The first thing we pay attention to after noticing a furry is its fur. Thick, clean, shiny – it makes the dog a star that you want to touch. However, if there is baldness, the hair falls out or gets tangled in the coat, the question arises whether everything is fine with the dog. In order to understand when you should contact a veterinarian, and when you should not worry, this article was written.
Symptoms and causes of hair loss
The condition of a dog’s coat can tell a lot about its health, and seasonal shedding is nothing to worry about. However, if the hair falls out non-cyclically, excessively and is accompanied by certain symptoms, it is worth checking the body. What symptoms are we talking about?
- Baldness appears in the dog.
- Wool loses its luster, breaks easily due to dryness.
- The skin under the fur is inflamed or scaly.
- The dog often feels itchy or licks certain areas.
- In case of infection, an unpleasant smell or purulent discharge appears.
If the symptoms of hair loss are more or less obvious and few, then there are many reasons that can provoke this condition. Understanding them will help the owner either avoid problems or solve them at an initial stage.
- Natural shedding. This is a completely normal process, during which the dog sheds old fur and prepares for a change in temperature. You can notice that the hair loss is uniform, a new one appears in place of the old layer, and the skin is clean.
- Aging. This is also a completely normal process due to the slower work of the body. The coat becomes thinner, and therefore its shedding is more noticeable than it would be seen at a young age.
- Ration. Nutrient deficiencies, especially vitamins A, E, B, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, can adversely affect the condition of the coat, making it dull and brittle.
- Allergies. If a dog has an allergic reaction to food, dust, pollen, or chemicals, it will have itchy, red, or inflamed skin. This, in turn, affects the general loss of hair and the appearance of baldness.
- Vermin. Fleas, ticks, and hair-eaters irritate a dog’s skin and can cause excessive shedding, especially around the tail, sides, or neck. Discomfort causes severe itching.
- Hormonal problems. Diseases of the thyroid gland or adrenal glands can cause symmetrical baldness on both sides of the body. It is worth paying attention to a sudden change in weight and general well-being of the dog.
- Disease. Fungus, such as ringworm, or bacterial infections can be accompanied by hair loss. It usually appears as circular bald spots with inflammation or peeling of the skin.
- Stress. Dogs, like people, can lose their fur due to stress. This can be caused by a move, a change of owner or the appearance of another animal in the house.
Dog aging as a cause of hair loss
Hair loss in older dogs is a common phenomenon. With age, the body undergoes changes, and wool is no exception: cells produce less keratin, and the assimilation of vitamins and minerals decreases. Eventually, the coat becomes thinner, less dense, tends to break and fall out, and the new one grows very slowly. Hormonal changes can also complicate the situation, because the effectiveness of the thyroid gland decreases, increased sensitivity to any changes provokes an increase in cortisol in the blood. This is a non-exhaustive list of what can provoke hair loss, but it is most characteristic of dogs at a respectable age. Of course, if you take into account a decrease in immunity, diseases, an age-inappropriate diet, then all of this together can further contribute to hair loss. However, with regular grooming, the situation can be greatly improved.
At V.O.G DOG SALON, groomers carefully bathe the dog in three stages, thanks to which dirt, grease and dead skin cells are removed. The salon has special shampoos for sensitive and irritated skin that will help relieve itching, avoid irritation and moisturize the skin well. In the case of dryness and peeling, there are moisturizing conditioners, sprays and masks that are individually selected for each dog.
During combing, the problem with cobwebs is solved. In older dogs, due to dryness and slow change of coat, they are formed more often than in younger animals. Plus grooming salons in qualification. If the owner does not know or does not know how to comb the coat and coat, the groomer will not have any problems with this. A variety of tools, from combs to clippers, and professional moisturizing sprays for detangling effectively help with this.
In the case of the formation of a solid carapace made of fur, it makes no sense to comb the fur – it is ineffective, causes pain to the animal and takes a lot of time. To get rid of the shell and avoid additional stress, the groomer uses a clipper.
It is worth writing a few words about the haircut itself. Its type is chosen according to the wishes of the dog owner, however, if the coat is already brittle and falling out, it is better to give preference to short haircuts. So the wool will have one length and look thicker.
And an additional bonus when making an appointment with specialists is that the groomer will definitely pay attention to any problems with the animal’s health, and this will allow you to contact the veterinarian in time if necessary. Therefore, make regular appointments at V.O.G DOG SALON to ease your routine and take the best care of your dog.
Molt
Shedding is a natural process of gradual renewal of fur in dogs, but it can create certain inconveniences for owners in the form of endless house cleaning. The good news is that this shedding usually occurs twice a year during a sharp change in temperature: in the fall to prepare for winter and in the spring to transition to a lighter undercoat. Bad – combing and bathing can cause a lot of trouble and even more general cleaning of the house after the procedures.
To make life easier for owners, there are grooming salons that provide qualified grooming services. You can forget about the daily cleaning of the bathtub after bathing the dog, pipes clogged with wool and burnt hair dryers.
Groomers help minimize the amount of hair in the house and make the shedding process easier for the dog itself by combing. They use special tools that help remove the old undercoat without damaging the skin. And they also know how to carefully and effectively work with problem areas where the wool can become tangled.
In addition, bathing and drying the wool with a powerful air stream is effective during shedding. Moisture is actually blown from the surface, and the hair that has fallen out, but still remains on the body, flies out.
If the dog does not have allergies, the groomer can offer an express shedding, during which special cosmetics are used, which help to release excess undercoat faster. To see the maximum effect from the procedure, it is worth signing up for grooming during the period of active shedding. At this time, the dog will already have enough mature hair, which can be removed, make room for a new one and stimulate its growth.
It is best to choose a salon with experience and good reviews. It is worth making sure that the groomers know their work and can advise on all questions so that there are no doubts and worries. V.O.G DOG SALON employs dozens of groomers throughout Kyiv, who take care of animals every day and engage in educational activities among owners. So don’t be afraid to ask for advice or help.
How to protect against hair loss?
There are many reasons for hair loss, and it is not always possible to solve the problem by eliminating one of them. Usually the owner is dealing with a combination of several factors. Therefore, to prevent hair loss, it is necessary to comprehensively take care of a balanced diet, grooming and veterinary examination.
Balanced nutrition. It is worth choosing high-quality food with a high content of nutrients and, if necessary, adding vitamin complexes. Biotin, vitamins A, E and B, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are useful for wool.
Grooming. Combing, combing and again combing the fur. This procedure should be regular and high-quality. Moisturizing, avoiding irritations, peeling with the help of properly selected cosmetics will improve the condition of the coat and skin. Contact the groomer in the salon for professional care at any time, especially during the seasonal shedding.
Veterinary examination. Carry out an annual checkup of the body, treat the dog against parasites according to the instructions and be in touch with the doctor if necessary.
Avoiding stress is also an important topic, but during the martial law in Ukraine it is impossible to completely get rid of this factor. Everything you can do on your own: keep a stable daily routine, avoid sharp and loud sounds and spend more time with the dog.
Hair loss in a dog is not always a cause for panic, but it is important to understand when it is a normal process and when it is not. If you have any doubts or questions about any dog-related issue, you can always contact V.O.G DOG SALON.
