seasonal

Dealing With a Shedding Dog & Shedding Season

Dog shedding can be frustrating for all of us, no matter how much we love our dogs. The mess of dog hair can be enough to drive dog owners crazy. All dogs shed to some degree, with the exception of completely hairless dogs. Certain breeds (“hypoallergenic dogs”) shed very little, while others (namely heavily double-coated breeds like the lovable German Shepherd) shed large amounts.

Year-Round Shedding

All animals with hair shed on a regular basis. This is part of the natural life cycle of hair shafts within the follicles. All hair shafts go through phases of growth and shedding. The phases affect the rate of hair growth and will vary by breed, age, hormones, environment, and overall health of the dog. These factors also contribute to the length and texture of the hair, though genetics is the predominant factor.

Dogs with continuously growing hair, like poodles and Yorkshire terriers, have hair shafts with longer life spans and shed very little. On the other hand, dogs like labradors and huskies have a shorter hair shaft lifespan and more abundant undercoats, resulting in greater shedding.

Shedding Season

In general, most dogs will shed extra during spring and fall. Most dogs are double-coated; they have undercoats and top coats. The top coat is what you see and feel on the outside. The undercoat is made up of secondary hairs that grow around the primary hairs and tend to be shorter and softer. Seasonal shedding occurs as a result of temperature change. This process is sometimes called "blowing coat." When the weather warms, dogs shed their old winter undercoats to make way for a lighter summer coat. Then, when it begins to get cool again, dogs shed their lighter undercoats and grow thicker, warmer coats for winter.

Not all coat types are affected the same way by temperature changes. For example, dogs like Bichon Frise and Shih Tzus have less undercoat, so they shed less when seasons change. The old coat must still be removed by grooming the dogs. However, dogs like Newfoundlands and Malamutes have heavy, thick undercoats that make shedding much more obvious. Basic brushing is important for both coat types.

Other Reasons for Shedding

Your dog's health can affect the shedding rate, so it is important to take note of unexplained excessive shedding. Skin problems, endocrine diseases, nutritional or vitamin deficiencies, and other metabolic disorders can cause hair loss or change the rate of hair growth. It is important to contact your veterinarian if the rate of shedding seems unusual for your dog. Keep your dog healthy with routine vet visits and proper nutrition. Contact your pet’s vet immediately if you notice any signs of illness.

Get Control Over Shedding

There's no way to completely stop shedding. It's a healthy and natural process that is necessary for dogs. Shaving your dog down is not a good idea, as it can interfere with your dog's natural self-cooling and self-warming mechanism. In the long run, it will not make shedding occur any less. In rare cases, the hair in shaved areas will grow back abnormally or not at all. The key to preventing excessive shedding is to keep up with it through brushing.

Routine grooming is absolutely essential for all dogs. Brushing or combing your dog helps to remove dead hairs before they can fall on your carpet, bedding, and upholstery. It will also prevent those dead hairs from forming mats on your dog's coat that can eventually harm the skin. Brushing also distributes the natural, healthy oils produced by the skin throughout the hair coat. Using the right grooming tools can make a great difference. For heavy shedders, a special shedding tool like the FURminator can work wonders but be mindful of not pushing down too hard when using it. For some coat types, the dead hairs don't shed as much, but they cause the dog's coat to appear ragged and can eventually become matted. Some owners prefer to take these dogs to a professional groomer periodically for coat care. For some coat types, hand-stripping is a technique that is often preferred over trimming the dog's hair.

Managing the Aftermath of Shedding in Your Home

Shedding makes a mess, no doubt about it. As a dog owner, you have probably come to terms with the fact that regular house cleaning is the norm, especially during shedding season. The key is to remove hair before it has a chance to embed itself into your carpet and upholstery. Keeping a pet hair tape roller around for touch-ups throughout the day is an excellent idea. For deeper cleaning of upholstery and small areas, consider using a handheld vacuum designed to pick up pet hair.


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Hurricane Season Preparedness

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The summer months are known to be when natural disasters hit here in Florida. Are you prepared for a hurricane or tornado for not just yourself, but also your pet.

Printable Disaster Supply Kit Checklist

Preparation Tips:

  1. Plan in advance if you live in an evacuation area (Manatee county residents check here).

  2. Write down your plan or create a checklist. Share this information with a friend / family member or have a back up plan that includes a friend / family member outside of an evacuation zone.

  3. Remember to take your pet with you when you evacuate.

  4. Know your evacuation route (Manatee county residents check route here).

  5. Make sure you have proper identification and up-to-date immunization + rabies vaccination records for your pet (copied and placed in a protective sleeve to avoid water damage is advised).

  6. Make sure you have a collar and leash for keeping your pet under control.

  7. Keep a separate carrier for each pet that they can sit and turn around in, the carrier should also be labeled with identification (taping the aforementioned identification in a protective sleeve to the crate keeps everything in one place).

  8. Pack supplies for your pet including vet records, a two week supply of food and water, medications with instructions, bowls (consider these collapsible types), toy and blanket, cat litter/pan, plastic bags, collar/leash, disinfectants for pet washes, and a current photo of your pet (printed, not on your phone).

  9. if you must use a kennel, make sure it is not in an evacuation zone (River Landings Animal Clinic is not in an evacuation zone). A kennel option is only possible if you have proof of vaccinations. If possible, reserve a spot in advance.

 

After a storm or relocation: 

  1. Walk pets on a leash until they become re-oriented with their new home and surroundings. Often familiar places and landmarks may be altered from the weather and pets could easily become lost or confused.

  2. Reptiles may be out and about brought in by flood water and debris. Be aware of the threat they are to you and your pet.

  3. Bring along a picture of your pet for identification.

  4. After a disaster, animals may have a shift in behavior such as aggression or defensiveness. Monitor any changes.

{click here to view or print PDF}


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From The Desk of Dr. Fox: It's Allergy Season

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Summertime is here in full force in Florida and with the sunshine and outdoor activities we all enjoy comes something that every dog owner hates - itchy dogs.  Skin problems are the most common problem that we see dog owners bring their dogs in for treatment for and they can be frustrating for owners to deal with at times.  There are numerous reasons that dogs itch, which leads to scratching, licking, biting and chewing, but the most common that we see are fleas and allergies.  Fleas are ever prevalent in Florida but worse in the warmer months.  The good news is flea control has never been easier with many easy to give monthly (or longer) products available. The bad news is allergies, which just like in us humans, are extremely common in Florida and they are not something that we can cure for good, also just like in people.

The most common cause of allergies in dogs is not food as many owners think - it's called atopy.  Atopy is an allergic reaction to the same things that we react to - oak pollen, pine pollen, grasses, mold spores, all the various weeds and plants outside. Basically dogs can be allergic to almost anything a person can.  The difference is how dogs react and can be summed up in one sentence:

People who have allergies have sneezing and respiratory signs (think hay fever) while dogs respond to the same things in a different way - ITCHING!! 

The symptoms of allergies can be treated in dogs just like people but it's not a one size fits all approach. There are many different ways allergies cause problems in dogs - skin infections (scabs, crusty spots on the skin), ear infections, infections on the feet, and hot spots which are extremely itchy, moist areas that pop up quickly.  The best approach is to stop the itching before it starts as much as possible and head off a lot of the issues before they develop.  We use everything from shampoos, topical sprays and creams, antihistamines and occasionally steroids to control itching and it's always best to start small and work up the ladder of treatment options to minimize side effects and cost. 

The take home message for allergies is this. They are extremely common in dogs, they are frustrating for owners to deal with and sometimes it takes a few tries to find the best medicines for your pet. After all there's a reason there are a dozen different antihistamines available at the local drugstore for you and at least that many more nasal sprays available from your MD.  Once we find something that works for your dog, don't stop using it. Prevention is the best approach.  Again, think people - taking a Zyrtec or Claritin everyday is much better than sneezing constantly, having itchy eyes and ending up with a sinus infection and feeling miserable.


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