Hair Shedding and the Causes
The most commonly heard complaint by dog owners is that their dog sheds hair frequently. Often a little bit of shedding is normal whereas excessive shedding should be a cause for concern. Some breeds tend to shed more, notably Retrievers, Setters, Spaniels and Shepherds whose hair coats have to be combed and brushed regularly.
All mammals have some sort of hair covering some, much, or virtually all of their bodies. Hair is made of the protein keratin and dead epidermal or skin cells and it grows from follicles in the dermis or inner layer of the skin. Some hairs are densely packed into stiff, fibrous outgrowths, that, depending on species and location on the body, become horns, fingernails, and toenails.
Although the shedding of dog hair is frustrating during the shedding season, it is certainly a marvelous body structure which efficiently insulates the body, protects the skin and functions as a sensory tool.
Many breeds have double coats such as the Pomeranian which has a fluffy under coat and straight outer coat which needs combing to minimize hair shedding as much as possible.
There are many nutritional products in pet stores aimed to beautify the coat of your pet. The best so far is to make sure a balanced diet is given, where the coat will naturally shine and be soft and smooth to the touch. A balance of the right fatty acids is the key to a great coat. [Read
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