Excessive Shedding (causes, supplements) (vet, skin, diet, fleas)

[pathrunner]

One of my dogs, age approximately 13-15, a double-coated dog, started shedding excessively this year. This is a first time occurrence. Currently he's in his 5th or 6th coat blow of the calendar year. I Furminate once a week, and it just keeps coming.

There could be a variety of factors, not the least of which is temperature inside the house now that it is almost winter. It's been cold here for the past few weeks.

I read that many dogs shed up to 4-5 times per year, so at first I didn't worry but now he's still shedding and I think it is excessive. I don't think it's due to fleas or lack of nutrients. He's in really good health and spirits and is very frisky for his age.

Is salmon oil something that people have had success with? I thought I would try to get anecdotes first before ordering. Probably will anyway, since it seems like a good thing to add to the diet even though it is expensive.

I should add what I feed:

Victor Brand Senior Healthy Weight dry food
mixed with a small amount of Beneful wet food

PetNC Hip and Joint Chew (7 months)
(Switched to JointMax as of yesterday)

PetNC Skin and Coat Chew (just added 2 weeks ago)

[Parnassia]

Your dog is geriatric. Some geriatric dogs start losing more hair. Has the dog had a wellness check recently? If not, do one including blood panel and exam for ectoparasites. Is he itchy and scratching more? Rule out something systemic that diet on its own won't fix before you start changing the one that works for him otherwise. I've noticed my double-coated dogs often went through a mini-shed if there's been a dramatic change in weather-related temperature/humidity. Could be as simple as dry skin or something more complex like hormone imbalance (Cushing's or Addison's disease).

[pathrunner]

Thanks. He hasn't had a wellness check recently. He had one about 6 months ago. I will check into the things you mentioned.

He's not itchy or scratching more, although I'm considering keeping him on Simparica Trio all year long. Since I moved to Alabama I've had my dogs on Simparica Trio 9 months of the year, which is what was recommended at the vet office when I first moved here. When I bought my most recent dose (November 1) I talked with the girl at the desk and she was wondering why I was only giving the dogs a 9 month dose.

On another note ticks have been horrible this year (very dry and being called a drought for the area (North Alabama). I've found 5 ticks in my bedroom in the past month. I check them regularly for ticks. They probably brought the ticks in from outdoors even though they were on the Trio. I've taken steps to eliminate ticks indoors.