Why is my 5-month-old Eskimo puppy's coat scraggly after shedding?

Hi there. I see that Mollie is just a puppy, only about 4 months old :) It takes 2-3 years for coated breeds like Eskimo Spitz's to develop their full adult coat - puppies and "teenagers" will look thin and not as puffy in comparison.

Hello, it looks like Lucky may be shedding his winter coat since it is starting to warm up. If he does have an active skin condition however, look for any sings of itchiness, anxiety, further hair loss, red skin, and scabs. Dogs with skin allergies may also bite and chew at their feet constantly, and environmental allergies are common during this time of the year. If you note any of these, then have lucky seen by his veterinarian as he may need medications. Please also make sure that he has monthly flea and tick control as fleas can also cause severe itchiness and hair loss, especially around his lower back, legs and belly. Hope this helps and best of luck.

The staining under the eye indicates either that there is a mild eye condition (i.e. infection), or that the tears are not draining properly. In order to find out what it is and correct it, a vet would need to evaluate Shiva and see what the problem is. It's definitely possible that this can be cleared-up once the proper diagnosis is made. The hair coat does not appear especially scraggly to me, but if it is rough or sparse appearing, then it could indicate a nutritional deficiency or possibly some other condition affecting another organ system. As long as you are feeding formulated puppy food, the nutrition should be adequate. Otherwise, you would need to take her to the vet for an exam, so they can help identify the problem. I hope that helps and Shiva gets better soon.

All dogs start their seasonal shed at different times. If the hair and skin underneath looks normal then I am less worried. However, if there are bald spots, crusting, red skin, or itchiness then Woody should be seen by your veterinarian. With his breed I imagine he has some major thick fur to shed at this time of year. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is not considered normal during the shedding period for any dog to develop skin problems. It is difficult to say definitively from your photos, but I am highly suspicious of some bacterial or allergic skin disease going on. He may need treatment with an antibacterial shampoo, or he may need stronger medications such as oral antibiotics or prescription allergy medications. Please see your veterinarian at your earliest convenience to rule out some of these issues & help Prince grow a beautiful coat.

He looks like a handsome boy! Its hard to appreciate the character of his haircoat based on picture, but it does look full, though he doesn't seem to have a thick undercoat. I see you are in Belize; if you are in a warm climate, he isn't going to get that very thick coat, as that would increase the chances of him overheating. If his skin doesn't appear inflamed anywhere and he doesn't have any bald patches, I don't think you need to be concerned. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi there! For the most part from the photos it looks like the fur is just changing color, which is ok. What I'd watch for is hair loss and thinning, lesions or pigment changes to the skin, and itchiness of rhe skin - scratching, licking, chewing. If these things occur there may be an infection in the skin, or mites, and Luna should be examined by a veterinarian right away. I hope you find this answer helpful! Best of luck!