How to minimize shedding

[luvmy2grls]

I have a Siberian Husky and in March he turned 2yrs old.  This is the 2nd summer for him being full grown/adult.  Last summer the shedding was horrendous.  We could seriously brush him every other day and the hair just fell off of him as he walked.  The vet told us that he was shedding 2 coats of hair, puppy and winter, and that it shouldn't be as bad every year afterwards.  So that brings us to this year, and he is SHEDDING like crazy..  He has been groomed by the vet twice already since it has been hot (we have been getting lots of rain and he likes to play in the mud) and that includes a batch and brushing (they use "The Furminator" and we have one as well that we use for brushing at home)..  So is that any way to minimize the shedding?  

[Arnold L Goldman, D.V.M.]

Dear luv,

I submit that your dog's shedding is not the problem, as it is a normal body function. The problem is actually gobs of shed hair all over your house. Hence it is a housekeeping problem rather than a dermatologic problem. Dog fur is of two types, "telogen phase" predominant hair, which grows seasonally then stops growing and falls out when growth begins the next season and "anagen phase" predominant hair which grows mostly continuously and therefore doesnt shed en masse as the former variety.

Density of coat from year to year is likely tied hormonally (through melatonin and sunlight relationship) to the climate and day length. All you can do is either brush the dog even more and clean teh house more frequently or consider a "lion clip" at the end of winter.

Any other approach is just not going to help you. Shedding is normal in young healthy telogen cysle shedding breeds. Sorry!

Dr G

[Arnold L Goldman, D.V.M.]

Never too late. Certainly not now. Full coat regrowth on average takes 3 months in a healthy dog. Act now and it should all be back by 10/1. Then you can judge next year when the best time to do it is. Some dogs grow back a bit slower or faster. Even if she's slow, you can get her  a coat for a month if need be.

[luvmy2grls]

Thank you for your reply!  Is it too late in the summer to give him the "lion clip" u talk about?  will his hair grow back in time for the winter here in nebraska?  It starts to get cold here towards the middle to end of October..  

Thank you for your advice!