What owners need to know about the change of coat in dogs
If a dog suffers from hair loss, this does not necessarily indicate a health problem such as an allergy. It is quite possible that a seasonal change of coat is responsible for the excessive hair loss at this time.
Why dogs change their coat twice a year and why you should support your four-legged friend in doing so is explained in the following. You will also learn about the factors that influence the amount of hair loss during coat change in dogs and the role that nutrition plays in the condition of the coat.
Why do dogs have a coat change?
Dogs only have some sweat glands on their paws, so panting in summer is a very limited way to protect them from overheating. At the same time, they cannot easily protect themselves from the cold in winter by wearing a thick jacket.
To be optimally adapted to the prevailing temperatures, dogs change their coat twice a year.
In autumn they lose their comparatively light summer coat, which is then replaced by a thicker winter coat. In spring, the dog loses its warming winter coat again, so that the light coat can grow back for the summer.
The dog's coat change takes about six to eight weeks. In spring, the hair loss is usually much more severe, as the dog's winter coat is noticeably denser than its summer coat.
When does the change of coat begin for the dog?
When exactly does the dog's coat change begin, depends primarily on daylight and the prevailing temperatures. The change of the hair begins of its own accord as soon as the time has come for it.
How much hair does the dog lose during the coat change?
How much hair a dog loses during the change of coat does not only depend on the season. Other factors also play a role, such as the age and breed of the dog.
Older dogs generally lose more hair during the change of coat than their younger counterparts. This also applies to neutered dogs as well as to females that are about to go into heat.
Similarly, excessive stress in dogs during coat change can increase hair loss. Short-haired dog breeds on the other hand usually have less hair. However, they are much more sensitive to cold compared to their long-haired conspecifics.
Do all dogs have a coat change?
Most dogs change their coat twice a year. However, there are some exceptions. One such exception is the poodle.
As the owner of a poodle, you can therefore be happy about a home in which no, or only a few loose hairs are lying around. However, you will have to have your dog's coat shortened by a groomer from time to time.
Dogs with the fur change - support
During the change of coat, the dog's organism must produce a large number of new hairs in a short time. This represents a burden that should not be underestimated and also results in an increased nutrient requirement.
In order to ensure a healthy regrowth of the new coat, it is advisable to support your dog during the coat change.
The following points are important:
- Daily coat care
- Feeding according to demand
- High-quality food supplements
Coat care as a support for the change of coat in dogs
At least with short-haired dog breeds, the coat care is usually not very elaborate. During the change of coat, however, it is quite useful to reach for a brush every day to remove fallen hairs from the coat of the quadruped.
This applies to both short-haired and long-haired dogs. For the latter, combing also helps to avoid knots in the hairs. Daily combing also promotes blood circulation in the skin, so that the new hairs can grow back more easily.
Besides, the grooming ritual strengthens your bond with each other as well as preventing your dog from spreading their fallen hair around the house unhindered during the change of coat.
When grooming your dog, however, you should not use any grooming products from your personal range, as these can damage the skin and coat of your four-legged friend.
Feeding according to need as a support for the change of coat in the dog
In addition to the care of the coat, feeding according to the needs of dogs in the change of coat is very important. A high-quality dog food provides your dog with important proteins that his body needs for the growth of new hair.
As hair consists mainly of fibre proteins (keratin), dog food with a high content of animal proteins is a perfect choice. This is because your dog can make the best use of these proteins and use them, among other things, to form the new hair coat.
However, you should not only avoid dog food with a high cereal content during the coat change of your dog. In addition to containing low content of animal proteins, cereals also have the disadvantage that the high starch content and the gluten contained in the cereals can often cause digestive problems and intolerances associated with skin and coat problems in dogs.
With the high-quality products from Bellfor, you are in exactly the right place to support your dog during coat change and to ensure a balanced diet in general. Our cereal-free wet and dry food contains no artificial additives and provides your four-legged friend with the right amount of animal protein from food-grade ingredients.
Food supplements for the change of coat in dogs
The combination of daily care and good dog food is the basis for a problem-free change of coat in dogs. However, it may also be advisable to take a suitable dietary supplement for dogs, such as Bellfor Skin & Coat.
Bellfor Skin & Coat is a completely natural product that supplies your dog with valuable micronutrients and proteins during the coat change and can thus contribute to healthy hair growth.
The insect protein from the larvae of Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly) contained in Bellfor Skin & Coat is characterised by its high biological value and excellent digestibility.
In combination with other carefully selected ingredients such as brewer's yeast and horsetail, Bellfor Skin & Coat is the ideal choice to help your dog change coat naturally.
Our conclusion on the subject of the changing of your dog's coat
As you can see, excessive hair loss in dogs is perfectly normal during coat change and therefore nothing to worry about. However, it is still advisable to support your four-legged friend with the right measures to promote the growth of the new coat.
In addition to daily coat care and high-quality dog food without cereals, we recommend a dietary supplement with Bellfor Skin & Coat for this purpose.
Leave your comment