Recent from the Bugle
Every fall, Tulsa's double-coated dogs (huskies, shepherds, goldens, and the many mixes of them) drop their light summer coat to make room for a thicker winter one. If it looks like your dog is exploding, that's usually the "coat blow," and it's normal.
Normal shedding looks like
- Fur coming out evenly all over, with no bald patches underneath.
- Skin that looks the same as always: not red, not flaky, not smelly.
- A dog who is otherwise acting like themselves.
Call the vet if you see
- Bald spots, especially symmetrical ones on the flanks or tail (a common thyroid sign).
- Dandruff, greasy fur, or a musty smell.
- Shedding paired with more drinking, more sleeping, or weight change.
"Shedding itself almost never worries me. Shedding with skin changes or with a dog who seems off is a different story. That's when I want to run a thyroid panel."
What actually helps
An undercoat rake used outside a few times a week during the blow does more than any supplement. A high-velocity dryer after a bath clears astonishing amounts of loose undercoat. Omega-3 fish oil helps coat quality over months, not days. And please, don't shave a double-coated dog; the undercoat grows back wrong and they lose their insulation for both heat and cold.
Dr. Liz is the founder of Sunshine Mobile Vet, which brings wellness care to driveways across Tulsa. Have a question for her? Email admin@dogbugle.com and it may be answered in an upcoming Ask the Vet.
Ask the Vet is general education, not a substitute for an exam. If your dog seems unwell, call your veterinarian.
