shedding

by Danny Seymore
(Heber Springs,Arkansas)

I have a 11 month old Jack Russell terrier that I feed top quality kibble. I live in Arkansas so it is Springtime.My dog is shedding like I have never seen before.I can see his ticking spots through his hair.I know without seeing him it will be difficult to diagnose.Is it normal for him to shed alot to get rid of his winter coat?

My Comment:

It can be.

If I have a patient like him in my practice, first of all i am looking at the general health status.

Is he normally behaving, normalluy eating and drinking. Lost weight or has he grown normally.

Other things is vommiting, any of this and his stool is that normal as well.

Itching, thats important!

If any is sees, then i am asking where hi is itching the most.

Fleas tend to get the dog itching at the base of the tail. Allergy on the paws,ears,eyes and the anal area.

Lice can been seen in the fur, but may have to look a while after them. Especially around the neck.

"Walking dandruff" can been seen as - yes powered dandruff in the skin. Sometimes you see them in the fur moving around, i have actually never done that - but it is said in several books.

Is the fur shiny or not. Thats important too. So, if not and nothing else is found, the likelyhood of bening normal shed.

Sometimes you can try extra B-vitamin. This is traditionally done both Denmark and Sweden as a possibel "shed stop medicine".

Normally the injection seem to have better effect compared to tablets or solutions in the mouth.

Ask your vet about this.

All the best

DVM Per Schonbeck