husky dog (female) hair shedding

Question
QUESTION: hi marcus, i asked a question to one of your collagues Michelle B, regarding my sisters husky dog shedding her hair, she has since replied back and i cant reply to her as shes maxed out, so the question is Michelle B said  They blow their coat 2 times a year but this isnt the case with leah shes doing it on a daily basis since she was doctored. is there anything we can do to help stop/reduce the hair shedding. much appreciated for any help. and much appreciated to Michelle B for her quick answer.  logan.

ANSWER: I assume that your dog is an indoor dog (or indoor/outdoor)?  The bi-annual coat blow is the norm, but usually only dogs that are predominately outside do this.  Dogs that spend time in both climate controlled conditions inside and outside, or just inside, often have prolonged coat blows, and some dogs seem to never stop.

I'm not sure what you mean by "since she was doctored" but this is pretty common.  Here's some ideas to help reduce the shedding impact:

1) A warm bath (borderline hot).  This usually helps loosed the fur and you get a ton at once.  I usually recommend this after the first week of solid coat blowing.  It doesn't stop there, but it usually works to get a large chunk of the undercoat out at once.

2) Frequent brushing.  Shedding rakes often work well, but some dogs (especially those with coarse fur) might need something a little stronger.  I've had great success with the Furminator.  It's an expensive brand, but I think worth it.

3) Increase oils in diet.  I personally haven't seen much impact here, but I've heard good things about it, and adding some fish oils or meats to the dog's diet usually isn't a bad thing, as long as you keep an eye on the caloric intake.  So, feel free to try it.

4) During shedding season, try to encourage as little climate change as possible.  What this usually means is a little more time outside (and often with the brush is helpful).

Hope that helps some, and if I missed anything, feel free to write back and do some copy and pasting from Michelle's Q&A.



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

QUESTION: hi marcus, thanks for the quick reply, i live in the uk and take leah out on a regular basis as my sister is unable to do so, what i meant by doctored was when she was6 months old my sister took her to the vets newted i think the saying is, as sh didnt want the dog to have pups so got it done at an early age, but since then she sheds hair unbeleivably quick every single day theres bucket loads or seems that way, she uses a special comb to get rid of the excess hair and she is fed on recommended feeds for this type of dog she is also showered in a bath on a daily basis, do you think that the fact she was newted at 6 months may be playing a part in her hair loss as the vet never mentioned to my sister before leah had her op?. is there anything she should/needs to do to limit this.  i really appreciate your answers.   many thanks logan


Answer
No problem - glad to help.  So she was spayed at 6 months, which is a little early and may result in some glandular issues, but I think the big thing is that:

1) It's a Sibe with a lot of fur.
2) The dog is primarily an indoor dog.
3) It's Spring, and therefore the normal time for blowing coat.

She will lose a lot of fur, and because of her indoor nature, it will be a longer coat blow than normal.  And yes, it will be bucket fulls . . . but it's all normal.  One thing I would do is not bathe her daily.  There are oils in the coat that do a lot of cool little things for the dog, and daily washing prevents those oils from building up.  Generally, Sibes only need to be bathed about twice a year (more often if they are in the show ring or getting dirty).  In fact, that twice a year is generally to coincide with the coat blow.

The previous answer gives you some ideas to help reduce the shedding, but this is one of the joys of the breed  . . . they shed . . . A LOT!!!