My pregnant Labrador is shedding excessively. Is this normal?

Shedding large amounts of hair at one time in a puppy at any age between 4-8 months is going to be normal. There are estimates to when a pet should shed, but again you have to take into account that there is a bell curve with any estimate, so some dogs fall to the left or right of this. Dogs can also shed at multiple intervals, because the entire shedding process can be broken up into phases. You know you are dealing with an actual skin issue when you see patches of bald areas on the skin. As long as she doesn't have alopecia areas then this is considered to be a normal shedding process. Good luck with your new pup!

Pets can experience hair loss for many reasons. If you are noticing bald areas, redness to the skin, scabs or flaky skin, Joy could have a skin infection, need a different diet or an omega 3 supplement for pets. If you don't see any signs of pathology, this may be normal shedding. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello. Hair loss in dogs can be normal (shedding) if it is being replaced by new hair growth. This is normal and will occur, and clean up can be controlled by brushing your dog's hair every day. If patches are being lost and the skin is showing, you should check for fleas/mites. A skin scraping may be necessary. If that is not the cause it could be due to infection, allergies, or other causes.

This may be caused by excessive licking due to pain or itching, or could also have a hormonal cause. I do see a skin lession on the first photo, so you may want to review your regime of flea control. If you observe your dog and/or the puppies itching, check for fleas. You may also take her and the litter to a veterinarian for an exam if this continues or expands.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Hair loss can be caused by fungal and skin mite infections. However, if Basil is pregnant, it is likely that she may be pulling hair from her dewlap (the flap of fur/skin right below the chin/on the neck) to make her nest. If the fur loss started prior to the pregnancy, then I recommend having it evaluated by a vet. I hope this helps!

Losing hair to the point that you can see her skin is not normal. I would have her checked out by her vet. Parasites, ringworm or allergies may be to blame. Your vet may do a skin scrape and or cytology to find out why Ripku is losing fur.

That's a good question. The hormonal changes, the energy drain of having puppies and nursing them and the additional stress are all reasons female dogs lose their coats after having puppies. This is normal and once the pups are done nursing and she starts relaxing and gaining back weight the fur will come back in. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Jimmy.