Does anyone know if labs moult excessivly? Our 6 month old yellow lab seems to be constantly moulting. We are regularly brushing him but covered in dog hair all the time. Could he be lacking in something ??

Thanks
Russ

He could be changing his puppy coat to an adult coat, and also it's spring (hurrah!) and the weather is getting warmer. There's winter coats being shed all over the place!. Keep brushing him every day. Apart from anything else, it's a good bonding time with him. :)

In answer to your question Russ, YES! TWICE A YEAR! "The Flower" could moult for England!

Regards, John

My old Yellow Lab., like John's moults twice a year........January to June, and July to December.

Russ , just be thankful your lab isn't a Malamute ;)

tell me about it my bitch mal just gets her coat back then blows it again. :p

Would any one be interested in a nice Liver and White Springer scarf and matching mittens and bobble hat, if this tiny ,tiny little springer moults any more we'll be knee deep in hair and I'll be able to knit the winter collection for Christian D'Or

The "Old Wives Tale" was that dogs born "out of season" would continue to moult all the time. If you think about it there is a certain amount of logic in it. In the wild the usual time for babies is in the spring. the puppy would then be ready to loose it's baby coat at around the time of the autumn moult. So the moults would follow a natural cycle. A puppy born a few months later would naturally be ready to moult a few months after that natural date so it could take several years for the cycle to get to the right time.

I could be wrong but that could be the reason for the old tale.

Regards, John

I think it has to do with the change in seasons/ amount of daylight.
Has anyone ever tried those products that claim to stop moulting?I haven't, but am so curious about it.

Carissa

Hi John,
Interesting theory - don't know if it would be right though. I've had two dogs born in August and April, and both started to lose their coats in March of the following year.
Hilda

Curtis was born in April last year and he is moulting big time at the moment, strange moulting pattern though, he's losing his "trousers" and some body hair but his neck feathers & tail are still lovely & long. I have just bought some EPO to give him and will get some of Dorwest's Seaweed tablets tomorrow from Redcastle. I'm thinking of splashing out to buy some Mirracoat too....only 5 weeks to WELKS!

My black Lab could moult for Britain all the time!! In fact when I have a non-Dyson day (quite often!) I have to send out a search party for my little Westie!! :D

I don't know about Labs but my doberman is having the same problem at the moment. I took her to the vets on saturday for a check up and told him about how much she is moulting and he suggested Cod liver oil and evening primrose oil supplements which I bought today from boots. It supposed to be good for their skin and coat, you are suppose to double the human dose and I gave Sasha her first lot today I'll let you know what happens.

I just joined this message board. I was looking on line for Rottweiler owners to find out about moulting and saw your response about your Doberman. It has been two months since you posted your message and I am curious if the Cod Liver oil and Primrose oil supplement worked? MY Rotty has a beautiful coat but she sheds it constantly. I brush her daily and still the floors are covered each day with fur. She has a very thick coat. Any Idea?
Bonnielass

Hi Bonnielass
Yes they did seem to work and I've only really noticed just how much in the last few weeks since they ran out as my kitchen floor is covered in hair again, I must get some more! Another thing that helps is not to let your dog sleep near the heating and that really helps too. Other than that you must remember it's the summer now and dogs moult like mad, as the vet keeps reminding me.
If you do decide to give cod liver oil and evening primrose capsules (which by the way my dobie loved) you give twice the adult dose like I said in my post. But if your rottie gets diaorhea then reduce dose to half.
Good luck, I totally sympathise with the hair problem,
Let me know how you get on.

Sashac

HI Sashac ,
Thanks for the input. I live in Florida which is basically warm all year, I only used heat once the entire winter. Roxie moults, I call it sheds, 365 days a year. It amazes us that she has any fur at all, but in fact her fur is thick and dense. I sweep up a fist full of hair daily and change our vacuum bag twice a month! It's lucky for her we love her so much, because the mess causes us much extra work. Now she has taken to jumping in the swimming pool every day, she loves it and I clean another fist full of fur out of the pool.

Bonnielass

Think yourself lucky, I fill up my vaccum just doing the living room and dining rooom daily with four Elkhounds in vbarious stagesof moult, and even when they aren't in full moult then It is still full within two or 3 days.:D

Wow, you really have you work cut out for you. I think I would shave her if I had to change a bag that often.

With 4 dalmatians I have to empty the Dyson every day....

Dyson brand, is everyone from the UK that is responding? I haven't heard of a Dyson but I have heard of Bagless vacuums. Yes the price is rediculous, I spend $2.00 a bag which I guess would be 1 pound, not sure of the dollar rate exchange in UK.
Most of my house house is tiled now. I thought that would be easier than the carpets but I was wrong. The fur flies all over the rooms now.

Yes, James Dyson invented and patented the bagless cyclone vacuum cleaner - a Godsend to every dog owner!

That is why I have one of those bagless cyclne type ckeaners with a clear canuster that collects the hooverings. :D With it being clear you can't let it get ovrfull :D

A friend who had a gorgeous Elkhound (who my lads adored and who tolerated them very politely!!) swore by his Dyson, too! Nobody can afford the bags anymore!

Couldn't cope with the dogs in the house without one. It broke down the other day(loose connection) and in the day that it was being fixed by my lovely Dad you could hardly see the carpet.

My Dad brought round his Henry cylinder that he swears by, and it was God awful hard work. wouldn't be without my upright!

Hi Bonnielass,
Sorry I didn't realise were you lived. I live in England so it's only just started getting hot out here. I personally don't think the weather has anything to do with it, as my Sasha has been moulting badly practically since we first got her, but that's what the vet keeps telling me. And like you it's lucky we love her so much because it is hard work especially since I have 2 young kids. I think you should try the cod liver oil especially since roxie goes in the pool. Because when their skin gets dry they moult even more, and I would imagine the chlorine in the water doesn't exactly moisturise her skin. Let me know if you discover any other miracle cures and in the mean time I get Sasha back on the cod liver oil.

Sashac

Why not try Flax (Linseed) oil instead of Cod Liver Oil - it is possible to give a dog too much of this.

Christine

Do you mean too much cod liver oil?

I may try what you suggested, but the cod liver oil was recommended by my vet and seemed to work.

My vet told me only to give cod liver oil in the cold months, because in hot weather it can cause skin problems.
:)

I am going to try the cod liver oil. Does it make their breath smell. My pool is too chlorinated since we have control over watching the levels. I will let you know.
Bonnielass

It didn't make Sasha's breath smell(well not any worse than normal anyway). They come in capsules and she would just literally swallow them whole.

Good luck keep me posted

Hi everyone,

I thought you all might find this interesting.

A few months back I was at a health show and there was a booth there with dog foods and supplies. I went over to ask about my favorite question "moulting" and the women said if my dog was allergic to wheat and corn it could cause excessive moulting. I purchased "Solid Gold" lamb & rice, I had been feeding Roxie Nutro lamb & rice. What is so interesting is that while it didn't stop the moulting, it seemed to have removed about 90% + of the tarter Roxie had on her teeth in only 3 months. I am assuming the rest will go shortly. I was told by a holistic veternerian that the tarter formed in the first place because the food she was eating was good for her system. The kibbles look to be about the same size and consistency so it has to be the change of diet. Solid Gold is wheat free, corn free and perservative free.
Bonnielass