Is my dog’s hair shedding a sign that something is wrong? He appears healthy otherwise.

Simple shedding of hair is generally not a sign that something is wrong with your dog. If the shedding is accompanied by irritated skin, a patchy hair coat, persistent itching or seborrhea (dandruff), then a visit to your vet would be a good idea.

The variation of hair coats in the canine world is quite diverse. Some dog breeds shed more than others while some individual dogs, for no apparent reason, shed a lot of hair.

In my experience, the clients who complain the most about their dog’s shedding own a white Chihuahua. That kind of hair sticks to everything, and because of its light color it shows up well, especially on dark colored furniture, pillows and clothing.

On the other hand, Poodles have a reputation for being “low shedders.” I often wonder if the difference is not in how much hair each dog sheds but in the nature of their hair types and how those hairs show up in the environment.

If you would like to ask a question about your pet – send an email to Dr. Philip Arnall