Chihuahua are one of the most popular and easily manageable dog breeds. They are perfect apartment dogs and don’t need a lot of exercise. Chihuahua is the oldest breed and first originated in Mexico.
Chihuahuas are lower-shedding dogs than others. They need regular brushing to keep them looking charming. Let’s talk about the Chihuahuas coat and how much it shed and how to care for it.
Do Chihuahuas Shed🌟
Yes, Chihuahuas do shed, but they are lower-shedding dogs than other dog breeds. Lower-shedding dogs can be less allergy-triggering than larger, higher-shedding breeds. To maintain their health and appearance, brushing once a week is necessary. During the Summer and Autumn seasons, they shed more than usual. Don’t worry about it, this is a natural process as your Chihuahua adapts to the changing seasons.
Understanding Chihuahuas shedding helps a lot to manage hair loss and maintain a clean. Some Chihuahuas have short-haired coats and some have long-haired coats, this does not affect the amount of shedding for any particular dog.
Shedding With Puppies🎇
Puppy’s soft hairs will convert into a coarser adult coat, during the process of growth. This change over can take place in a relatively short amount of time causing quite a heavy shed. It is important to groom your Chihuahua puppy during the shedding process as removing dead hairs to make room for new growth.
Why Do Chihuahua Shed🍛
Dogs naturally shed their old hair to make room for new growth, a process known as molting or shedding. This cycle is known as the hair growth cycle. This is one of the primary factors that determines how much a dog sheds, and it varies from dog to dog. Sometimes excessive shedding may be due to some health issues.
The Hair Growth Cycle🐶
Chihuahuas have three-stage of hair growth cycle. The hair growth cycle is hardwired into the DNA. Undercoats have a shorter growth cycle than top coats. Chihuahuas shed their undercoat hairs faster than top coat hairs.
After the telogen phase the hair falls out and the new hair grows in its place.
Common Causes Of Excessive Shedding In Chihuahuas💦
Unless your Chihuahua is hairless, he is going to shedding. Some shedding is normal that allows the Chihuahua to remove the old and lose hairs and generate a new healthy and strong coat. Excessive shedding in your dog is not normal. If you notice bald spots on your Chihuahua, it can be due to some underlying health problems. There are many causes of excessive shedding in your dog, some are given below:
Hypothyroidism🐱👤
Hypothyroidism is a thyroid disorder that can cause excessive shedding in Chihuahuas. Due to this disorder, the Chihuahua’s thyroid gland can not produce enough thyroid hormone. In this case, the Chihuahua may experience lethargy, weight gain, anemia and excessive shedding.
Cushing’s Disease🎗
Cushing’s disease is also known as hyperadrenocorticism, which involves the overproduction of the cortisol and can also cause excessive shedding in Chihuahua. Cortisol is a hormone that regulates stress. Chihuahuas with this disease may lose their body’s hair but the hair on their head and legs may remain intact.
Heat Cycle💢
Female Chihuahuas may shed excessively during the heat cycle. During the heat cycle the Chihuahua may produce more estrogen or progesterone. These abnormal changes in the Chihuahuas may cause excessive shedding.
Stress☀
Just like humans, the hair of Chihuahuas may fall when they are stressed. Because of stress the Chihuahuas produce more hormones like cortisol or epinephrine that can cause excessive shedding. Common stressors in Chihuahuas are given below
Food Allergies🥑
Food allergies involve an overactive immune system that can cause excessive shedding in the Chihuahua. With food allergies, the Chihuahuas immune system wrongfully identifies the food as a foreign invader. It will attack the food with antibodies that can lead the Chihuahua to excessive shedding. Common food allergies in Chihuahuas are given below
Infections 💉
Ringworm, yeast and pyoderma are common types of infections that can cause excessive shedding in the Chihuahuas. As the germ begins to spread on the chihuahuas skin, it will start itching. Some skin infections are treatable. If your Chihuahua is suffering from bacterial infection, in this case a veterinarian checkup is necessary.
A veterinarian may prescribe antibiotic medications. In the same case, if your Chihuahua is suffering from fungal infections then a veterinarian may prescribe antifungal medication.
Mange🔔
There are many types of parasitic-mites that can severely affect the Chihuahua’s skin and the mange is the group of these parasitic mites. There are two types of mange like Demodectic and Sarcoptic. The former is caused by the Demodectic mites and the latter is caused by the Sarcoptic mites. These parasitic mites can cause excessive shedding in the Chihuahuas.
Contact Allergies🐾
If your Chihuahua does not suffer from food allergies, he suffers from contact allergies. The contact allergies involve an overactive immune system response to an allergen. Allergens may include shampoo, flea medicine, antibiotics, metals such as nickel, rubber, wool, plastic and household cleaning products.
If your Chihuahua is allergic to any of these allergens then contact the vet to avoid the hair loss. Otherwise, it can cause excessive shedding in your Chihuahua.
Fleas💥
Fleas are the small parasitic insects that feast on the blood of the mammals and can cause excessive shedding in Chihuahuas. They can burrow themselves in your Chihuahuas coat, at which point they will bite your Chihuahua.
If your Chihuahua is suffering from the fleas infestation, he may be bitten hundreds of times per day. Flea saliva is a common allergen that can cause excessive shedding. If your Chihuahua is allergic to flea saliva it is known as flea allergy dermatitis.
Do Long-Coat Chihuahuas Shed More Than Short-Coat Chihuahuas🎀
It’s common that long-coat Chihuahuas shed more short-coat Chihuahuas. Some long-coat Chihuahuas do, in fact, this is not always the case.
The amount of hair shed in Chihuahuas does not depend on the length of their coat. It depends on the Chihuahuas undercoat. Double-coat Chihuahuas have undercoats, which are typically shed in the spring and fall. Single-coat Chihuahuas have only top coats and they do not have much hair like double-coat Chihuahuas, so they shed less than double-coat Chihuahuas.
How To Reduce Chihuahua’s Shedding☘
Understanding the shedding can help to reduce it. Here are some tips to which you can used to reduce the Chihuahua’s shedding
Regular Brushing💨
Brushing their coat helps to remove the loose hair and can also reduce the excessive shedding. Quality of the brush depends on their coat type. All Chihuahuas are pint-sized, making even the longest coats that are much easier to care for. Not all brushes are created for all dogs. There are many types of brushes that are made for different types of dogs. Here are some types of brushes that you can use
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Slicker Brushes : These brushes have wire pins and are designed to penetrate the longer, curlier or wiry coats.
Bristle Brushes : These brushes have natural bristles, similar to the boar’s hair brushes that are good for the short-haired coat and as a finishing brush for the long coat.
Undercoat Rakes : These brushes have rake-like metal combs for digging deep in the Chihuahua’s coat. They can be used for any coat variety and for any length of dog’s coat. These brushes are used for removing difficult mats.
Rubber Brushes : These brushes are used to remove dirt from the shorter coats.
Bath Your Chihuahua🚿
Bathing your Chihuahua can also help to reduce the shedding. Your choice of doggy shampoo can also make a difference just like humans. All dogs don’t have the same coat types. Some Chihuahuas have long-haired coats and some have short-haired coats.
If your pet has a thicker coat then make sure the shampoo can penetrate to the bottom layer. If your pet has sensitive skin and suffers from hair loss, then meet the vet for a better suggestion. The American Kennel Club recommends something for choosing the shampoo:
Keep in mind, after the bathing, dry your pet’s hair immediately, it can prevent your loving friend from skin irritation.
Use A Blow Dryer : After a bath, use a blow dryer to remove the loose hair from his coat.
Use A Deshedding Spray : To control the shedding in your Chihuahua, use a waterless deshedding spray. These deshedding sprays contain natural ingredients such as Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins to keep their coat moist and strong.
Vacuum : Using a vacuum to keep the floor will minimize your Chihuahuas lose hair.
Use A Lint Roller On Furniture : Lint roller is a quick and easy way to remove the hair on furniture.
Get A Veterinarian Checkup : An excessive shedding may be an attribute of some underlying disease, so veterinary check up is essential to treat these diseases early.
Dress Your Chihuahua : Chihuahuas clothes are more than a fashion statement, they will catch your Chihuahua’s loose hair so that it does not end up on the floor.
You might also like: How to Groom a Chihuahua Dog
CONCLUSION✨
Chihuahua are one of the most popular and easily manageable dog breeds. They are perfect apartment dogs and don’t need a lot of exercise. Chihuahua is the oldest breed and first originated in Mexico. They were recognized as a breed in 1904 by the American Kennel Club. Chihuahua is a loyal, intelligent, playful and attractive dog breed.
Chihuahuas are lower-shedding dogs and can be less allergy-triggering than larger, higher-shedding breeds. To maintain their health and appearance, brushing once a week is necessary. During the Summer and Autumn seasons, they shed more than usual. Don’t worry about it, this is a natural process as your Chihuahua adapts to the changing seasons.
Some shedding in your dog is normal but excessive shedding is not normal. If you notice bald spots on your Chihuahua, it can be due to some underlying health problems. There are many causes of excessive shedding such as fleas, contact allergies, food allergies, mange, infection, stress, heat cycle, cushing’s disease and hypothyroidism. There are many ways, which you can use to reduce the shedding in your dogs such as regular brushing and bathing. As a responsible owner, it is your duty to keep your pet clean and healthy.
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