Springtime Shedding: What to Expect and How to Manage the Fur

If you’re the owner of a Labrador retriever, you’re probably excited for the warm spring weather to arrive so that you and your pup can enjoy the great outdoors together during the more moderate months ahead. However, as the seasons change, so too does your pup’s fur coat, and that means springtime shedding. The increase in fur you see during the spring isn’t a figment of your imagination – it’s a real thing –but if you get ahead of it, you’ll be able to manage the extra fur without batting an eye.

The Labrador Site notes that all Labradors shed, although labs with light fur may appear to shed more than those with a darker fur, simply because the light color stands out on your floor and carpeting more. Shedding in the spring is an evolutionary trait of dogs and gives your pup a chance to throw off the heavier, thicker winter coat of fur and replace it with a lighter, sleeker coat that’s more warm-weather appropriate. The cycle turns over again in the fall as winter approaches, and again you’ll have a shedding pup on your hands, changing over their coat again to regrow the thicker fur for the colder months.

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to manage the shedding madness. The Nest suggests that you should start by making sure to brush your lab three times per week, all year round. This will remove excess hair that may be loose on your pup’s outer coat. Then, as spring approaches – and again in the fall – make sure to brush out your pup’s undercoat. You can use a shed blade after you brush and comb the entire coat firmly, avoiding the belly and lower legs where fur doesn’t grow in as thickly.

Another trick to keeping shedding under control is to massage your pup while giving them a bath. You can use a rubber brush or bath mitt to massage in dog-safe shampoo and knead your hands through their coat to help work out the loose hairs in the coat and undercoat. Finishing up with a brushing will leave your pup looking and smelling fresh and clean.

If you feel that your lab is shedding even more than usual, however, you may want to speak to a vet. Excessive off-season shedding may indicate health issues, like hormone imbalances or seasonal allergies, which can also show for the first time in the spring season.

For those of you hoping to add a lab to your family this spring, view the available puppies at KT British Labradors! We offer healthy pups that would not only make a great family pet, but an excellent hunting partner. To learn more about currently available dogs or to reserve a pup from an upcoming litter, call us today at 218-685-5103.

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