Blowing Coat in Feb?

[Cessena]

My husky has recently started shedding, not just a few hairs here and there, but big chucks like he sheds when he is blowing his coat. (Mostly around his neck.) Should he be blowing his coat in February??? It isn't warm here, we just got 8 inches of snow.

When we adopted him in June he was just finished blowing his winter coat, why would he be starting now?? Could it be stress related? Or is it more likely a health thing?

 

[Barb04]

I'm wondering if it could also be because of the heat being on in the house.

 

[northrunner]

A husky blowing coat in February is HIGHLY unusual. We have one doing that now as well but her reason is hormonal. There are several factors that can contribute to unseasonal coat blow. What is the dog eating? Are you using any supplements? What is his weight like and does he seem to be a small eater?

Abby

 

[Cessena]

Vlad is on a diet of California Naturals, with some natual choice wet food. I think I might switch the wet food this week to something else, no supplements tho. He's actually a BIG eater which I know is a-typical of huskies. When we adopted him last june he was quite thin and we've fattened him up a lot. He's tall, over 24" and weighs about 85lbs. (He's not overweight maybe just on the thick side of healthy.)

He does have a very sensetive stomach, we try to keep his diet as simple on his tummy as possible, when he gets anything else he inevitably has runny stool.

He is mostly blowing just around the neck area right now, and my boyfriend was out of town for a week, so I wonder if it could be stress related.

Would it be worth taking him to the vet just to make sure nothing major is wrong?

 

[SisMorphine]

How old is he? How long has he been on his current diet and what was he on beforehand?

 

[Beanie]

I'm a few hours south of you, but even though we just got snow... has it been warm up there, off and on, for the last two-three weeks? Down here it was 50 degrees one day, and then the next night we got a snowstorm. Has it been similar weather in Chicago?

 

[Cessena]

We're not sure how hold he is, the rescue we got him from said 3-5 years old. He's been on this diet for a long time, 5 months or ro, though I did just buy a new bag of dry food.

And yeah, the weather has been crazy here too.

 

[Beanie]

Honestly, I wouldn't be that worried about it... About a week ago, Auggie was looking like he was starting to blow coat for a little while too, but it's settled back down. The crazy Midwestern weather always seems to have a funny effect on our shelties, and they do a "faux-blow," LOL. Keep brushing and keep an eye on him, but I wouldn't be alarmed over it right now.
If it continues and a lot more starts to come out, or if you notice anything wrong with his skin, then vet... but my guess is honestly that it's just the wacky weather!

 

[Cessena]

Okay, I'll just attribute it to the crazy weather for now. He seems in good spirits and such. This is my first dog, and I get worried easily. I'll keep an eye on him. THank goodness for this forum. Thanks for the advice!

 

[adojrts]

The Winter Solas (sp) was just on Jan 21, same every year, increase of daylight. It has nothing to do with how warm it is. All mammals that have fur start to blow their winter coats and are now building their summer coats.
I can't remember when the Summer Solas is but it is the day that the daylight starts to decrease, June 21 comes to mind. At that time, animals start to blow their summer coats and start building their winter coats. Hence all the shedding at those times. With horses you can play with nature by putting them under lights and building them back to a 16 hrs of daylight and they will keep a slick coat, you can also get mares in foal earlier in the year and increase a stallions sex drive.
Hope that helps
Lynn

 

[IcyHound]

I'm in VA and my GSD is about to start blowing his coat. I'm hoping for an early spring.

 

[CountryGrl]

When Double coated breed blowing coat is more heritary than seasonal or so I have been told.

 

[Lilavati]

Sarama (mixed breed, Northern VA) is starting to blow coat too . . . I think its partially the light, but I suspect the unnaturally warm days we've had on and off may have contributed too . . .


My undertstanding is that heritage tells the dog when there is a enough light to shed, but that temperature can move it foreward or back a bit. Not sure though.

But it seems to be happening to alot of people.

 

[Psyfalcon]

Yep... although it never got very cold here. Its up to mid 50s and the fur is starting to come out. He actually blew a ton on the winter camping trip, below freezing.

 

[adojrts]

It has been very cold up here, much colder this year than it has been in years. My dogs are blowing their coats and the horses which are out on a run in shed are also shedding like crazy. I still believe that it is directly related to the amount of sun light we are now getting. Although I don't know that works with places very north that have extreme loss and increases with day light and how it effects them. Would be a good question to ask someone from that far north.....

 

[nuvetmarie]

blowing coat or just shedding?

If it is mostly around the neck area and not all over the body... don't worry about it. Like the others have said, the weather is odd. It is hard sometimes for the body to adjust to our crazy weather changes..

You can give him a good brushing every week. Get an undercoat rake or the special Furminator Brush.. This has teeth that will go down to the 2nd or 3rd coat - the undercoat areas.

When it is time to do the full shedding - it will be easy for you if you have removed alot of dead undercoat already. Also, the food he is on is a good one. You may want to add a little salmon oil to his food - ( 1 teaspoon each day) We sell the salmon oil in the pet shops out here in Alaska... I am sure your pet shop must sell it too.

Let me know how it goes...?

Marie