One of the tiniest dogs with the biggest personality, the Chihuahua is easily one of the most famous and favoured breeds in the world and is adored by its owners.
If you are considering adding a Chi to your family but need to know whether or not Chihuahuas are prone to excessive shedding, this extensive dog hair guide on Chihuahuas will provide you with all the insights you may require.
Chihuahuas are more prone to seasonal shedding and, if they have a single coat, do not shed excessively throughout the year, no matter whether you have a long coat Chihuahua or a short-haired Chihuahua.
Therefore, generally speaking, a Chi does shed less than other dog breeds and is considered a moderate shedding dog.
If your dog sheds more outside of shedding season, watch out for inflamed or sore skin patches or to double-check if it has been taking the appropriate flea medicine.
Yes, they stick to the seasons and will be shedding hair more extensively during spring to get rid of the winter coat and in late fall to prepare the dog for the upcoming change of seasons.
Your Chihuahua’s coat will definitely be losing hair more excessively during spring, as your dog’s coat is getting ready to be thinned out for the hot summer season. Be sure to brush your dog more regularly during this time to prevent dead hair flying around all over your house.
Female Chihuahuas might also shed a little more when they go into heat.
There are no sources that back up whether a Chihuahua puppy should shed more than an adult dog. Usually, a dog’s shedding cycle is dependent on the seasons.
If your puppy is showing signs of excessive hair loss or bald spots, it might be due to some underlying health issues or poor nutrition, and you should take it to a vet.
Chihuahua’s hair comes in two types: short hair and long-haired Chi. The short-haired Chihuahua is also known as a smooth coat Chihuahua while the long-haired Chihuahua can have some thick guard hairs and be more prone to mats.
Dogs shed loose hair; this is something all dog breeds do besides hair-free dogs.
Therefore, you will never be able to stop shedding completely, as excess shedding is absolutely natural and healthy for your dog’s coat. However, you can work to stop excessive shedding even during the shedding seasons with some simple steps to follow:
In order to keep your dog’s hair shiny and healthy, regular brushing with a slicker brush, for instance, will aid in distributing the coat’s natural oils more evenly and remove dead hairs before they start sticking to your furniture.
On top of that, most Chihuahua owners will find it beneficial to stick to the same grooming schedule to make sure all the hair comes off.
According to the American Kennel Club, dog food plays an important role in the health of your dog’s coat and will support healthy skin as well as strong hair follicle growth.
Bathing these tiny dogs regularly and with the correct puppy shampoo that is not too aggressive and does not remove all their natural coat oils is very important and makes sure your Chihuahua sheds less frequently.
Unfortunately, this is not a completely hypoallergenic dog, as neither the short-hair nor the long-hair Chihuahua are free from shedding completely and will therefore give Chihuahua owners with a pet hair allergy quite some trouble.
No matter their coat types, whether single or double coat or owning a short-coat or long-coat Chihuahuas, these small dogs will shed, even if not excessively, throughout the year.
Even though it is not so much hair as with other long-haired breeds, such as a Golden Retriever for instance, if you are prone to being allergic, you might want to reconsider buying yourself a Chihuahua as your next dog, as they might cause an allergic reaction which can lead to itchy skin, runny nose and sore eyes in its owners.
Welcome to Pets Online, a team of pet parents, animal lovers and veterinarians devoted to providing you with everything you need to know about pets.