The Truth About Dog Allergies
Its not actually dog fur which causes those with allergies to suffer symptoms.
Its inhaling tiny airborne protein molecules that are in their saliva, urine, and dander that creates breathing problems.
All dogs produce these allergens, including those thought of as hypoallergenic.
This 2011 study found no difference in the amount of allergen in homes with so-called hypoallergenic dogs compared to homes with other dog breeds.
The truth is, every dog is unique, with their own distinct chemical makeup.
And our immune systems are exclusive to us as individuals.
So what triggers a persons allergies may be the singular dog and not the entire breed.
The only way to know for sure if a dog will produce allergy symptoms is to spend time with them in different environments.
German Shepherd Hair Fall Shampoo And Conditioner
Many GSDs need conditioner to prevent dry, itchy skin and further hair loss. If your dog needs conditioner but you want to save time, try Natures Miracle Shed Control Shampoo and Conditioner for ease of use.
The soap-free formula is safe to use with spot-on flea and tick products. It also contains no dyes or parabens for dogs with sensitive skin, while helping to maintain normal shedding and reducing doggie odor.
Hair fall shampoos and conditioners for your German Shepherd are formulated with ingredients that treat their skin gently, wash away loose fur, and help new hair growing in remain stronger so theres less hair loss.
Or, maybe youre looking for another shampoo for your companion?
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Do German Shepherds Shed More About Shedding In This Breed
January 23, 2019 By
Do german shepherds shed?
There are plenty of reasons why the German Shepherd ranks as one of Americas most popular breeds.
Known for being loyal, courageous, and confident, this iconic dog possesses a noble bearing and a fearless stance.
Muscular and agile, the German Shepherd stands up to 26 inches, with an outline of smooth, graceful curves.
Since this highly intelligent dog can be trained to do just about anything, they lead the pack when it comes to service work.
Theyre ideally suited for many roles, including guide dog, police and military work, search and rescue, drug detection, and protection.
While their coats can be long or short, theyre almost always double-coated.
If youre thinking of bringing this beautiful dog into your life, you probably have a lot of questions.
At the top of the list might be, Do German Shepherds shed?
In this article, well focus on the answer to that question and give you plenty of information about why dogs shed, when they shed, and how to deal with all that fur.
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Why Do German Shepherds Shed So Much
One of the main reasons a German Shepherd will shed so much is because usually, they have two coats.
The top coat is the long, wiry, and wavy hair that lies close to the body of the dog. The top coat protects the dog from dirt and moisture, keeping it away from their skin. The guard hair may be short, medium-length, or long depending on the type of coat your German Shepherd has.
The undercoat, on the other hand, is soft, dense, short, and also lighter by color. This layer is what helps the dog regulate its body temperature.
Having this two-layer coat makes German Shepherds incredibly adaptable to all kinds of weather conditions, but it also makes them shed like crazy.
There are actually a few different types of coats your German Shepherd may have. Most commonly, GSDs have short hair with a double coat. The long-haired German Shepherd does not have an undercoat, but they tend to shed about the same because their fur is long, dense, and thick.
The difference is that long-haired German Shepherds don’t go through shedding seasons, because they don’t have that undercoat that needs to come off.
Why Do Dutch Shepherd Dogs Shed So Much And Is This Normal
While watching your dog literally drop their coat all around them may feel alarming the first time you see it happen, this is actually quite normal for most dogs in the shepherd group of dogs.
The reason is that the canine coat for many working dogs has evolved over generations to protect the dog from the elements and potential predators.
As you learned in the previous section here, it is common for working dog breeds like the Dutch Shepherd have a thick double layer coat. The two layers are as follows:
1. The outer layer is water-repellant and is made up of longer, coarser hair.
2. The under layer that sits next to the skin is a softer, thick, and insulating layer of hair that serves the exact same function to keep the dog warm and dry.
The coat also serves to provide moisture-wicking to draw moisture away from the skin to evaporate so the dog doesnt develop infections or attract parasites.
This is especially important when you consider that dogs cannot sweat through their skin the way that people do. They can only sweat through their paws and by opening their mouth and panting.
So having a moisture wicking coat is the only way a Dutch Shepherd can cool down continuously during very hot weather.
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Keep Your Dog Hydrated
You may have noticed that your skin starts to dry out if you dont drink enough water. The same holds true for your German Shepherd, and dry skin can lead to shedding.
Make sure your canine always has access to clean water. If you worry that your dog isnt getting enough water, you can add moist canned food or certain fruits and vegetables to their diet to increase their moisture intake.
Brush Your Husky Daily
As soon as you notice some shedding, make it part of your daily routine to brush your husky and remove as much hair as possible. Have your equipment handy and dedicate a spot for brushing.
For my husky, we have her jump up on top of her kennel to be brushed. She loves getting brushed, so it quickly becomes a normal part of her day.
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How Do I Know What Too Much Shedding Is
Namely, various skin conditions could be behind the heavy shedding. Sometimes they can make your dog shed so much he or she loses entire patches of hair. So, if you notice any of the signs below its time to take you shepherd to the vet.
- Bald spots
- Dry and flaky skin
- Wounds on the skin
Besides, if you dont notice any of these signs, but still consider the shedding to be a bit too heavy, take your dog to the vet and check it out. Nothing wrong with being on the safe side!
Now you know all the facts German shepherds are heavy shedders, but it can still be kept under control. However, if you dont want your dog to shed much, this breed might not be right for you. To sum it up, weve put together a list of qualities German shepherds have which can help you determine if thats the right breed for you!
Bathe Your German Shepherd
Since German Shepherds have such a dense coat, they actually dont need to be bathed very frequently every six to ten weeks is plenty unless they get exceptionally dirty.
Even though most German Shepherds enjoy a splash in the water, As we mentioned, bathing your German Shepherd too often can be counterproductive since it dries out their skin and can actually cause more shedding.;
However, strategic bathing can be super helpful for quickly removing the bulk of your dogs undercoat. Just be sure to use mild shampoos that wont irritate their skin. You can also opt to use a deshedding shampoo to help lubricate the hairs, which makes it easier to remove the undercoat. One of the best options is this shampoo from FURminator who are the same folks that make the awesome brush I recommended above. Brush your German Shepherd with your undercoat rake while hes still damp.;
Its easiest to perform this whole bathing/brushing operation outside, unless you want to spend an hour cleaning wet wads of fur out of your bathtub or shower after the fact.
You can take the spa day one step further with a professional blow-out after bathtime .;This will not only cut down the drying time, but it will also help remove the undercoat quickly.;
However, keep in mind that blow-drying your shedding German Shepherd will get hair absolutelyeverywhere, so it may be worth paying a professional to handle this entire bathing, brushing, and blow-drying task. Or, again, set aside some time for cleanup.
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Brush Thoroughly And Frequently
Brushing more frequently can trap hairs on your brushing tool, instead of your couch
Brush your German Shepherds coat thoroughly to remove loose and excess fur and distribute natural skin oils. This means that fur winds up on your brush, which you can throw away, as opposed to your clothing, floors, and furniture which is harder to clean.
Use a grooming tool that is designed specifically to remove shedding undercoats on a German Shepherd called a rake brush.
Theyre made for dog breeds with longer hair and thick undercoats prone to shedding. Buy a rake brush with rounded tips that wont scratch your dogs skin and is gentle for daily use.;
The Conair Pro Undercoat Rake Brush removes dead hair from the undercoat and spreads healthy skin oils, resulting in a glossy coat.;
Be sure to focus on the thicker parts of a German Shepherds coat:
- Around the scruff
- The longer hair on the back of the legs
- Feathers on the tail
- Long guard hairs on the underside
To reduce your German Shepherd losing hair, spend more time brushing their coats each day completely, and not just sliding the brush through without much thought .
Allergies Can Cause Hair Loss
Some German Shepherds may lose hair due to allergies, which can be a frequent trigger. Allergies in animals should be taken seriously. Dogs can be allergic to almost anything, just like people. Some common allergy sources are:
- Foods, such as poultry or grains; some dogs are even allergic to peanut butter
- Medications, such as anxiety medication or joint supplements
- Household elements, such as the dog shampoo or laundry detergent
- Environmental elements, such as pollen and mold
- Parasites, such as fleas and mites
Parasitic allergies are one of the most common allergy triggers. If your dog is frequently itching, scratching, and otherwise biting specific areas, this may be why.Allergies can be addressed with medication, allergy shots, pills, diet changes, or lifestyle changes. Your vet may also recommend eliminating all potential allergy causes and reintroducing them one at a time in order to gauge what causes the hair loss.
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Dog Food To Prevent A German Shepherd From Losing Hair
Do not use dog food whose first ingredient says meat by-product.
- Look for dog food that lists meat as the main ingredient, as meats are easier to digest and absorb.
- Quality ingredients reduce shedding and help with dry skin as the nutrients are more readily available.
- For excessive hair fall and shedding, feed Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach dog food to help nourish their skin and coat while limiting irritations.
What Time Of Year Do German Shepherds Shed
Your German Shepherd will shed in the late fall when the days get shorter. They will be losing their summer coat which is a finer hair. In the spring, your German Shepherd will have their “blow out” shedding. It will be the clumpy, thick hair from the thick winter coat. In addition, they will also shed all year round because of their double coat.
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How Can I Cope With The Blowing Of The Coat
First, you should know exactly when to expect Coat Blow. Typically, you will see this happen at the end of winter and just before winter begins.
Coat Blow actually involves not only shedding the topcoat, but also the undercoat of a dog. Owners with double-coated dogs claim this is the worst part of Coat Blow, as the undercoat often comes out in clumps. In fact, they state that one might fill trash bags with the shed hair!
When you begin to notice clumps of hair coming out of the dogs coat, then you CAN take some steps to at least minimize the amount of hair that is freely shed.
You can purchase a slicker brush or a dog rake to help remove loose hair from both the top and undercoat of the German Shepherd Dog.
Keep in mind, dogs that are kept primarily indoors may have varying patterns of Coat Blow as the controlled climate of the indoors can lessen the phenomenon. Dogs that have been spayed or neutered also have differences in the typical Coat Blow.
Remember, this wont completely eliminate the shedding from Coat Blow, it will help you to keep it more manageable.
How To Deal With A German Shepherds Shedding
German Shepherds hold the distinction of being a breed that sheds an incredible amount of hair. As any GSD owner can attest, there is a lot of truth to this assertion.
GSDs not only shed they shed a lot! If you are planning on acquiring a GSD, then you should very realistically plan on having dog hair just about everywhere and on just about everything.
This is not an exaggeration! No matter how much you brush your German Shepherd and clean up after him, you will not be able to catch all of the hair that your GSD sheds.
We mention this so emphatically because we do not want you to fall into the unfortunate situation that all too many first-time GSD owners find themselves in.
Many times people will acquire a GSD because they have heard all about the breeds esteemed reputation, and overlook the reality of owning one.
The reality is that there is a lot of cleaning that is involved due to the amount that GSDs shed. There is a very good reason why they are aptly nicknamed German Shedders!
Realistically speaking, you can likely expect your cleaning schedule around your home to double.
This means that if you clean up on your own, you will spend much more time doing so. If you hire outside help to clean, then you can expect your cleaning bills to sharply increase.
Sticky hair rollers are great to have around, especially in your car. It is also useful to have a reusable roller for daily maintenance around the home.
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How Do I Get My German Shepherd To Stop Shedding
There is no way of stopping your German Shepherd from shedding because it’s the natural cycle of renewing their coat to keep it healthy. However, regular brushing, deshedding, and bathing your German Shepherd during their shedding seasons will help. Also, providing your German Shepherd with nutritious food will help prevent excessive shedding.
What Are There Fundamental Difference Between Long
The discrepancy in coat between the Long-hair and Short-hair GSD is not the only different between these two dogs. Whats interesting, is that the coat length serves as a prime mover for a lot of these differences.
For example, Short-hair GSDs are much better suited for work in cold weather than their Long-hair counterparts. The Short-hairs wooly, waterproof undercoat provides them with extra insulation which provides them extra heat during the winter months. Long-hairs, while having a longer coat overall, do not have such protection.
As a result, Long-hairs are not bred to be worker dogs in the same vein as Short-hairs. When you see a GSD doing some of the noble tasks associated with the breed, such as police work, military aid, or guide and service assistance, youre going to be looking at a Short-hair every time.
This lack of undercoat may cause you pause if youre interested in owning a Long-hair GSD yet live in cold weather. While the Long-hair will still need their exercise and activity requirements met, their lack of heartiness in comparison to their Short-haired counterparts might make meeting these requirements a little trickier.
The discrepancy in the coat is thought to influence the respective dogs personalities. Since short-hair GSDs are bred to be working dogs, theyre thought to be more focused and intense on carrying out jobs. This has a tendency to make them somewhat aloof, particularly toward strangers.
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Causes Of Hair Loss In German Shepherds
Because hair loss is a broad condition that appears as a result of many health issues, its important to examine other symptoms in order to correctly find the cause of hair loss. Hair loss is often accompanied by other symptoms, but can also be the primary symptom.
There are several different factors and illnesses that could be causing hair loss in your German Shepherd. Hair loss may be caused by hereditary or genetic factors, like allergies and diseases, or other triggers like infections and neglect.If you notice hair loss in your dog, its best to follow the steps below:
- Contact your veterinarian to set up an appointment for a physical exam
- Record the symptoms you notice; try to provide as much detail as possible
- Watch your dogs routine to identify potential triggers for the hair loss
- Do preliminary research to try and tentatively identify the problem
- Review your dogs pedigree and medical histories for pre-existing conditions
In all likelihood, youll be able to identify the cause of the hair loss and address it. Its important to remember that hair loss isnt itself a problem; its a symptom of an underlying problem. The hair loss should be resolved once the issue causing it is addressed.
Below are some of the most common causes of hair loss in German Shepherds. Each health condition has its own cause, presentation, symptoms, and treatments. The majority are curable with the correct diagnosis and treatment plan.