If
you are after the very best non shedding dog breed then we would
recommend either a Poodle,
Bedlington Terrier or Bichon.
As previously discussed all dogs shed a certain amount of dead hair
(apart from the above). This is very often a natural process that
happens with nearly every breed - however there are some reasons why a
dog may start to lose hair - below are some of the reasons why this may
happen.
Lactation
and Post Whelping - This
occurs in some bitches after they have given birth to the puppies. The
main cause of this is due to the puppies being too demanding on their
mother. To cure this problem as the owner you should speak to your Vet
who may advise worming which will help to get rid and kill any nasty
parasites that may be present.
Another way to cure this problem is to wean your puppies the a little
earlier as this will help to stop the hair loss. It may also be of
benefit to change your dog's diet and even add some extra vitamins and
supplements to the diet but this should only be done with your Vets
approval.
After
Illness, Disease or Infection -
As we have discussed the importance of a balanced diet to help cure
hair loss and increased shedding - digestive problems can also cause an
increase in hair loss this is mainly because if a disease has affected
the digestive system it may have also stopped important nutrients from
being absorbed which may have contributed the increased shedding.
It is fairly common for hair loss to occur after a serious illness or
disease and may not start to grow for a few weeks and even months after
the disease has been effectively treated. Again you should consult a
Vet for any extra Vitamins, Minerals and supplements that maybe beneficial
in helping the hair to grow back or slowing the hair loss down in the
first place.
Hormonal
Imbalance - Hormonal
imbalances can also lead to hair loss. It may be due to
thyroid
problems (deficiency) or because
your dog has been spayed. You should speak to your vet in this case as
the Vet may need to take a blood sample to determine the actual cause
and how it can be treated effectively.
Bad
Diet - As mentioned above a
poor diet can increase the likelihood of your dog losing hair. If your
dog has a severe digestive problem, a bad diet or is
experiencing allergy problems then you may start to notice that the
coat is sparse and dry.
Due
to Old Age - It is expected
(just like in Humans) for dogs to lose a certain amount of hair as they
get older. You can also expect to see your dog's coat become greyer and
even white in some places. You will often begin to notice a whitening
of hair around the Muzzle and it may start to appear further along the
coat.
