How do I care for my dog’s coat? Get tips for grooming dogs with long or short hair. We’ll explain what to do with coat issues in this article.

Coat Change and Care as a Reflection of Health in Dogs

The skin is the largest organ in your four-legged friend’s body – and indeed, your dog’s coat is intricately connected to it. Proper coat care is essential to keep your dog healthy. In this article, you’ll learn about what to consider in grooming, especially during coat changes.

During Which Months Does a Dog Experience Coat Change?

Depending on the season, your dog sheds its thick winter coat as temperatures rise in spring, replacing it with a lighter coat for summer to protect your furry friend from heat and UV rays.

In winter, the process is reversed: a thick, warm coat forms to keep your dog comfortable in the cold. While this natural cycle is impressive, there are a few tips to support your dog during the coat change.

Tips for Shedding Dogs with Excessive Hair Loss

Every year, your dog goes through a coat change, and theoretically, it can manage it on its own. However, especially during the transition from winter to summer fur, dogs shed heaps of hair, and we wish there was something to reduce this heavy shedding. Indeed, there are a few things you can do to support your dog during coat change:

1. Regular Brushing:

…is crucial during coat change. The process stimulates the skin, promoting metabolism so that old fur can be shed more effectively, and dead skin cells are removed. Additionally, you eliminate loose fur, easing the burden on your dog’s coat. Depending on the length of the coat, brushing your dog once a day is advisable, while shorter coats may be brushed three to four times a week.

2. Oils Facilitate Coat Change:

…as the Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids they contain support hair growth from the inside during coat change. Healthy oils are already present in high-quality food. However, in cases of very thick fur and excessive shedding, oils can be administered as a supplement to the diet.

Such supplements are not only helpful during coat change but are generally beneficial for a healthy, shiny coat. Oils also have anti-inflammatory properties and can aid in the regeneration of damaged skin or stressed fur, rapidly improving your dog’s coat condition. For dogs, linseed oil is a good choice for coat issues.

3. Healthy Nutrition Benefits Coat Change:

…because coat care also occurs from the inside. Additives like grains often lead to dry, irritated skin, dull fur, and itching. Conventional pet foods tend to have an excessively high proportion of wheat and corn, reflecting in the dogs’ fur.

Appropriate nutrition with high-quality protein from animal or alternative sources, sufficient vitamins and minerals from healthy fruits and vegetables, and unsaturated fatty acids not only make your pet’s coat shinier but also make coat change more pleasant for your furry friend by boosting skin and hair follicle regeneration.

How Long Does Coat Change Last in Dogs?

Depending on the breed and how much your dog “suffers” during coat change, the hairy phase can last 6-8 weeks. Depending on how much support you provide during coat change, whether you brush your dog regularly or even take it to a dog groomer, you can shorten this time somewhat.

Detecting and Treating Coat Issues in Time

It’s entirely normal for your dog to shed a lot of hair during coat change and not an immediate cause for concern. However, if your dog’s coat no longer shines, there could be various factors behind an unhealthy, dull coat. Skin fungi often underlie pathological changes in your dog’s skin and coat.

Skin Fungi in Dogs:

Bald and sore spots on the skin may indicate a skin fungus infestation in dogs: since the area affected by the skin fungus often itches, animals lick it until the itching is relieved. If there is suspicion of a fungus, your trusted veterinarian can prescribe a suitable medication.

However, caution is advised: certain fungi can be transmitted from animals to humans, so wearing gloves when applying ointments is recommended.

The right care products based on natural ingredients support your dog’s coat and skin health. For instance, our Deep Clean Shampoo with ribwort, sea buckthorn, and lady’s mantle acts as an antibacterial, odor-reducing shampoo, supporting in cases of fungi, bacteria, or lichen. Ideal for sensitive furry friends!

Infestation by Parasites:

Another common reason for bloody residues on the skin or skin injuries and hair loss is the infestation of your furry friend with parasites. Fleas, ticks, and worms often lead to pathological changes in the skin, triggering itching that prompts the animal to lick or scratch the affected areas.

Unlike fungi, parasites can be at least partially identified and reacted to specifically by correctly removing ticks. In the case of flea infestation, a thorough shower with anti-flea shampoo is necessary, along with cleaning the living space. For worms or giardia, the veterinarian can provide relief.

Allergies:

Even allergies, such as those to specific foods or grasses, can cause intense itching and a change in the skin’s appearance in dogs. You can have an allergy test against food and/or grasses conducted with your furry friend at a veterinary practice. If it turns out that your dog has food intolerances, switching to hypoallergenic food can provide relief. Tablets can help with grass or dust mite allergies.

How Do I Keep My Dog’s Coat Healthy?

The most common reason for a negative change in the coat is a wrong or inferior diet for dogs. If certain ingredients in the food are not tolerated, the body reacts repulsively or allergically to these substances, which often manifests through changes in the skin and fur. Itching, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue in your dog, and the body’s deficiency symptoms are just a few possible consequences of food intolerance or an allergic reaction to specific foods.

While conventional dog food usually contains all necessary nutrients, they are often supplied in an unnatural way, as they are usually added artificially to the food afterward. You can think of it as eating fast food every day – not exactly what you understand as healthy pet food. Artificial additives, preservatives, and flavor enhancers that are supposed to compensate for this can often trigger sensitivities or allergic reactions in animals. Gluten-containing grains, chemical additives, preservatives, and conventional meat additives like chicken and beef are the most common triggers for food allergies.

If we don’t tolerate something and react with a rash or abdominal pain to food, we can avoid it. Your furry friend, however, depends entirely on you: you make all the food decisions for them, laying the foundation for a healthy, long life for your beloved pet. Your dog is family – and deserves only the best.