rest of the year in smaller amounts.
Hence, since there’s no way to stop pit bulls from shedding, all we can do is to minimize the after-effects. And this can be achieved by regular maintenance and good cleaning habits.
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Ways To Reduce Shedding Of Your Pitbull
Brushing And Bathing
As mentioned, there’s no way to stop your Pitbull from shedding. However, there are things you can do to reduce it.
One way is to brush your pit bull hair regularly. A consistent brushing helps to improve your dog’s coat and get ahead of all of it. Brushing removes old and damaged fur that would otherwise fall all over your home. Thus, when you remove it via brushing, you’ll find less hair rolling around your house.
In addition, brushing also helps to distribute the dog’s natural oils across their entire coat. As a result, their coats become healthier and happier, along with reducing chances of excessive shedding.
Which is to say, although pit bulls are typically low-maintenance dogs, since pit bulls neither fluffy or furry, still, it’s best to start a consistent brushing schedule. This is especially if you haven’t brushed them routinely. To get a better result, brush your Pitbull at least once a week, or sometimes up to twice a week. Hopefully by doing so, you’ll notice a reduction in the amount of hair you found in your home.
Additionally, you can also bathe them regularly. Generally, most pitbulls only get bathed once per month. However, you can bathe your dog once per week, especially if there is no reduction in hair sheds.
When doing this, make sure you’re using a gentle soap that won’t dry out their skin. If grooming your dog is not something you can feasibly do on your own, then consider hiring a groomer to maintain your dog bi-monthly.
Changing Their Diet
Sometimes, the reason why your pit bull shed excessively is due to their diet. There are certain foods or treats that can trigger an allergy reaction, or not suitable for pit bulls in general.
Hence, it’s important to reach out to your vet to discuss your pit bull’s health when you notice irregularity in the amount of hair shed. Provide them all the necessary information like how much hair they shed, the skin condition (if there’s redness or bald spot), and their diet.
With this information, your vet will be able to help you troubleshoot your dog. They will do testing to see what causes the excessive shedding, if there’s anything that your dog is allergic to. With the result, they will be able to give advice and prescribe medication that helps with their skin problem and overall shedding.
Keep in mind that just like us humans, not every pit bull will react well to healthy grains like oats, barley, or flaxseed. Some might need more protein based meals that include chicken and bone meal. All in all, talk to your vet about the best diet that works for your pitbull.
Keeping Your House Clean After Your Dog Sheds
Despite there isn’t way to stop pitbull from shedding their hair/fur, this doesn’t stop anyone looking for ways to realize it. Reason is because of the mess and cleaning that one needs to do when a dog sheds.
If your Pitbull is a regular shedder, it’s important to establish a regular cleaning schedule. Frequently wash the blankets your dog has slept on, including your bed and theirs.
Also, vacuum fabric items throughout the home like the curtains, carpets, and couches to reduce any visible fur from their shedding. As such, you’ll be able to keep your house clean as well as prevent any health issues you might get from the accumulation of the dog’s hair.
If you want to have a much easier cleaning routine, you can consider replacing your carpet floors with hardwood or linoleum flooring. At least, hardwood and linoleum won’t trap hair like carpet does.
In addition, you can try getting an air purifier with a HEPA filter. Air purifiers with HEPA filters are able to trap all the dander and fur floating on air, eliminating the causes of allergies.
Can You Stop Your Pitbull From Shedding Entirely?
Well, you can’t stop your pitbull from shedding entirely. It’s a natural process that every dog will have and is needed for the health of their skin. Still, it’s understandable why one wants to stop it.
Luckily, there are ways that can help to minimize the amount of hair your pit bull sheds. All you need is to have a regular brushing and bathing routine, with a good diet for your pit bull.
If you notice some changes on their skin condition, or they have shed more than usual, bring your pit bull to the vet immediately for further check up.