Double Coated Pets
Shedding is a natural process and cannot be stopped. But there are things you can do to control the excess hairs
Hair growth cycles
Double coated dogs have compound hair follicles, this means that out of each follicle grows one primary hair and as many as 20 secondary hairs.
- The Primary hairs (also known as the outer coat) are the longer, thicker and darker hairs. They have a longer growth cycle and may take years to reach maximum growth.
- The secondary hairs (also known as the undercoat) are the shorter wooly hairs. They have a much shorter growth cycle and can be shed and replaced in 3-6 weeks.
DNA determines the typical rate of growth and the maximum length, but external factors can effect this process also.
Dogs will excessively shed or “blow coat” as the number of hours of daylight change, stress, and even anesthetic can also be triggers for you dog to excessively shed.
Dog hair growths in 3 main stages.
- Anagen: active growth, immature hair
- Catagen: resting stage, mature hair
- Telegen: end of the growth cycle, the hair starts to separate from the follicle
In each follicle, the primary hairs and the secondary hairs grow at different rates.
To maintain a healthy coat, it is important to remove the dead hairs by brushing and grooming the coat to clear out the follicle to make room for new growth.
When the follicles are not cleared out and when brushing is not done on a regular basis the coat will begin to loose it’s lustre and look dull and dry.
Clogged follicles can also develop sebaceous cysts.
A Dogs Diet
Diet plays an important role in shedding.
It is important to keep your dog on a high quality diet that meets all your pets needs. What I mean by that is just because the food is rated as a super premium, doesn’t mean it is automatically the right diet for your pet.
Each animal is an individual and each may require different levels of nutrients to thrive.
We believe that the very best diet for optimal skin and coat condition is a raw diet with an EFA (essential fatty acid) supplement.
The skin and coat is the last thing that the dogs body will supply energy to. So when a dog is on a poor diet there is not enough nutrients or energy for the skin and coat. This will result in excessive dander and shedding.
Some dogs have sensitivities to grain and other ingredients. They may show it by having a poor coat, or develop smelly ears and swollen feet.
Excessive shedding
Sometimes excessive shedding can happen due to medical problems. If your dog is loosing too much coat and has bald patches or if you see any areas of irritation or excessive oils or scaly skin please seek veterinary care.
Old Wive’s Tale
There are thousands of old wives tales out there about double coated dogs. A common one is that they do not require grooming or that washing them will strip out all the natural oils of the coat.
This is far from the truth. Professional pet styling will remove dead hair, dirt and debris, as well stimulate the skin, and promote healthy coat growth. At Vada’s Club K9 we use only premium canine salon products called Nature’s Specialties. This product line is all natural, non-toxic, and environmentally safe.
Shaving the dog
Shaving a double coated dog is not the answer to shedding problems. The coat provides insulation from the cold, heat and sun. Dogs don’t sweat all over like humans do.
To help cool then, regulate their body temperature, dogs pant and their paws sweat. When we shave a double coated dog we are taking away their protection from all the elements, insects, sunburn and so on. It’s like taking the insulation out of your house in the summer.
The undercoat grows at least twice as fast as the primary coat. This will make the hair grow in thicker and patchy. If it even grows back at all. Shaving a double coated dog can also interrupt the natural shedding process and the dog may, in-fact, shed more.