Shiba Inu shedding

[Rumtopf]

Has anyone else got a Shiba Inu?
We rehomed our lovely boy in March this year, he had one major shedding episode in March/April - normal for time of year and also stress of new home. It calmed down after about 6 weeks. He's now shedding again for England. I can see tufts of the underlayer of his coat poking through and pull them out gently, when I rake my fingers back and forth through his fur it comes out by the handful!

He's very well, recently had a check-up, is happy and bouncy, eats a good diet of dry food mixed with some raw meat, raw vegetables and oily fish. He's bathed maybe once every 2 months or whenever he rolls in fox poo and brushed twice a week.

Seriously, I could create jumpers from the downy fur he's losing! Any advice or is this completely normal? I had read that they normally have two episodes a year - Spring and Autumn, but the amount coming out is crazy!

[SchadenfreudePersonified]

Friends of ours had three - can you imagine how much hair they go out of that lot (it's called "blowing their coat" from what I recall, and enough hair comes out to knit an entire pack of wolves!

It may be that he is shedding early because of the unseasonably hot weather we are having - his coat may be too heavy for him in these temperatures and nature is getting rid of it to cool him down.

Unfortunately, the shiba inu neighbours moved and we have lost touch so I can't make enquiries for you - perhaps the breed society could advise?

[JennyTaylior]

Yep, the shedding is completely normal 😄 The undercoat will come out and just when you think it's all finished, some more with mysteriously appear. Then the outer hairs shed. Then it starts all over again.

Best thing to do is to give a good bath to loosen the fur and, if you can, blast it with a strong hair dryer type thing. (It's called a blaster). Or use a rake to pull out the undercoat when dry. Do this outside. It gives multitudes of birds so,etching to line their nest with 😄

Did you get him from the Shiba rescue?

[Jultay]

Buy a furminator .... my JR X Staffy moults like crazy dog hair everywhere .... this tool is amazing ... I used it for the first time yesterday and was amazed at the hair that it removed .... I did it outside on our walk ... they are between £20/£30 but in my opinion worth every penny

[LilCamper]

Furminators can damage coats by ripping the guard hairs.