It is hard to find a Shiba Inu owner who is not proud of the beautiful coat of his or her dog. This beauty, however, comes at a price. Shibas have an endless supply of hair during the shedding season, and they are also vulnerable to a few other causes of temporary Shiba Inu hair loss.
A Shiba loses quite a lot of hair during the shedding period. This is during spring and autumn. Improper coat care can increase hair loss.
Hygiene of the Shiba Inu
If there were a contest for personal hygiene among recognized dog breeds, the Shiba Inu would be a candidate for first place. These fastidious dogs clean themselves every day. Their skin secretes a natural oil.
This is important for Shiba owners to know, because it is harmful to immerse these dogs in water often or to scrub their coat with cleaning products. Shampoo and water remove the natural oils released during self-grooming and can cause unsightly hair loss and itching. Only bathe your dog when it is really necessary. If he gets dirty, dampen a cloth or towel and gently clean him with it.
Shiba inu shedding period
A Shiba sheds twice a year, and dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors lose the most hair. Many Shiba owners say that their dogs “blow their coat” during shedding because they lose so much hair.
The Shiba’s coat is often full and thick in winter. As a result, you may be surprised at how comical or strange your dog looks when he sheds that coat in the spring.
There is not much you can do to stop the shedding, but you can control the mess. Brush your dog’s entire body several times a day while he is blowing his coat, and vacuum your home several times a week. He sheds for two to three weeks each season, but you can confine him to a small part of the house until he stops shedding.
Parasites
Mites, ticks and many other parasites can be a problem for the Shiba Inu, but fleas pose a much greater threat. Shibas are genetically vulnerable to allergies and, according to the National Shiba Club of America, are at high risk of developing conditions such as flea allergy dermatitis.
Flea bites itch enough to make any dog keep scratching the same spot, pull out hair and damage the skin. But they are much worse for dogs that are allergic to flea saliva, causing rashes, hair loss and inflammation with the typical symptoms of a flea infestation.
Because fleas are almost impossible to spot through a Shiba’s thick winter coat, it’s important to check your dog’s coat every week or two to make sure no parasites have settled on his skin.
Be careful with preventive treatments: they are still poisons, lethal to tiny fleas, but also not good for the dog. In some cases dogs develop neurological problems, such as epilepsy, for example.
Other causes of Shiba Inu hair loss
If your Shiba is shedding out of season and there are no signs of parasites, he may have an internal health problem. Take your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible. A prompt diagnosis means you can treat your dog as quickly as possible, which could make a big difference if his shedding is a symptom of a serious illness. There is a small possibility that your dog is suffering from a dysfunction of one of his glands or organs.
But don’t worry too much; there’s a good chance the cause of your dog’s shedding is completely treatable and reversible. He may be allergic to something in his environment, such as pollen, dust, or an ingredient in his food. Shedding can also be a sign of common fungal and bacterial infections, which usually only require regular doses of an oral or topical treatment prescribed by your veterinarian.
