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Dogs shed vigorously in autumn too

By Gina Spadafori

published 10/05/2003

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As the days grow shorter and the nights grow colder, you may observe something that seems odd for a body preparing for winter: Your dog is shedding more than usual.

But rest assured, it’s perfectly normal. Dogs typically lose their winter coats in the spring, when it’s replaced by a shorter, lighter summer coat. In the fall, this cycle is reversed — the summer coat is shed to make room for heavy, protective fur for winter.

The change is most obvious in “double-coated” breeds such as collies, Samoyeds and malamutes. These breeds carry a protective overcoat of long hair, and also an insulating undercoat that’s softer, almost downlike. They lose masses of fur from both these coats in spring and fall.

The amount of shedding varies widely from breed to breed. German shepherds, for example, are prolific year-round shedders, while poodles seem to lose very little fur at all. Shorthaired breeds may shed as much as the longhairs, but since the hair that light-coated dogs shed is easily overlooked, it may seem as if they are shedding less.

All shedders — even the heaviest — can be tamed by a regular and frequent schedule of combing and brushing. After all, the fur you catch on a comb won’t end up on a rug.

If you have a purebred, or a dog that has the characteristics of a purebred, seek out breed-specific advice in regard to the proper kind of grooming equipment. The slicker brush that works fine on a close-cropped poodle may not make much headway in the thick mane of a full-coated chow at the height of a seasonal shed.

My favorite grooming tool to control shedding is the one with a loop of metal with teeth on one side, attached to a comfortable handle. For my medium-coated dogs, this tool is all that’s needed to keep coats in fine shape; for my double-coated dog, the shedding loop pulls out the clumps of loose fur and then I follow up with a thorough combing and brushing to catch the rest.

No matter what the breed or mix of dog, shedding is normal, but some heavy shedding can be a sign of health problems. Skin allergies and skin parasites may trigger shedding, and poor nutrition or other health problems can also be a cause of coat problems.

Become familiar with your pet’s normal pattern of shedding, and ask your veterinarian for advice if their coat condition seems too dull, or you notice excessive hair loss.

Something else to think about in fall: Are your pets ready for colder weather? It’s important at this time of year to assess your pet’s condition, age, weight and level of exercise, and make adjustments for the cold.

In general, healthy, normal-weight pets who spend most of their time indoors need less food in winter (to offset a decrease in activity), and while those who spend more time outside need slightly more (keeping warm requires energy, and food is the fuel).

While you’re evaluating your pet, be sure to assess his surroundings as well. If your pet ever sleeps outdoors, be sure his shelter is adequately insulated and placed in an area protected from wind gusts and bad weather. It’s also essential to have a source of nonfrozen water available at all times.

Cold weather is especially tough on older pets. For elderly animals, it’s not ridiculous to help out by putting a sweater on them when they go outside. Boots, too, may be a mercy for tenderfooted house pets who enjoy a daily walk. Outside or in, heated beds are a good idea, and there are many models to choose from in pet-supply catalogs, stores or Web sites.