Labrador owners are very much aware of this situation. Every year at the start of the winter and summer season, Labradors begin to molt and shed their silky hair. This can be a messy time for most Labrador owners as having to manage all the shedding can be a complete hassle. Here are a few tips on how you can make the shedding season easier for your labs and yourself.
Why Do Labradors Molt?
Labradors, and most other animals, grow fur for protection and camouflage. Although Labradors at home do not need camouflage, yet, the fur has another purpose as well. Labradors’ fur keeps them warm during the winter and cools during the summer. In the winter, the thick coat of fur helps to keep the body warm. Which helps keep the dog safe from the low temperatures. In the summer, the fur acts as a radiator, allowing for the sweat to evaporate from a greater surface area. This cools down the body and helps the dog stay fresh.
Reasons for Shedding
The reason for the molting is that when the temperature starts falling in the winter, the dog must shed its old coat to grow a thicker new coat perfect for the cold winter months. The same goes for the start of the summer months when the dog needs to lose the thicker coat to provide some relief from the warm temperatures.
This process is entirely natural and healthy, even though it may seem like your pup sheds a bit too much, this can be due to the presence of a double coat in some Labradors breeds. This double-coat has more fur than other breeds, and thus more hair is shed when molting.
How To Manage Shedding?
Managing your Labs shedding is more about making it easier than it is about stopping it altogether. Remember, this is a natural phenomenon that NEEDS to happen. Here’s what you can do to make sure that your pup does not make too much of a mess and leave hair flying around everywhere.
- Brush Your Dog Daily
In the molting season, brush your dog’s coat daily with special brushes to remove stuck hair from their coat easily. This helps your dog complete the process of molting quicker. They also do not have to rub against surfaces to dislodge the hair.
- Shower and Rinse
Use shampoo to rinse your dog at regular intervals thoroughly. This helps make the hair smooth, which helps with brushing. And it also nourishes the hair follicles for the newly emerging coat. You get the convenience of not having hair everywhere, and your dog gets clean and comfortable.
- Nutrition or Diet
If you feel that your dog is shedding more than natural and not just during the molting season, there may be some inadequacies in their diet. Check up with a nutritionist or vet to figure out if your pup needs some additional vitamins and minerals to help their fur grow well.
Managing molting and shedding is no easy task, but it can be made more convenient by following these simple rules. Remember to check in with your local vet if you feel that things are getting out of hand or if something feels not right with the labs excessive shedding.
