Shedding 101: Time to Shed some Light on the Subject

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

You’ve just finished a long day at work and are ready to take a power nap before the kids start asking for dinner. You kick off your shoes and plop on the couch. When you just seem to find the perfect snuggle spot, you realize something is irritating your nose. You open your eyes, and it’s dog hair. As you gaze down the couch to your feet you see dog hair all over, and as you begin to sit up and scan the living room, you realize the trouble doesn’t just end there. So much for a peaceful nap.

What’s with dogs shedding anyways?

Allow us to “shed” some light on the issue and what you can do to keep it from spoiling your next rest period.

The shedding of dog hair is unfortunately a natural life cycle. Normal shedding consists of your dog’s coat releasing unhealthy or damaged hair to make way for a new healthy coat to grow instead. Typically, dogs will shed either on a seasonal or year-round basis. The amount of hair and length of shedding varies by breed, age hormones, and environment.

It is IMPORTANT to take note of your dog’s shedding patterns because it relates to their overall health as well. Ringworms, skin problems, endocrine diseases, nutritional or vitamin deficiencies, stress, metabolic disorders, and even cancer, can cause a change in the rate of your dog’s hair growth. It is important if you notice any irregularities with hair loss concerning your dog (shedding at odd times in a season, bald spots, dramatic increase or decrease in hair loss) that you consult your local veterinarian.

Super Savvy Scientific Knowledge: Shed Steps 1-4

1) Catagen: The TRANSITION PHASE where hair stops growing and the outer root sheath attaches to the hair

2) Telogen: The RESTING PHASE where the hair is at a standstill and does not grow or shed

3) Exogen: The FALLOUT PHASE where hair falls out

4) Anagen: hair follicles move into the GROWTH PHASE

When you visit your friend’s house do they seem to have the one dog that doesn’t shed? Well their dog most likely has a coat that goes through a longer growth, transition, and resting phase, with a brief shedding phase.

If you are one of the unfortunate many who does have a dog that sheds, you should know there are four different types of dog shedders- Double-Coated Breeds, Hypoallergenic Dogs, Year-Round Shedders, and Seasonal Shedders.

Double-Coated Breeds have a shorter hair shaft life and more abundant undercoats, which results in large amounts of shedding. Labradors and Huskies are examples of dogs with double-coated fur. A second type of breed includes Hypoallergenic Dogs that shed very little hair and are thus low-allergy risks.

Seasonal shedders on the other hand are double-coated dogs who experience extra shedding in Spring and Fall. So termed, “blowing coat,” these dogs shed their older winter undercoats when the weather starts warming up and when the summer starts to cool off, dogs rid of their lighter undercoats and grow a warmer and thicker coat for winter. However, not all coats go through the same changes. For example, Shih Tzus and Bichons don’t have much undercoat, therefore they shed less as seasons transition, but Malamutes and Newfoundlands possess think/heavy undercoats that make shedding more noticeable.

Year-Round Shedding dogs don’t have a biologically inherent sensor for the changing of seasons, therefore they are continuously growing hair. Yorkshire Terriers and Poodles are of this breed and have hair with shafts that have a longer life span and thus have little shedding.

MYTHS you won’t want to MYTH

1) It is normal for dogs to lose more hair as they get older. NO! If your dog’s coat is growing thin as the dog gets older you should have a veterinarian perform a checkup

2) Long-haired dogs shed more. FALSE! Long-haired dogs should shed about as much as the average dog, but the length of their hair provides the illusion that more hair is being lost.

3) Shaving your dog will help with shedding. NO! The shedding dogs experience is part of a natural self-warming and self-cooling biological mechanism and shaving interferes with this.

If your dog is not a seasonal shedder, he or she could receive a haircut by a Professional Groomer every 2-4 weeks

So What CAN You DO? GROOM GROOM GROOM

1) Regular Hair Brushing: This can prevent dogs from having matted hair or a build up of previously shed hair. With brushing you remove shed hair, environmental contaminants resting on the surface, distribute the healthy and natural oils produced by the skin to the rest of the coat, and you can even get in some bonding time with your pooch and save yourself from a larger mess.

• Long haired dog- Daily brush

• Medium-haired- weekly

• Short-haired- monthly

2) Routine Bathing: Bathe your dog anywhere between once a month to once a week. Be sure to use soap-free shampoo that is designated for dogs.

• Oatmeal Shampoos typically ease itching and soothe mildly irritated skin

• Natural Shampoos contain no added chemicals and usually include herbs, which enhance the health of the coat and skin of dogs

• Conditioners keep your dog’s coat tangle-free, moisturized, and shiny

3) Proper diet: Ensure that your dog is eating food with Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids or is receiving a supplement of dog food with fish oil because this will provide nutrients for your dog’s skin. Healthy skin means healthy hair.

4) Popular Tools: different brushes have teeth specific to certain hair types

• Bristle Brushes- good for most hair types, varies in firmness

• Wire Pin Brushes- for dogs with medium to long hair

• Slicker Brushes- If your dog often has tangles this brush works with medium to long-haired dogs

• Rakes and Matbreakers- for the most severe mats and tangles

• Furminator- reduces shedding with special teeth that remove excess hair from double-coated breeds

So now it’s Friday again, another week of work complete. You come home and your tired body meets the couch. You close your eyes, and without even a minute passing, you feel something wet hit your nose. Your eyes open to not a couch, nor a room full of dog hair, but to your gloriously groomed pup who can’t thank you enough for his monthly baths and weekly hair brushing. But if you give a dog a groom… he’s going to want a Bionic Bone to go with it. Keep your dog from disturbing your nap, and buy a toy today at http://www.bionicplay.com.