As the temperature drops, the days get shorter, and the autumn leaves hit the ground, mycustomers frequently ask me, "Why is my dog shedding so much? Isn't it the wrong season?" If your customers are wondering the same thing, consider this an excellent opportunity to educate pet owners. The average person does not know much about shedding.
- Dogs that shed noticeably tend to do so most when the seasons change. The amount of daylight triggers seasonal shedding, so as autumn approaches and the days grow shorter, they begin to lose their summer coat. This allows their heavier winter coat to grow in.
- People are generally astonished to learn that although humans have one hair growing from each follicle, dogs have compound follicles and may have as many as 27 hairs per follicle. Watching people's faces when they learn this fun fact, you can almost see them picturing the drifts of fur on their floors.
- Many people believe that long-haired dogs shed the most. In fact, it's the short-haired dogs that hold this dubious record. The reason has to do with the growth cycle of hair. Short hairs emerge from the follicle and then reach their expected lifespan quickly. Then, they fall out, and the cycle begins again. Long-haired dogs have a long growth cycle for each hair, so their shedding may seem like a lot when it happens, but it is not as continuous as their shorter-haired brethren.
- Since fleas and ticks tend to boost activity when the hot days end and the cool ones begin, I also remind owners to check their pets for external parasites. They can trigger itching and noticeable hair loss.
- Dogs can shed more when they are stressed. When a short-haired dog such as a Pug or Labrador Retriever goes to the vet's office for a checkup, the amount of hair it loses in the short time it is there is remarkable. Even if it is happy to see the staff there, it can have a stress response and dump a lot of hair in a hurry. Similar shedding can happen if the pet is experiencing stress at home, such as a new baby, the loss of a family member, or a move.
When asked about early fall hair loss, I remind people that seasonal shedding is normal. If their pet has no noticeable bare patches and its coat looks normal, healthy, and glossy, there is nothing to be alarmed about. I also tell them that a good bath, conditioning treatment and fluff dry will remove much of the loose coat and leave it on the grooming room floor instead of their living room.
