Is there any kind of dog food or special brush that cuts down a lot on shedding?

I just adopted a great dog. She is part German Shepherd and part Great Dane. Her coat is just like a Dane's. It's short and the hair floats all over. She sheds really, really bad.

I was wondering if anyone has a good way to control this. Are there any special brushes? Any kind of supplement? She eats Iams Science Diet and is very healthy, so it doesn't seem to be a health issue, just the way her coat is. Please only suggest something you have tried with success. Thanks in advance!

Is there any kind of dog food or special brush that cuts down a lot on shedding?

IAMS and Science Diet are not the same brand, which is actually irrelevant as they are both junky foods. The skin is one of the few organs we can see from the outside and is often a good picture of overall health. Too much shedding is indicative of possible not so great health. Get her on a grain free food if possible (Innova EVO, Timberwolf Organics, Orijen, etc) if you can find them or another premium food (Canidae, Chicken Soup, Merrick, some of the Natural Balance, Nutro, and Solid Gold lines are fine). Also give her fish oil capsules and make sure to give her the kind with the PCBs, dioxins, and mercury distilled out. 4 a day should be fine for her size. A vitamin E supplement (400 IUE a day) will also do great. Another two things to add are a raw egg (with the shell is fine) every other day and a few tablespoons of virgin olive oil on alternating days.

If she's got a coat more like a German shepherd, a shedding blade or a Furminator tool will be very helpful. Do not bathe her more than once or twice a year as it dries out the coat unless she gets into something really nasty. Most people overbathe their dogs.

Thanks for adopting and good luck! I love the combo of breeds, btw. One of my favs!

Is there any kind of dog food or special brush that cuts down a lot on shedding?

It could just be nerves. Most animals when nervous taken to the vet, not used to car rides, new homes and so on tend to shed. It's stress. In time it should go away, another thing to think about is she could have intestinal parasites and need to be wormed this can cause alot of shedding. One thing I've found that helps if all is well is oatmeal bath, and omega 3 fatty acids for dogs. It's great but will take a little bit the work. Use a soft brush to get the loos hairs out a stiff brush with a short coat can scrape the skin and cause it to itch. Talk with you vet the call is free and you can get the Omega fatty fish oils over the counter. Congrats on your new family member.

Is there any kind of dog food or special brush that cuts down a lot on shedding?

Two suggestions: The furminator and better food!

First of all, science diet is overpriced iams. It is basically corn and junk. I seriously suggest doing some research into a better food brand such as wellness, inova, canidae, chicken soup, eagle pack, etc. Once you get to better food some of the shedding should stop as the coat becomes healthier.

Secondly, the furminator is a brush designed to take out the undercoat of a dog and REALLY cuts back on the shedding! I highly recommend it, even for a short coated dog. You can buy it at almost any chain pet store, online or even on ebay.

Thirdly, it is the winter, so there is a possibility that the mass shedding is due to the summer coat being shed and the winter coat coming in.

Either way, good luck!

Is there any kind of dog food or special brush that cuts down a lot on shedding?

Science Diet what? They have many varieties available. The only Science Diet fit for dogs, in my opinion and that of many websites concerning dog food, is their latest version of Natures Best which is available in chicken and brown rice or lamb and brown rice. The rest of Science Diet dog foods are rated very low by dog enthusiasts and experts. Natura produces a quality dog food from fresh, people rated food; one variety is Innova, which is what I feed my Shelties.

So you might want to change your dog food as a start (do it over a 7 day period by gradually replacing your present food) I think it may be unusual that your short haired dog is shedding so much that it is noticeable

You might also want to try a demattig tool that is available in pet stores. It will remove any undercoat hair matting if that is a problem. Other than that, I am assuming you are using a brushing tool regularly to groom your dog. That should collect most of the outer layer hair. -

Anyhow, good luck with your dog.

Is there any kind of dog food or special brush that cuts down a lot on shedding?

I'd like to expand on the furminator suggestion of the previous posters

The company that makes the brushes also makes a special shampoo, its a two part bathing process and requires an hour+ of time after the bath with the dog a hairdryer and the furminator brush. For that reason they don't sell it to the general public but ask around at the groomers near you, if you find one that does 'shedless' or 'furminator' baths you might want to get her that bath, its a little on the pricey side but man does it work, all the shed fur ends up on the groomer's floor and not your house

Is there any kind of dog food or special brush that cuts down a lot on shedding?

Try adding some fish oil to her diet.

Definitely look into getting a furminator:

http://furminator.com/

Is there any kind of dog food or special brush that cuts down a lot on shedding?

Have you tried a shedding blade? I like it for almost all breeds of dogs with short to med. length coats. I believe they use it on horses as well.