water loivng sheltie... with undercoat!

Speaking of undercoats, and wet fur and so forth....I have a question.

MMM has no undercoat left. I am not getting the globs of hair coming out of him anymore. You know the things that look like tassels coming out, but what I am still getting is single strands of top coat. Cleveland never shed his top coat.

Is this normal, or is this the water maybe that is making him continue to shed after the blowing of the undercoat?
 
It could be making his topcoat brittle maybe? hard to say without actually looking and touching it. Does it seem like its breaking off or is it full stands???
 
There are some places on his sides that are feathery and scruffy looking and look like they are brittle and he has a definite, "I'm a farm dog!" look but the main hair that I am still seeing everyday is white single hair that is 4 to 5 inches long from his ruff.
 
RonandJan said:
Speaking of undercoats, and wet fur and so forth....I have a question.

MMM has no undercoat left. I am not getting the globs of hair coming out of him anymore. You know the things that look like tassels coming out, but what I am still getting is single strands of top coat. Cleveland never shed his top coat.

Is this normal, or is this the water maybe that is making him continue to shed after the blowing of the undercoat?
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I've noticed the same thing with Sadie since she's been swimming. She's lost all of her undercoat and looks very skinny, since she has a long and lanky build. I noticed the last time I brushed her that th guard hairs are coming out. They're not breaking, she actually seems to be shedding them.

Her coat doesn't look or feel dry or brittle and still looks beautiful but the chlorine could definitely be drying it out. I have a coat conditioner that I use on her that I really like, I usually use it in the winter but I guess I should start using it again.
 
OntarioSheltie said:
Her coat doesn't look or feel dry or brittle and still looks beautiful but the chlorine could definitely be drying it out. I have a coat conditioner that I use on her that I really like, I usually use it in the winter but I guess I should start using it again.
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I wish chlorine were the problem. He has been in the pool a time or two this summer, but this is the swamp and the brook mainly that he is getting into. Of course our water here has a TON of iron in it. That could be really drying it out.
 
You have been given good advice about brushing. Emma had half her chest shaved for an echocardiogram in March, then had her belly shaved for her spay in April. The fur is just on the belly is just getting back to the same length as the rest - that's a good five months or so. The leg did take a while to grow back - I would say over a month. It does take a long time for the fur to grow back and I wouldn't want to shave a Sheltie unless it was absolutely necessary. I would worry too much about the sun damage and if the coat was shaved at this time of year, then you would need to worry about the colder weather coming.
 
Have you tried putting some baby oil through his fur before they go for a swim? it works for humans to stop chemical damage from swimming (I use it so my hair doesnt discolour). I use baby oil a lot in summer for keeping burrs out. I just put some in my hands and rub it through their fur. The dogs hate me doing it but it makes a huge difference when we go bushwalking, and its so mild it isnt harmful, if anything it makes their coats lovely and soft.
 
*Caro, I do remember now you mentioning this before. I am going to try this. If nothing more than it would lay his feathers down and make him glossier. Thanks!
 
Lightplum said:
Mine have their pool time every day...in fact today I tried to forgo pool time but at 4pm Noah called it to my attention that he missed pool time today as I heard a ruckus and turned around to see what it was it was Noah in his pool mind you with no water just standing there looking like uhhhh mom you forgot something:lol: So I had to drag the pool and him in the pool over to the hose to fill it up as he refused to move!!!

But as far as the undercoat it should be working its way out any day now...Noah lost about 75% of his within the last 2 weeks...finally. Just keep raking and when you think your done rake some more:wink2:
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I rediscovered the rake a couple of months ago! It is now my best friend! Indy has such a thick undercoat, it would take him forever to dry. Now I line brush him first with the rake, and then with the pin brush. I now have his pants manageable, but have to continuously stay on top of it. (I have a furminator, but use it sparingly)

I also noticed some of his guard hairs breaking off. I attribute it to the drying sun while up at the cottage, so have been brushing him with the Ice on Ice as well as Naked Care...to keep his coat moisturized and UV protected.
 
Apparently Sadie's shedding this year has very little to do with the weather or the amount of time she's been swimming. I mentioned how naked she is this year to my vet, who told me that prednisone will cause hair loss, as well as the stress she's been under.

Poor Sadie girl. Hopefully the fish oil I'm giving her will help her coat thicken up.
 
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