How Do Animals Shed Their Fur?
Animals shed their hair to make way for new hair that is growing in. Many animals have a different coat for the winter and summer due to the differences in outside temperature. When animals are shedding their winter coat, this can often cause a lot of shedding. Their hair is released from the hair follicle to make room for the new hair that will be growing in its place.
Temperature
- How much a dog sheds is regulated by their body.
- Their body will provide signals that tell the hair follicle to release the hair to lighten the coat if the animal is exposed to prolonged heat.
- It is common for animals that are outside a lot to shed during the change of season due to their need to stay cool during the hot summer months.
- Animals that live indoors will often shed year round due to the mixed signals that their brain's receive. Since they live in an area where the temperature is constantly warm and regulated, they can shed year round because their body is fooled by the controlled climate.
Breed
- The breed of the animal will directly affect the level of shedding.
- Animals that shed at a lower rate will often require grooming to maintain their coats. They will need their hair trimmed and brushed to prevent the hair from matting up.
- Animals that shed at a faster rate do not require grooming because their hair does not have a chance to grow long and become matted due to the shedding process.
- If you are looking for an animal that has low shedding, you should choose a breed that is known to need grooming such as a long haired dog or cat.
Other factors
- Although shedding is a natural process, it can be triggered by stressors in an animal’s life as well.
- Excessive shedding could be caused by a variety of different problems so you may want to keep an eye on your pet if it seems they are shedding more than normal.
- Stress, poor diet, going through heat, and stress can all contribute to an animal shedding more than normal.