This article covers why your pet sheds, pet health conditions causing shedding, what happens if an animal's coat is not regularly groomed, and the top breeds that shed the most. Brushing your pet regularly will not remove its fur completely. To keep your pet healthy a pet owner must have their dog or cat regularly treated to a professional bath and brush service by a qualified groomer. Some pets may require special treatment shampoos and conditioners to help remove all of their undercoat, to soften their coat, or to help with pet dandruff. When the seasons change is the most important time to bring your short hair or long haired pet to a qualified groomer to keep their coat in good health and improving your pet's quality of life.
WHY DO DOGS SHED?
Dog Shedding is a natural way of a dog's body to defend itself. Whether it is a Poodle which coat drops off slightly or a Labrador Retriever that has a coat that sheds all year long, keep in mind that this process helps in maintaining healthy skin and coat. It also keeps them protected from harmful contaminants.
So many breeds develop shedding and hair loss. Dog shedding is not new and it is far from over. Every dog owner is conscious that the shedding of hair varies depending on the breed.
Like human beings, dogs have hair problems too. But since they are animals, people have the direct accountability to troubleshoot this setback and dogs cannot and they never will deal with this dilemma alone. Although dog shedding may happen naturally, there are still instances wherein it is an immense crisis both for the dog and its owner. Once the dog is shedding hair, it is now time to look at the all- around well-being of this K9. Is the dog eating healthy? Is it drinking lots of water to keep it hydrated? Does it have the appetite to take in meals regularly?
Among the most important things a dog owner can do for their dogs is to help them maintain a healthy coat and good health; that is by proper grooming. If not rightfully done, dogs can attain further problems of shedding hair. Grooming is important, not only to help remove the shed hair including other particles resting on the coat, but it also establishes a time for bonding between the dogs and their masters. It also allows the pet owner to see if there are any discreet problems with its skin or coat. The routine of grooming must be regular. The tools going to be used and the products that go into the dog's coat must be perfect so that further dogs shedding can be prevented.
Matted pet hair happens for a few reasons, mostly revolving around poor grooming habits on the human's part. Matting that is not taken care of can actually lead to skin infections on pets, including both cats and dogs. It is important to tackle mats immediately and to prevent matting in the first place.
Both dogs and cats shed, and the hair they lose can get matted up in the hair they keep. Brushing out the dog or cat each day, especially during shedding seasons, can help prevent matting. This also gives the human and animal an opportunity to bond.
A lack of proper grooming, especially with long-haired breeds of dogs and cats, can lead to matting. All family pets should get proper grooming, even if it is done from home. Even though long-haired pets are more apt to matting, shorter haired pets can suffer problems too. Get the pet groomed often to keep its fur healthy and clean.
Long-haired pets need grooming even more that short haired pets, and matting is one of the main reasons for that. Long-haired pets' fur can get matted from day-to-day activities, like playing. If a pet has a problem with its long hair being matted often it may be wise to get its fur trimmed.
Excessive dirt and grime can also cause matting. This is another reason why grooming and bathing are important. For pets who spend a lot of time outdoors, regular bathing and brushing may be the only way to keep mats at bay and keep their coat and skin healthy. Conditioners can be used on pets that are highly prone to matting.
FACTORS THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO DOG'S SHEDDING AND HAIR LOSS:
Did it undergo any activity through out the day or week that made it stressed? Is the dog owner taking good care of his pet dog? Does the dog have its regular check-ups with the vet? Well, these are important questions a dog owner has to ask in order to know the root cause of the dog shedding. Dogs may also have an increase or excessive amount of shedding hair due to skin infections, allergies and total infections. It is important to see the veterinarian immediately to find out the cause of the hair loss and know the treatment to stop the excessive dog shedding.
See, the inner health of the dog can be detected when it is shedding hair. That is inside the dog's body but what about its environment? What surround the dog may influence its hair loss too. The variation of temperature, the changing of seasons, amount of moisture in the air, dust particles and the abrupt alteration in climatic condition can play a part to make numerous amount of shedding hair. Because of the dog's environment, the physical condition of their hair can be affected. Once the hair is damaged or brittle enough, the closest tendency is for it to fall out. Right about the time that the weather begins to warm up, the shedding begins. In this period, dogs go through an extended shedding phase of hair growth or exogen. Warmer weather jogs a reaction in the dog's system; this causes the hair follicles to create a heavier coat in preparation for the winter. That is too much dog shedding.
CAUSES OF EXCESSIVE SHEDDING:
The following are possible causes for excessive shedding in dogs. As you will see, some are due to abnormalities that should be addressed by a veterinarian while others occur naturally and pose no threat to your dog:
Hormones– Hormonal imbalances caused by conditions such as Hypothyroidism (which affects the thyroid gland) or Cushing’s disease (which affects the pituitary gland) can result in excessive shedding in dogs. Since hormonal imbalances pose potentially serious health risks, your veterinarian might recommend either hormone therapy or surgery as options.
Breed specific hair loss– Some breeds such as greyhounds can naturally lose hair on their thighs, but this will later grow back. Some dobermans and Irish setters can also do the same, though the condition might be accompanied by skin irritation. Try using a medicated bath such as TropiClean Oxy-Med Oatmeal Shampoo.
Poor nutrition– When a dog becomes bald in a pattern, particularly around the ears, the cause can be poor nutrition. Try changing to one of National Pet Pharmacy’s protein-rich dog foods, such as Verus Advanced Opticoat Diet. Nutritional supplements such as Welactin might also be tried.
Mange– Caused by demodex mites, this might result in hair loss around the eyes. Try National Pet Pharmacy’s Interceptor daily as recommended by your veterinarian to rid your dog of the mite infestation.
Stress– Sudden hair loss can occur in response to stress and should disappear once the source of the stress is removed.
Infection– Fungal infections such as ringworm can cause hair loss. National Pet Pharmacy’s Miconazole Spray can help rid your dog of these kinds if infections and so the cause of the hair loss.
SERIOUS HEALTH FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO SHEDDING:
Most dogs shed hair. It is a normal seasonal happening for most breeds. If there is too much shedding or if shedding happens at a time of year when it is not supposed to, it is time to get to the vet. Excessive shedding in dogs can be a sign of many different conditions, some of them easy to treat and some of them life threatening. The causes of excessive shedding in dogs all have a negative impact on the dog's happiness and only the vet will know how to correct the problem.
Hypothyroidism- Hypothyroidism is caused by a thyroid gland that does not produce enough hormones. Most dogs that suffer from hypothyroidism will lose some hair. It can be easily treated with synthetic thyroid medication such as Soloxine.
Skin Diseases- Dogs are susceptible to many skin diseases. They can be caused by bacteria called Staphylococci, ringworm which is a fungal infection, allergies to everything from flea saliva to dust and mold, parasites such as ear mites, lice and ticks and hormonal imbalances.
Pyoderma- Pyoderma is a bacterial infection of the skin and it could be indicative of another health condition. The bacteria that is involved in most cases is Staphylococcus or E Coli. They enter the skin that has been compromised by conditions such as parasites, allergies, hormonal disorders, an inadequate immune system and trauma from grooming, virtually anything that causes skin sores that can allow the bacteria to enter. Pyoderma will appear as a rash, not open sores. In the most severe cases, the dog will be hospitalized for intravenous treatments. In most cases, treatment involves antibiotics, special shampoos and/or a change in diet.
Cushing's Disease- Cushing's Disease is also known as hyperadrenocorticism, which is when the adrenal gland produces too much of a hormone known as corticosteroids. Cushing's can be caused by a tumor of one of two glands: the adrenal or the pituitary. The vet will need to perform several tests in order to get a definite diagnosis of Cushing's Disease. Adrenal tumors are removed surgically. Pituitary tumors need to be treated with medications such as Lysodren.
Autoimmune Diseases- Autoimmune diseases of the skin include pemphigus complex, pemphigus vegetans, pemphigus foliaceous, pemphigus erythematosis and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome. These are extremely rare, but can be serious. If the vet cannot pin down the cause to one of the more common conditions, he may recommend seeing a specialist. Other autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia and systemic lupus erythematosis can also cause hair loss. Autoimmune diseases are some of the most serious conditions that affect dogs.
Tumors- Tumors actually are related to hormone imbalances as those that cause hair loss generally affect the testicles or ovaries. Your veterinarian will likely recommend the removal of these organs, or removal of the tumor and/or appropriate therapy such as chemotherapy if necessary.
LIST #1 OF DOGS THAT SHED THE MOST AND REQUIRE REGULAR GROOMING TO KEEP THEIR CONDITION UNDER CONTROL:
2. Alaskan Malamute
3. American Eskimo Dog
4. Belgian Sheepdog
5. Belgian Tervuren
6. Bernese Mountain Dog
7. Boston Terrier
8. Chow Chow
9. Finnish Lapphund
11. Great Pyrenees
13. Lakeland Terrier
15. Maltese Shih Tzu
20. Shetland Sheepdog
21. Sussex Spaniel
LIST #2 OF DOGS THAT SHED THE MOST AND REQUIRE REGULAR GROOMING TO KEEP THEIR CONDITION UNDER CONTROL:
16.German Shorthaired Pointer
CALL THE GLITTER GROOMER SARAH TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT FOR A DE-SHEDDING TREATMENT:
The De-Shedding treatment requires a long bath, specialty shampoos, conditioners, and hand drying. This is not a quick bath and brush, this service requires a lot of work on behalf of the groomer and cannot be rushed. For your pet's maximum comfort bring his/her dog food and dog water bowl (which will be sterilized before it is placed in your pet's kennel.) You will be updated with your pet's status throughout the grooming process and called 20 minutes before your pet is complete so your pet does not have to wait for you to arrive.
HUMANITY VS. VANITY: We don't rush your pet through the grooming process which is more calming & the shop doesn't overbook which reduces noise, anxiety & health related issues. General Grooming times are posted with the service description. Each pet parent is called after the animal's bath with a status update. The Glitter Groomer is more than a San Diego Dog Groomer, she is an animal artist and Hillcrest animal/dog whisperer. Glitter Groomer is worth the drive and worth the wait for your pet. If you are looking for a Banker's Hill, Downtown, Hillcrest, Northpark, Mission Hills, San Diego pet salon... look no further. Call 619-296-6200 or Text 619-245-9281 View the "Client Images" for happy pet pictures.