5-yr old lab has not moulted this spring

[shockthemonkey]

Just a bit worried, and wonder if it could be a sign of metabolic problems for example.

She has moulted heavily in previous years, at the change of seasons. This spring her coat is a bit duller than usual, though not "staring". The house is worryingly free of dust bunnies - nothing comes off when I groom her with her favourite rubber curry comb (which normally brings the hair off in huge clumps).

I would normally ask the vet about this, but he only wants to see emergencies at the moment. As soon as the confinement is over she'll be seeing the vet anyway for a limp she's had for two months (vet has seen video and says it can wait). I have not spoken to him about the moulting as it has only begun to worry me today after grooming her and getting nothing!

Thanks if anyone can give me their thoughts!

(She eats Royal Canin Large Dog Neutered, and takes a fish oil supplement since last summer when she suffered from a very stubborn case of dermatitis that required steroids to treat).

[shockthemonkey]

Just to add, for the past ten days or so she has begun tiring very quickly on her walks, which are now no more than short pootles compared to the forest runs we used to have. This may be partly because she is getting too hot.

Anyone have any ideas?

[TemoraryUsername]

Hmm. I don't like the sound of tiring quickly on walks - can you try her early in the morning or late at night when it's cooler to see if it is heat or not?

The non-moulting could well be metabolic - is your vet not doing telephone consults? Mine is - I think I'd do a telephone consult but not worry too much about it if you have to wait until she goes in for something else.

[shockthemonkey]

Thank you so much for replying. That was my plan for tomorrow morning, see if it's better when it's still cool. We're in lovely cool shade most of the time though as we're very wooded where we are. I will call vet again, thanks. Sometimes you just need someone else to say they don't like the sound of something to be more resolute. Our vet is good but I try hard not to be the overly worried owner. Now I'm going to call with this new worry. Will keep you posted.

[TemoraryUsername]

Yes, I'd be interested to hear what vet says.

By way of balancing your worrying though, mine has been slower on her walks recently. She's going less far, road work instead of forests too. She's just as lively as usual if not more do at home - I'm putting her slowing down, down to warmer weather, more boring walks and I'm keeping a close eye on her pads, because I think all the roadwork has worn all the callouses off her pads and I'm wondering if she's feeling her feet a bit.

[shockthemonkey]

OK so she seemed back to normal on her morning walk - in terms of her energy levels, sniffing and general interest in what was going on around her.

I spoke to the vet nonetheless, and with the lack of shedding he suspects a thyroid problem, but even given how worried I was yesterday (I described the walk, how she struggled to do a very slow 1km) he doesn't want to see her until after lockdown - at which point, while doing the x-ray on her leg, he'll do full bloods.

Thanks so much for asking after her, Temorary!

[Windyatthebeach]

Our husky still has full winter fur!!
Every other one near us has moulted!
She is hot and miserable..

[TheHumansAreDefinitelyDead]

My dog moulded very early this year (Feb) I was thinking maybe because it was such a mild winter?

And now we are having summer in spring (South coast )

[Dreamersandwishers]

You mention metabolic disorder. My lab has hypothyroidism and had similar symptoms - easily tired, shorter, low moulting coat.
Blood tests diagnosed it, and he’s on thyroxine tablets, and a low fat, low carb food.
3 years later, he looks fab, his coat is good but low maintenance, and he can hold his own on walks. My point is don’t worry unduly, if it is thyroid, it can be managed.

[Hovverry]

My dog moulted for the first time at the end of last winter but hasn’t moulted since. He’s young and very fit. I brush him occasionally but nothing comes out. I think it’s governed by the season and temperature, we had a very mild winter so coats didn’t grow thick.

[shockthemonkey]

Thank you Dreamers, I really think she's got something similar going on.

We had a normal winter and she did change her coat as she usually does in the autumn, shedding her summer hairs for her more insulating winter hairs. Our spring has been gorgeous, with lovely warm weather and plenty of sunshine - so I can see no environmental reason why she wouldn't do her usual spring moult this year. In any case it's the change in daylight hours that are the main factor triggering moults, and this remains constant each year!

I am impatient now to get her diagnosed and treated. I don't like to see her so diminished when she's still so young. Thanks for sharing your experience Dreamers, it's reassuring.