extreme shedding all year long

Question
QUESTION: My question to you is that about our Great Dane, Gus.  Gus has a beautiful black shiny coat but has extreme shedding all year long.  He is kept indoors always, very well pampered.  He suffered from possible hip displasa or Wobblers as a pup,our vet sugguested possible expensive tests.  He functions very well and is a fun, loving animal with only slight lameness in the hind.  Our problem is when you touch him you can pull out tons of hair althought he has no bald spots.  He appears to have red rough bumps along his chest which we believe to be from his own urine, because he squats to pee, he also has not been fixed.  We switched food bowls platic to metal and visa versa, shampoos.  The shedding is horrible.  Do you have any suggestions, we are desperate to solve this.

ANSWER: It sounds like he has a problem.  He may squat because of his displastic hips making it painful to stand on one leg.

if the shedding is all over he may have an infestation of mites or such like.  As you don't give any clue as to where you live i can't guess.  Ask the vet for his opinion, he can get his hands on and knows the area where you live.

Ken

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: This is our follow up...we live in northern michigan.  He gets treated monthly with frontline flea, tick and mites.  We fiqured he squatted because of his hind legs but thought the rash might be something with the shedding.  Do dogs get severe dry skin and if so would that make his hair fall out with out leaving bald patches.  Like I said his coat appears normal.

Answer
With a short-coated breed the hairs do fall out more than long-coated breeds where the fallen hair stays in the coat needing to be groomed out.  You sound as though there could be a problem.  It is impossible to diagnose from 6,000 miles away so ask your local vet.

Ken