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A Muda de Pelo

 

Hair shedding: why does it happen and why does it seem even worse this year?

If you feel like your house is "getting new carpets" made of fur… you're not alone. 

In recent months we've seen many dogs coming into Bobi Baeta with much more intense shedding than usual — especially double-coated dogs like German Shepherds, Huskies, Golden Retrievers, Labradors and the like.

And the truth is that completely erratic temperatures play a huge role in this.

So, why does hair shedding happen?

Shedding is a natural process.

 

A dog's fur acts as thermal protection, and its body adapts to the seasons:

• More undercoat in cold weather
• Less undercoat in hot weather

The problem is that nowadays dogs are constantly subjected to abrupt temperature changes:

• Cold and humid days
• Sudden heat
• Indoor heating
• Air conditioning
• Less defined seasonal changes

 

The body gets "confused" and ends up prolonging or intensifying shedding.

The result?
More accumulated dead fur, more knots, more heat, more discomfort… and much more fur scattered around the house.

What happens when dead hair isn't removed?

Many people think:

"He's just shedding, it's normal."

Yes… but when the undercoat gets trapped, problems begin:

 Stuffy skin

Air stops circulating properly near the skin.

 More humidity and odors

Dead fur retains moisture, especially in dogs that go outside or get wet in the rain.

 Increased risk of knots and compaction

Especially behind the ears, hind legs, tail, and chest.

 More heat and discomfort

The dog literally "wears" a layer of dead fur.

 More hair around the house… for weeks

Because the fur that should come out in a brushing ends up falling out little by little on sofas, clothes, and floors.

"But I brush at home…"

And thank goodness! 

Brushing at home helps a lot.

But there is a huge difference between:
• a superficial brushing
and
• a professional undercoat removal

In professional brushing, we use specific techniques and tools to:
• remove trapped undercoat
• loosen compactions
• help the skin breathe
• accelerate natural shedding
• drastically reduce hair loss at home
Often, the equivalent of weeks of accumulated fur comes out in a single session.

Does shaving solve the problem?

In most double-coated dogs… no.

In fact, shaving certain types of coats can harm the natural protection of the fur and alter future growth.

The most important thing is usually:
 to loosen the coat
 to remove dead undercoat
 to do a good drying and technical brushing

Each case should be evaluated individually.

Signs that your dog needs professional brushing
• Constantly shedding
• The hair “opens up” and you see a lot of undercoat stuck in it
• Clumps coming out
• The hair looks heavy or dull
• Takes a long time to dry
• Forms knots easily
• Is more itchy at this time of year

The truth is this…

That mountain of fur in the photo didn't appear because the dog “had a lot of fur”.

It appeared because it had a lot of dead fur stuck in it.

And when that fur comes out, the dog feels:

• lighter
• cooler
• more comfortable
• and with a much healthier coat 

Take care of the skin, not just the appearance

Brushing is not just about aesthetics.

It's about health, comfort and well-being.

Especially during intense shedding periods like this one.

If your dog is shedding non-stop, it might be time for a professional evaluation.