Hi everyone! I’m writing today to share a problem I’m having with my Beagle, Kayla, who’s nearly 2 years old:
Ever since we got her (at 2 months old), she has never stopped shedding massive amounts of fur—and when I say massive, I mean really, really a lot. I took her to a pet shop to mention the issue and they told me it was all normal and that, on the contrary, her coat is in very good condition. It struck me as a bit odd, but I didn’t dwell on it.
Then her visit to the vet came up, which was a chance to find out if all this was normal or not. The news: no problems, everything is fine, it’s just normal during the moulting season. This surprised me again because it's been happening since we first got her, so surely she can’t be moulting constantly??
I really started to lose hope and then turned to so-called 'anti-shedding' shampoos, but I haven't seen any real change after using them several times... I can't really try daily brushing either because it just makes her lose even more hair.
So I’m turning to you to ask for any advice or tips that might save my lovely girl from this very persistent and annoying problem. Below are a few photos of her harness after only about a 30-minute walk:
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I second Jador's reply, and I’d add that with the seasons being so unpredictable these days, moulting patterns have gone a bit haywire too... and honestly, as long as there aren't any bald patches, sore spots or a major dandruff issue, there’s no need to worry. Also, maybe avoid bathing him too often, as it’s not particularly good for their skin!
Hi Adi974 :), thanks for your reply, it was really helpful and so well detailed. I’m going to follow your advice and see how we get on. I’ll keep you all updated ;)
Hi Adi974 :), thanks for your reply, it was really constructive and brilliantly detailed. I'm going to follow your advice and see how things go. I'll keep you all posted ;)
Hi @Kaylathebeagle,
Beagles do shed because they moult, but I agree that two months old is a little early for their first moult to start.
If your vet hasn't found any underlying issues, then it’s either perfectly normal or down to something else.
I’m a professional groomer and I run a grooming blog (www.leblogauxpoils.com). Here is what I would suggest:
- Diet: Food plays a massive role in our pups' coats (just like with us and our hair!). It’s possible his current dry food doesn’t agree with him and you might need to switch things up. I’d recommend looking into a more natural diet, which is much better suited to dogs, such as BARF or Raw Feeding (I discuss this in this article: http://leblogauxpoils.com/mon-chien-a-vraiment-mauvaise-haleine-que-dois-je-faire/). Alternatively, you could chat with your vet to see if they can recommend a kibble specifically formulated for Beagles.
- Brushing: Why stop brushing just when you want him to shed less? It’s completely normal to find loads of hair on the brush! Think of it like this: when a dog sheds, that hair is already 'dead'. If it were healthy hair falling out, you’d see bald patches on your pooch’s coat. Since this hair is dead and dogs can’t exactly groom themselves, it falls out when they play or rub against things. However, there’s still plenty of that undercoat trapped in the fur, and if you don’t brush it out, he’ll just keep shedding indefinitely. Like the vast majority of dogs, Beagles moult twice a year (around spring and autumn). There’s nothing to worry about; it’s totally natural. He’s just losing the coat he needed to stay warm over the winter.
By brushing him once or twice a week—or more if it’s really heavy during moulting season—and once a week during normal periods, you won’t find all that hair covering your carpets. It’ll be on the brush and then straight in the bin. Does that make sense? I go into more detail in this article: http://leblogauxpoils.com/la-solution-miracle-pour-ne-plus-avoir-de-poils-chez-vous/.
That said, you can't just use any old brush. Since your dog is short-haired, you need a tool suited to that coat type. I’d recommend a 'Furminator' style de-shedding tool (http://www.atoodog.fr/demeloir-perfect-care-25100.html#ae72). I use these all the time on Beagle-type coats at the grooming salon. With a tool like this, you can use it once or twice a week during moulting season and always once a week otherwise (but no more). These brushes are very effective, but if you use them every day, there won't be any dead hair left to pull out and you'll start catching the 'live' healthy hair.
I hope that helps! ;)
Have a lovely day and keep me posted on any changes! ;)
