Shedding Light on Shedding

Dogs Shed for a Variety of Reasons

Labrador Retrievers, Newfoundlands and Pekingese tend to shed a lot. Daschunds, Poodles and Border Terriers seem to be shed-free. There are reasons why some dogs shed and others seem to keep their coats.

Various breeds shed in differing amounts: Some shed seasonally, while others shed year-round.

The amount of coat that is shed also may be a result of the conditions in which the dog is kept, whether that is primarily outdoors or indoors.

Underlying endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism or congenital problems such as follicular dysplasia can cause excessive shedding. Your veterinarian may want to do blood work, conduct a physical exam, biopsy the skin or hair follicles, or perhaps make a referral to a veterinary dermatologist in an attempt to find a physical cause for problem shedding.

Nervous, hyper-excitable animals shed much more easily than do calm, stable dogs. Behavioral modification, confidence-building exercises, or sedatives may help to get the shedding under control in such cases.

When there is no underlying clinical disease causing the shedding, the dog's environment must be scrutinized carefully. Diet, daily exposure to sunlight, and ambient temperature where the animal is housed may all contribute to problem hair loss.

If there is no underlying disease discovered, if the diet is adequate, if the ambient temperature and sun exposure are acceptable, and if no external parasites or allergies are revealed, then the only effective treatment is to remove the dead hair. This can be accomplished by regular brushing, combing, and the use pore- and follicle-dilating shampoos and baths to lift off the dead hairs. Some dogs can even be vacuumed!