Alice White
Labradors are amazing, cheerful, and energetic animals. They are able to dispel any blues and give a great mood to the owners. In addition, dogs are excellent nannies and loyal friends. They are non-confrontational and prefer to get away from fighting with other dogs by any means. But this does not mean that they are cowardly. They have enough strength and courage to cope with any offender! Ideal pet for home keeping. If not for one difficulty – the Labrador sheds. When a Labrador shedding is the norm, and when it is worth beating a panic, as well as the reasons for systematic hair loss, we will consider today.
Molting periods of Labradors
Like all other dogs, the Labrador sheds heavily in the spring and fall. That is twice a year. At this point, the coat falls out heavily, leaving visible traces throughout the apartment. This is a natural process and you shouldn’t worry. It is enough to properly care for the coat and help the dog to cope faster. For this:
Get a furminator and comb out dead hairs daily. It is best to do this outdoors so that the wool does not scatter throughout the apartment.
After the walk, go over the animal’s body with a damp towel. This simple trick will help get rid of the problem if the Labrador’s fur is fraying too much. The hairs will simply “cling” to the damp fabric, and not scatter on the floor.
Bathe the animal. Get a special, strengthening shampoo and make it a habit to bathe your dog every time it sheds in season. This will speed up and facilitate the natural process. With the help of shampoo and water, you can remove dead hairs as much as possible, which will have a positive effect on the appearance of the dog and the condition of the apartment.
It will not be superfluous to give vitamins for the coat of the Labrador. They contain all the necessary vitamin and mineral complex to accelerate seasonal shedding and improve the condition of the coat in general.
But remember! Vitamins should not be carried away. Everything is good in moderation. The systematic intake of supplements can negatively affect the well-being of the animal and the work of internal organs and systems. The first organ that suffers from the constant intake of vitamins is the liver.
Constant molting
You can often hear the owners complain that Labrador dogs have fur constantly climbing, regardless of the season. So all year round you have to collect dead hairs in all places where the animal is with the help of “heavy artillery” – a vacuum cleaner. Some begin to sound the alarm, feeding animals with pills and vitamins. Others choose a wait-and-see attitude or simply put up with the course of events.
How long does a Labrador shed and is it normal if the coat falls out all year round? There is no definite answer. There are a huge number of reasons why dogs of the Labrador breed climb wool. Let’s analyze the main ones:
Physiological features. It has been scientifically proven that males shed more than females. Therefore, the problem of systematic hair loss for boys is normal. Of course, we are not talking about those moments when the loss is profuse and bald patches began to appear. In this case, vitamins will not help, you should go to the veterinarian and identify the cause of the disease.
Molting is a girl’s Labrador retriever is associated with hormonal changes. So during estrus and pregnancy, there may be a slight loss. But in a normal state, when the hormonal background is stable, you will not be able to pull out even one hair. They “sit” so firmly. If a girl’s Labrador hair falls out profusely, regardless of the season and her health, she should go to the veterinary clinic to establish the cause.
Improper care. Yes, it is the improperly selected hair care products that can cause profuse hair loss. Review shampoos and conditioners, pay attention to combs – perhaps they are the reason for unmotivated shedding.
By the way, it will not be superfluous to exclude harmful chemicals for cleaning the apartment and mopping. Or opt for natural remedies that do not have harmful chemical impurities. Of course, the human body is not as sensitive to household chemicals as in dogs, so this very point is often left without proper attention.
Improper nutrition. Yes Yes. As we often say, nutrition is the key to excellent health, well-being, and the excellent appearance of the animal. Abundant shedding, not associated with a natural process, can be the cause of an improperly selected diet. Foods – allergens, budget dry food, or the frequent use of treats can provoke the fact that the Labrador’s coat is very hard to climb. How to determine this? Pretty simple. If you recently changed your diet or decided to experiment by treating your pet with something new and very tasty, think about it. Try to eliminate foods high in allergens from your diet, switch to high-quality dry food. Of course, the next morning you will not notice the result. But, after two weeks, the loss will stop if the reason was in the wrong diet.
Diseases. And here we are talking about both diseases of the hair and skin and diseases of the internal system. If you notice that there is a lot of fur from the Labrador, its itches, bald patches appeared and the color of the skin changed – these are signals to go to the veterinary clinic. Do not hesitate, postponing your visit on the back burner. Remember, hair loss is the only visible symptom, all the worst is hidden inside.
You can talk about how much Labradors shed, giving various examples from life. But in practice, molting is an individual matter. Some animals have a mild seasonal molt and practically do not bother the owners with wool throughout the apartment. Others, on the other hand, molt profusely and all year round. There is no disaster in this, especially if you identify the cause, exclude allergens, and choose the right care – you can, if not completely cope with the problem, then reduce it several times.
