Why Is My Dog Shedding in the Middle of Winter?

A shedding dog can wreak havoc in your life, especially if your dog sheds a lot. Shedding is even more frustrating in the winter because that is when dogs tend to keep their hair. Finding the cause of shedding can help you better prepare for future problems.

  1. Phases of Shedding

    • Dogs typically go through four phases of new hair growth, or shedding. Anagen refers to new hair growth. Catagen is when the hair stops growing so that the outer root can attach to the hair. Telogen is a resting phase in which nothing happens, and exogen is when the hair sheds and the follicles go back to the first phase of growth.

    Normal Shedding

    • It is normal for a dog to shed in the spring and summer. This is a natural reaction to the warmer weather during these seasons so that your pup can be cooler.

    Warnings

    • Some minor reasons why a dog will shed in the winter include health problems, including malnutrition, an improper diet, allergies and systemic infections. According to Iams, about 30 percent of the protein that a dog ingests is used for hair growth. If your dog sheds during the winter months, get a veterinarian to check it out for one of these problems.

    Prevention/Solution

    • One of the best ways to prevent heavy shedding is to regularly brush and groom your dog. The more you brush your dog, the less hair ends up on your carpet and on your furniture.

    Expert Insight

    • According to Purina, if you generally keep your dog indoors, its shedding pattern may be quite different than an outside dog. An indoor dog's body may not register the temperature changes or the change of season.