Understanding Shedding in Dogs

There are many things that come naturally to dogs and shedding is one of them. Shedding in dogs is an inbuilt process in dogs where they ‘shed’ or remove dead, damaged and old hair. It is important because it plays a vital role in maintaining good skin health and keeps the fur protected too. Here in this blog, we will understand shedding in dogs and ways you can help your fur baby and your couches from being covered in fur!

Reasons Behind Shedding

Did you know that shedding in dogs happens because every single hair on a dogs body has its very own life process? Yes! There are three phases that a ‘hair’ goes through. They are:

• Anagen Phase: This is the initial phase where the hair grows vigorously.
• Catagen Phase: This is the second phase that halts the growth of the hair.
• Telogen Phase: The final phase in the life process of hair, where it falls off the body of the dog and gets replaced by new hair.

The process of shedding in dogs begins when the hair on the dog's body grows to the length it is supposed to grow and starts to come off. It is mostly the protective undercoat that is shed. The amount of hair that is shed and the cycle in which it is shed depends entirely on the breed of the dog. While certain breeds shed all year round, certain breeds shed only seasonally.

Breeds that Shed the Most and the Least

A huge part in understanding shedding in dogs depends on the breed that you have. It is also one of the primary factors that go into selecting the breed of dog. To make it easier for you, here is a list of dogs that shed the most and the least. You can have a look here:

Least Shedding Breeds

• Italian Greyhound
• Shih Tzu
• Poodle
• Yorkshire Terrier
• Bichon Frise
• Miniature Schnauzer
• Maltese
• Scottish Terrier
• Havanese

Maximum Shedding Breeds

• Saint Bernard
• Chow Chow
• Siberian Husky
• German Shepherd
• Golden Retriever
• Labrador

Managing Shedding in Dogs

While you cannot prevent your dog from shedding, there are a few ways you can manage it and make it comfortable for you and your dog.

• Regular brushing: Brushing your dog's hair and with the right brush is of paramount importance. If you have a short-haired dog, a natural bristle brush should suffice. You can even use a glove that has bristles on its palm area. If your dog has long hair or is double-coated, you must use a slicker brush that reaches the undercoat and takes out the dead hair. You must keep brushing until you realize that the amount of hair coming out on the brush is much less than before.
• De-Shedding tool: Short-haired or long-haired, all year-round or seasonal shredder, you must use a de-shedding tool like Andis Slicker comb, Trixie double-sided comb, or Trixie de-shedding gloves on your dog. They help in taking out the dead hair from the fur. Much before your dog sheds, a de-shedding tool will be useful in taking out dead hair from the undercoat.

• Nutritious diet: To improve the quality of the hair follicles in your dog, it is essential to give your dog a rich, nutritious diet. If the hair follicles are strong, there will be less shedding and the hair quality will be better. Besides the diet, regular supplements like Drools Hair & Coat supplement or My Beau Skin & Hair supplement should be incorporated in their diet. You can consult with Zigly vets on the dosage requirements
• Bathing your dog: There are many dog shedding products available in the market that include shampoos as well. Bathing your dog with Fur Pro shampoo & conditioner once a week helps keep your dog clean and removes dead hair in the process as well. Besides this, you can also bring your doggo to Zigly Experience Center for a holistic bathing and grooming session. 
• Keep your dog hydrated: Just like water is important for us, our dogs should always be provided with clean, fresh water to drink. It helps keep their skin hydrated and improves hair quality as well.

Hair Fall in Dogs: When to Worry?

It is normal for dogs to shed. It varies from breed to breed but if you see excessive shedding, you must become cautious and look for any underlying diseases that your dog may have. Any kind of hair fall or hair loss that is more than normal shedding can be indicative of the following:

• Liver problem
• Immune disease
• Food allergies
• Parasitic infections
• Fungal infection
• Bacterial infection
• Anxiety
• Side effects of any other medication that your dog is on

Benefits of Taking Care of Shedding

Dog shedding can become a problem if not taken care of properly. Here are a few benefits of taking care of dog shedding.

• Bathing your dog helps bond with your dog better.
• Brushing your dog helps reduce hair fall and can also help you spot if your dog has any parasites or bumps.
• Grooming your dog with dog shedding products helps you spend time with your dog and develop companionship.

Dogs require our constant care and attention and understanding shedding in dogs is one of them. You can get the de-shedding products from our online pet store Zigly. You can also take professional help by booking a dog grooming at home service.