Once your puppy has become a fully-grown dog (with added dog breath), it’s likely that you’ll know a lot more about their temperament, routine, and their likes and dislikes. You may also know all about their health, and be clued up on any allergies or underlying issues they might have, which could be an individual issue, or an issue connected to their breed.
One big issue across all dog breeds is their coat. There are all kinds of different coats from short-haired to long-haired, each with their own individual needs such as grooming or just bathing regularly. What you may not have been advised though is that, depending on the breed, a dog’s coat can change from season to season, so it’s worth finding out about these changes so you can deal with them in advance.
Things to Know
A dog’s coat is made up of a topcoat which is the thicker hairs you can feel, and an undercoat, which is the softer, smaller hairs growing in amongst the topcoat. Both coats tend to shed throughout the year depending on the time of year and temperature.
Unless you’re lucky enough to have a hypoallergenic dog, who doesn’t shed, you’re likely to be dealing with dog hair being shed all year round. Depending on the breed you should get used to cleaning up coarse hair, but you can help look after your dog with frequent grooming at least once a month and a bath once a month as well.
This helps remove dead hairs and stops them from getting caught up in your carpet and all over your furniture. It’s worth finding the right brush for you dog as well, and if in doubt ask your vet or local stockist.
Spring + Autumn
Seasonal shedding occurs all year round, but it is heightened during spring and autumn due to changes in the temperature. As the weather starts to get colder in late autumn the undercoat sheds more to grow a thicker topcoat to keep warm. As the weather starts to get hotter in late spring, the topcoat sheds more to grow a thinner undercoat to keep cool.
Summer + Winter
Shedding is not as intense in the summer and winter as the topcoat or undercoat should have fully grown in by then, but you should still expect some minor form of shedding. It’s worth grooming your dog as normal during these periods and ensuring they are being kept clean and healthy.
Excessive Shedding
If your dog’s coat is shedding excessively, or entire clumps are falling out and leaving patches, it might be an issue with its diet, or it may even have a skin disease or other nutritional deficiency. If you feel that your dog’s coat is looking in poor quality or the shedding is excessive, speak immediately to your vet. The best thing you can do as an owner is feed them a balanced diet with
quality food such as Simpsons Premium.
If you have any questions about our
dog food or
dog treats, get in touch with
Simpsons Premium today.
