Dull Coat and Excessive Shedding Are Not Normal

Many dog owners accept dull fur and constant shedding as part of owning a dog. Hair on the couch. Fur on clothes. A coat that looks dry or lifeless despite regular grooming.

But while some shedding is normal, excessive shedding and a persistently dull coat are often signs of an internal imbalance, not just a grooming issue or a seasonal change.

Your dog’s coat is one of the most visible reflections of their internal health. When something is off inside the body, the skin and coat are often the first places it shows.

What a Healthy Dog Coat Should Look Like

A healthy coat is not defined by breed alone. Even dogs with naturally thick or shedding coats should show certain baseline signs of health. A healthy coat is typically:

• Shiny without appearing greasy
• Soft and flexible rather than dry or brittle
• Even in texture and colour
• Free from excessive dandruff or flaky skin
• Supported by healthy, calm skin underneath

When these qualities are missing, it is rarely just a surface issue.

Why Excessive Shedding Is Often a Health Signal

Shedding increases when the body is under stress.

That stress may come from inflammation, poor nutrient absorption, immune imbalance, or hormonal strain. When the body lacks resources, it prioritises essential organs first. Skin and coat health fall lower on the priority list.

This is why dogs may shed excessively during:

• Periods of digestive upset
• Chronic low-grade inflammation
• Immune stress or recovery from illness
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Long-term stress

Shedding becomes the body’s way of reallocating energy away from coat maintenance.

The Skin and Coat Are Nutrient Dependent

Hair growth and skin integrity require a steady supply of nutrients. These nutrients are not stored in large reserves. They must be supplied consistently. When intake or absorption is inadequate, the coat suffers. Common nutritional gaps that affect coat health include:

• Essential fatty acids
• Trace minerals
• Plant-based antioxidants
• Fibre that supports nutrient absorption

Even dogs eating high-quality commercial food can develop these gaps over time due to processing losses and limited ingredient diversity.

The Role of Flaxseed in Coat Health

Flaxseed is valued for its role in supporting skin hydration and coat shine.

It provides plant-based fatty acids that help:

• Maintain skin barrier integrity
• Reduce dryness and flaking
• Support flexible, resilient hair follicles

Unlike topical oils, flaxseed works from the inside out. When used consistently, it supports the biological processes that allow skin and hair to renew properly.

Flaxseed also contributes gentle fibre, which supports digestion. Better digestion means better nutrient absorption, which directly impacts coat quality.

Coconut and Skin Barrier Support

Coconut contains compounds that support skin moisture balance and comfort.

Internally, coconut contributes fatty acids that help maintain the skin’s natural protective barrier. This barrier is essential for preventing moisture loss and reducing irritation that can trigger excessive shedding or scratching.

When the skin barrier is compromised:

• Hair follicles weaken
• Inflammation increases
• Shedding accelerates

Supporting the skin barrier nutritionally helps stabilise the environment in which healthy hair growth occurs.

Why Minerals Matter More Than Most Owners Realise

Minerals play a quiet but critical role in skin and coat health.

One commonly overlooked source is kelp.

Kelp provides trace minerals that support:

• Hair pigmentation and strength
• Skin cell turnover
• Thyroid-related metabolic processes that influence coat condition

When mineral intake is inconsistent, coats can lose shine, colour, and density. This often happens gradually, making it easy to miss until shedding becomes excessive.

Gut Health and Coat Health Are Connected

Skin and coat problems are rarely isolated from digestion.

If the gut is not absorbing nutrients efficiently, even a nutrient-rich diet cannot support coat health properly.

Signs this connection may be at play include:

• Dull coat alongside inconsistent stools
• Shedding paired with gas or bloating
• Skin irritation with no clear external trigger

The gut supplies the building blocks for skin renewal. When digestion is compromised, the coat reflects it.

Why Grooming Alone Is Not Enough

Regular brushing and bathing are important. They remove loose hair and support skin circulation.

But grooming does not fix the underlying cause of excessive shedding.

If internal balance is missing:

• Hair continues to fall out faster than it regrows
• New hair grows in dry or brittle
• Skin remains irritated beneath the surface

This is why many owners groom more frequently without seeing lasting improvement.

A Whole-Body Approach to Skin and Coat Health

Long-term coat improvement comes from supporting the systems that maintain skin health. That includes:

• Consistent nutrient intake
• Healthy fat balance
• Mineral support
• Digestive efficiency
• Controlled inflammation

At Power Paws, skin and coat health is treated as one pillar within a broader daily wellness framework. This is why DS-23 includes ingredients such as flaxseed, coconut, and kelp alongside digestive and immune support.

Rather than chasing shine with topical fixes, DS-23 is designed to support the internal conditions that allow healthy skin and coat renewal over time.

What Dog Owners Should Take Away

Excessive shedding and a dull coat are not just cosmetic inconveniences. They are signals. Signals that the body may be undernourished, inflamed, or struggling to absorb what it needs.

By viewing coat health as an internal reflection rather than a grooming problem, owners can take a more proactive approach to long-term wellbeing.

If your dog sheds constantly, lacks shine, or has skin that never seems quite right, it may be worth looking beyond shampoos and brushes.

Supporting skin and coat health from the inside out is often the missing step.

For those interested in a simple, daily way to support skin, coat, digestion, and overall balance together, learning more about DS-23 by Power Paws may be a practical place to start.

In the next article, we’ll explore why skin issues in dogs are often nutritional rather than environmental, and how to tell the difference.

Questions you may have...

Is excessive shedding normal for dogs?

Some seasonal shedding is normal, but constant or heavy shedding often indicates internal stress, nutrient imbalance, or poor absorption rather than a grooming issue.

Can diet really affect my dog’s coat?

Yes. Skin and coat health depend on consistent intake and absorption of fatty acids, minerals, and antioxidants. Nutritional gaps commonly show up as dull fur or excessive shedding.

Why is my dog’s coat dull even though I groom regularly?

Grooming removes loose hair but does not address internal factors like inflammation, digestion, or nutrient availability that influence hair growth and skin quality.

How do ingredients like flaxseed and coconut support coat health?

Flaxseed provides fatty acids that support skin hydration and hair strength, while coconut supports the skin barrier that helps prevent dryness and irritation.

What role does gut health play in shedding?

If the gut is not absorbing nutrients efficiently, the body prioritises vital organs over skin and coat maintenance, leading to shedding and poor coat condition.

How long does it take to see coat improvement?

Coat changes take time. Most improvements appear gradually over several weeks of consistent nutritional support rather than immediately.