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.

All Hill's Science Diets (manage to enhance the good looks of your pet and you can be assured of a shiny, healthy and great looking coat without the need for any supplements that sometimes interfere with the natural growth of hair coat and skin, thereby imbalancing the nutrient content in your dog's normal diet. The extras from protein contents can further trigger other diseases suddenly or slowly (depending on the lifestage and lifestyle condition of each individual pet) over time such as heart, liver or kidney disease, etc. Without the proper Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids the coat may appear scruffy and dry. The paw pads and nose leather will be adversely affected also.

Why is Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids important?

Essential fatty acids help improve the condition of body cells and skin, help repair tissue and play a big role in cell growth. It has known to have helped pets undergoing:

• trauma, injury, burns following surgery,

• some types of cancer and cancer therapies and

• dermatitis, arthritis, colitis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Top veterinarian faculties in United States and Europe have researched and proven that Omega–3 fatty acids found in cold-water fish oils and flaxseed (plant based) have helped in the fight against skin conditions. At Hill's, scientists have found that by modifying the amounts of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids given to pets, inflammation and some associated symptoms can be controlled. However, the optimum level of fatty acids is highly dependent on the type of inflammation. This is why all Hill's growth formulas have higher levels of n-6 (may run as high as 18:1) for puppies and kittens to support immune response during their developing stages.

The causes for hair shedding in dogs are believed to be due to climatical changes, some because of poor quality diets, lifestage for eg. pregnancy and lactation also contribute to this because the nutritional requirements differ extremely during these periods. Another very important factor commonly noted in Malaysia is frequent bathing; results in reduced body oil that will certainly give way to dull, dry and lustreless coats. A good point to remember is to bathe your dog once every 10 days, this in fact, is the most ideal in a tropical climate as ours! However, in colder climates, bathing can be done once a month; despite this combing and brushing especially for thick coated breeds must be occasionally practiced and not to be taken lightly.

Some of the tell-tale signs of excessive hair shedding that require your speedy attention are:

• Hair shedding due to stress, illness or inadequate diets.

• Watch out for hair falling out in large patches, leaving bald spots, accompanied by chewing or scratching.

• Hair falling due to allergies or hypothyroidism.

• Hair falling due to feeding supplements not recommended by the veterinarian.

• Lack of grooming ie. brushing and combing especially for thick coats.

What can be done to eliminate hair shedding?

The most effective yet the simplest is to make sure you give your pet a good brushing to have more manageable hair. Once your pet gets used to it he will look forward to it and enjoy it too. There are many types of brushes, such as the slicker or rake. The slicker and rake are best used on the double-coated breeds such as the collie etc. because they reach under the outer coat and pull out the soft, undercoat.

For dogs with thicker hair coat you should also brush regularly and remove long, straggly, hairs from ears, neck and underside with finger and thumb. For the long-coated dogs, brushing alone is insufficient because only the top-coat will benefit, while the under-coat which gets matted, usually remains untouched. For these coats, you need not only a bristle brush but a wire brush or a metal comb that will be able to penetrate through to the skin. For the inexperienced owner using this comb incorrectly may cause severe skin lacerations. It is advisable to look for a professional groomer or veterinarian for severely matted coats.

Generally, short-coated dogs should be brushed regularly with a firm brush. This should be used in long, sweeping strokes following the lie of the fur, and it is easiest if the owner always follows the same sequence, for eg. back, belly, chest, limbs and tail. Do be careful when grooming sensitive areas such as the sheath or vulva.

While you are at it, make a thorough inspection of your pet's ears and eyes and nose to make sure they are clean and free of bacteria. Please use ear cleaners and tear stain removers to keep your pets looking healthy always. A good shampoo with conditioner such as the Aristopet range pet shampoo should be used for easy maintenance of your pet's hair and do not hesitate to use a hair dryer. For the first time always let your pet get used to the sound of the hair-dryer so as not to frighten him. Have fun!