Why do dogs shed?
Just like humans, dogs have a natural hair growth cycle. During a dog’s shedding cycle, each of their hairs goes through phases. The first phase is the anagen phase which is representative of a pet hair growth. The next phase is catagen phase which occurs when the dog’s hair stops growing. After the catagen phase, the hair goes through its final phase: telogen phase. This is when the dead hair falls out and is replaced by new hair follicles.
Although it’s often thought that fur isn’t specifically designed for shedding, a significant amount of the shed fur consists of the protective undercoat.
Is seasonal shedding a common occurrence?
When dogs were known to spend the vast majority of their time outdoors, shedding seasons were limited to spring and fall. Now, most dogs are indoor pets and tend to shed all year round. Depending on your pet’s breed and coat type (i.e. double coats), however, shedding seasons may vary. For breeds with double coats such as german shepherds, Siberian huskies, golden retrievers, or Pomeranians, their shedding season generally occurs in spring and fall seasons. Aside from specific shedding seasons, increased instances of shedding could be caused by diet, allergies, stress, or skin problems. Normal shedding is common and indicates good coat health and healthy skin, but if your pet is expressing unusual shedding patterns, skin irritation, or hair loss in patches, it may be a sign of underlying medical conditions.
How can I prevent excessive shedding?
Although you can not stop your pet from shedding completely, as it is part of their bodies natural process, you can help prevent excessive shedding which may be resultant from their lifestyle. Here are three useful and easily implementable tips!
- Brush Their Coat Everyday – Regular brushing and regular grooming not only gets rid of loose hair in a confined and manageable way, but also stimulates the glands that produce oils, allowing the hair to become softer and sleeker. This healthier hair is more likely to prevent hair loss and helps maintain a healthy coat! Do research into the best types of brushes for your breed of dog as they depend on the type of pet hair and can greatly impact comfort and effectiveness.
- Ensure a Healthy Diet – Feed your dog a diet with adequate fatty acids and protein. Dogs that are undernutrition can be highly prone to diet-related shedding. Furthermore, make sure that your pet always has access to enough clean drinking water, as dehydration can lead to increased shedding!
- Clean Your Pet Regularly – Thoroughly and frequently washing your dog is important to keep germs, dirt, and other unwanted pests off of their coat. Not only will this keep them safe from illness, but also reduce the itchiness that they feel. Consequently, less scratching leads to less shedding!
