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7378022 tn?1390751481

Shedding Tips

I have a 4 month old blonde and white Chihuahua mix who is shedding like crazy all of a sudden!... I am bathing her weekly (vets orders) with an oatmeal shampoo and brushing her, but is there anything else I can do to speed up the seasonal process and make life a little less, unmmmm.... White? LOL

Thanks for replies. :)
11 Responses
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974371 tn?1424653129
Glad the itching has resolved.  The addition of the Omega 3 may certainly help. Nutrition is important and, add to that, she may be shedding puppy coat.  Continue what you are doing and hope you see some improvement. I doubt hosing with water would hurt or help.  Good luck!  Our Chi mix sheds everywhere.
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7378022 tn?1390751481
So... My little darling is now 8 months old, and sadly, the shedding still continues to be an issue. I brush daily with a slicker brush, and it's like its snowing when she shakes after. I have added an omega 3 supplement to her diet and brushing shows no dry skin issue. In addition, I have included Total-Zymes to her food to help aid in digestion and nutrient absorption. I've been bathing monthly now (itching has resolved), and was wondering if just weekly hosing off with water would be too drying for the skin/coat?
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7378022 tn?1390751481
Oh, and just as an fyi... She's spoiled with attention.

I rub her feet/pads all the time, and her ears, inside and out. I also play with her mouth, gums and teeth. She's such a lucky dog in that I flip her on her back and cuddle with her... I wish other puppies would get this spoiled. ;)
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7378022 tn?1390751481
Margot - As for food, I started her out on Blue Buffalo Puppy, but am in the process of switching her over to Nutro Natural Choice Lamb & Brown Rice as she has a bit of a talkative tummy and lots of gas. LOL  Thanks for the brushing tips

Karla - Thanks for the heads up on the Trifexis... It CLEARLY states one of the side effects is itching, and I DO believe it's gotten worse since being on this. She has however been itching ever since I brought her home and took her to the yard prior to starting her on this, so who knows?

My other Chi was such an easy keeper and this little sweetheart is sure starting out to be a challenge!
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974371 tn?1424653129
Good that she us used to the blow dryer but, since she is not trained, please don't put her on a surface that us high off the ground unless you tie her or have someone to help. Using this grooming method has both your hands full and they can slip or try to jump very quickly.

Against the lay of the coat just means in the opposite direction the hair grows so you can start at the base of the tail brushing the hair toward the head and blow the area that is exposed when you do this, helps to get that undercoat loose.  I have always bought my grooming supplies at dog shows but you can get a slicker brush at probably PetsMart or order thru Foster and Smith or something.  For the small dogs with short coats, you want a soft one.  This really is a good brush for the short haired dogs.  Just a suggestion.

So, she is having skin issues then.  Sorry about that.  If there is skin irritation, take it easy on the brushing in those areas.

Karla gave you good advice.

I used Interceptor for years but can't get it anymore.  I have been using Trifexis as my son and daughter have been using also on their dogs and nine have had any obvious problems.  Karla is correct though about reported problems with this drug so you may want to discuss it with the Vet.  You can Goggle it and read up on it.  Making me a bit nervous so I will probably switch when I finish the one pill I have left here.

What food are you feeding?  
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903476 tn?1242237037
I know shedding can be a real pain the the backside, I have one of the worst culprit for that a very long hair double coated Miniature American Eskimo I like to use packing tape you can use duck tape but I don't recommend it, it can be a little too sticky. Roll it around your hand sticky side out and just pet the dog and go against the grain of the hair. I know you said shes a short hair but I do the tape trick on my short haired Chihuahua too and it helps a lot with the shedding. So roll up the body starting from the tail to the head then a quick brushing everyday
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462827 tn?1333168952
Was she doing all this when you got her or has it all started since she arrived?
If so, I'd be looking for something in the house, on her, or her food being the culprit!

There are hundreds of complaints about Trifexis causing Hair Loss and Skin disorders, &/or dermatitis, along with many more serious issues.....You might want to look into that if it all started then.....Karla
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7378022 tn?1390751481
Oh...She's a short hair and I think Corgi is in there too, but she doesn't have the Corgi undercoat.
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7378022 tn?1390751481
Re: Weekly bath (for a month), she is chewing and scratching a lot to the point of hair loss, and licking her paws/pads. She was scraped for mites (negative) and is on Trifexis for flea control, so they are negative as well. My gut intuition says she's allergic to the lawn (rye grass) but vet doesn't think so. She's actually very good about bathing, and doesn't run when I am using the blow dryer on myself (purposely keep her in bathroom with me to get her used to the sound), so I can definitely give this a try, and I use a horse hair body brush. I do towel try her vigorously as well, and this is a favorite post bath game of hers... LOL

Can you please explain what you mean by "against the lay of the coat?"
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974371 tn?1424653129
Sorry, I really need to get off this iPad typing or find the time to proof read.  Hope you understand
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974371 tn?1424653129
How fun!  Welcome to Spring.  :-)
You say mix, mixed with what, do you know?  Is the hair short like a Chihuahua or longer?
Why us the Vet telling you to bath her weekly?  Us there some skin issue going on?  Too frequent bathing removes a lot if the natural oils.  Nit saying your Vet us wrong on that advice, just wondering why.
I showed Shelties for years but we fought Mother Nature to keep them IN coat!  When they started blowing coat I can tell you what the majority if us did.
Of course, our dogs were table trained but you can improvise.  If the puppy us not used to a blow drier, I suggest you work on that.  You will probably have to work on the floor or a low surface unless you have 3 hands. :-).
Not  sure what brushes you have but you can use a goid, medium bristle brush and a small, soft slicker brush.
Bath the dog and towel dry, vigorously.
Here is where some training and some patience and that third hand comes in handy unless you have someone to hold the puppy on lead or can put her on a short tie to something.
Get your blow dryer on the warm setting.  Use the bristle brush and brush against the lay of the coat, line brushing.  This will help loosen up that dead hair.  Then, start at the head, use the blow dryer and brush with the lay of the coat.
After the dog is dry, yes your soft slicker brush and brush again against and with the lay of the coat.
Take 5 mins a day and use the slicker brush.
You have a puppy that is most likely not used to this so you may be dealing with a bucking bronco. :-). Well, time for her to learn.
If she fights too much, take a break.
Have some small treats handy, tell her how good she is, and give her a treat now and then.  
Unfortunately, house dogs tend to shed more year round as their bodies really are not subject to abrupt temperature changes but the worst shedding is usually now.  An unspay female will usually blow coat after her heat cycle.
Hope this helps.  Would love to see a video.   :-)

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