Did your dog have a major hair loss and find yourself asking how long does dog hair take to grow back? Perhaps, you should continue reading this article as we have it covered!
Pet parents should know that the growth of a dog’s hair depends on the breed and the coat type. Single-coated dog breeds take three months to grow the hair and six months for the double-coated breed.
As pet parents, we often get alarmed seeing the constant hair loss of our furry friends. However, it’s a natural process, and it will lose them when it’s time. And with time, it will regrow to its original length.
That said, let’s delve further into the article to understand the aspects of a hair growth cycle in dogs.
The Hair Growth Cycle of Dogs
Whether animals or humans, the hair growth cycle is a natural process. Humans have four stages of hair growth, while dogs have three stages. And being a pet parent, it would be good to know these aspects of your furry friends. You should know how to take care of a dog so that it can lead a happy and cheerful life.
Here are the three stages of hair growth in a dog:
- Anagen: It’s the stage where there is active hair growth, and it’s a stage where it grows entirely depending on its breed and genetics.
- Catagen: In this phase, the hair stops growing.
- Telogen: Also known as the resting phase, in this stage, your dog’s hair won’t grow, which leads to shedding.
Hair loss is a natural process regardless of the breed. Like humans, it goes through the different stages of hair growth. However, there would be times when a dog suffers extreme hair falls. It would be due to multiple factors, including poor diet, food allergy, infections, genetics, etc.
But with proper care and measure, the hair will grow back. It depends on how you take care of your furry friend. If you’re new, it’s better to research how to take care of a dog. It will make you aware of what is good and bad for your dog.
For instance, eggs are one of the dogs’ favorite foods, and undeniably, they are pretty nutritious and healthy. However, do you know that feeding raw eggs can cause your dog to lose hair? Hence, it’s not surprising that veterinarians strongly recommend feeding cooked eggs rather than raw ones.
Hair Growth of Puppies
Some new pet owners may worry after seeing their puppy losing hair. But you can cast aside your worries as it’s a natural process. It’s normal and will lose until it’s replaced by adult hair or coat.
Puppies have fuzzy fur and will shed them within 3 to 6 months. It’s a transition to adulthood, and it will replace it with an adult coat. During these phases, the hair looks patchy and unkempt.
It will continue to shed till it reaches one year and will fully reach its original length. Additionally, there may change in hair color and the coat texture.
You will see various changes in your puppies apart from shedding until they reach one. Consult a vet if you notice that your puppy’s skin is scaly or inflamed. It would be due to multiple factors, and it would be best to take them to a veterinarian.
Causes of Hair Loss in Dogs
Apart from natural shedding, multiple factors cause hair loss for your dog. Some of the factors are as follows:
- Infection: One of the factors that cause hair loss of your furry friend is due to parasitic infection. And it includes fleas, mites, fungus, and ticks.
- Food allergy: Some dogs may have an allergy to a specific food or diet. When you’re serving a new diet or food item, please don’t feed them in large portions but on a small scale. Observe your dog, and if it shows symptoms like fur loss or skin irritation, you should stop serving the specific food item.
- Genetics: Some dog breeds suffer baldness due to their genetic inclination. And it includes breeds like the Whippet, Dachshund, Doberman Pinscher, and American Hairless Terrier.
These are some common factors that cause unnatural hair falls in a dog. It’s advisable to consult a vet when you see extreme hair loss in your furry friend. They will know better and provide you with the correct prescription.
How Do I Speed up the Hair Growth of My Dog?
With proper diet and nutrition, you can speed up the growth of your dog’s hair. However, one needs to be patient and focus on the process. Most people don’t have patience and expect instant results. And that’s where it goes wrong!
Consult a veterinarian first when you see that your furry friend has unnatural hair loss. Shedding is a natural process in dogs, but if it’s extreme, that is what you should be concerned about.
With correct advice from the veterinarian, you can help your dog’s hair from extreme loss and regrow it eventually—one of the best ways to let your dog’s hair regrow is by adding supplements to their diet. Pet supplements like Omega-3 and 6 are known for proper growth of hair and preventing hair loss.
Give a healthy diet to your furry friend by including food rich in Zinc, Vitamin A, E, and C. When adding a supplement to your dog’s diet, consult a vet first to avoid allergies or any side effects.
It’s also necessary to brush your dog’s hair regularly. Get a good hairbrush and do it softly. Avoid aggressive hair brushing as it may only cause excess hair fall instead. When you brush a dog, it removes the dirt and disperses natural oil all over its coat. Furthermore, giving your dog an oatmeal bath in a week enhances hair growth. It eliminates bacteria that prevent the hair from growing.
The hair regrowth process is slow, and there is no shortcut to speed up the process. Pet owners should be patient and stick to a healthy diet and utmost care.
Does Shaving Fasten the Regrowth of Hair in a Dog?
There is no definitive answer because the result may vary for different dog breeds. Shaving is suitable for some dog breeds but not advisable for some.
Dog breeds have two types of hair coats:
- Single coat
Shaving is preferable and popular in single-coated breeds, and it’s safer and regrows appropriately and healthy. Single coated dog breeds include Lhaso Apso, Silky Terrier, Shih Tsu, Poodles, Coton de Tulear, etc.
After shaving, it regrows within 2 to 4 months but will take 6 months to reach its original length. If your furry friend is single coated, shaving is safe and recommended for hair regrowth.
- Double coat
If your dog is double-coated, it’d be best to avoid shaving. Unlike single-coated breeds, it doesn’t handle well and may not regrow well. It will lose its original luscious hair and may look patchy.
Double coated dog breeds include Golden Retrievers, Samoyeds, Huskies, Australian Shepherds, German Shepherds, etc. These breed types are more suitable in cold weather and not quite adaptable to hot climates. Hence, some pet owners tend to shave their hair during summer. You can shave their hair, but it will lose its natural touch and may look shabby.
These are some aspects to consider before shaving your dog’s hair. It’s more suitable and safer in single-coated dog breeds. Plus, it regrows faster than the double-coated ones.
For double-coated dog breed parents, please keep your dog hydrated by giving them water to drink constantly but not excessive either. And if you have a swimming pool, let them play in the water to cool them.
Eventually, it’s all about how you take care of your dog regardless of the breed. If you’re a pet parent, you need to shoulder multiple responsibilities. From their diet to maintenance, you should pay heed to it.
If you plan to get a puppy, it would be better to consider the climate aspect before getting one. For instance, if you’re from a hot region, you should opt for a single-coated breed instead of double-coated ones.
Dogs like Huskies and Samoyed are more suitable in a cold area and may find it challenging to adapt to living in a humid region. Hence, it’s necessary to do proper research on dog breeds before getting one.
Conclusion on How Long Does Dog Hair Take to Grow Back
Becoming a pet parent comes with multiple responsibilities. And if you’re new, it can be pretty challenging at first. Hence, it’s essential to do proper research before getting one. Note that hair loss is a natural process in dogs like humans, and you shouldn’t worry about it.
However, you should consult a vet right away if it’s extreme. It’s vital to understand the cause of hair fall in your dog to provide the proper treatment. Furthermore, as a pet owner, you should take care of them properly by giving them a healthy diet, daily exercise, hygiene care, etc. Hopefully, this article was helpful and clarified doubts about hair loss and regrowth.
Some of My Favorite Products For Dog Owners
I hope this article has helped you just a bit in everyday life as a dog owner. Being a dog owner for more than 25 years myself, I’ve tried an abundance of different products with varying success, but these products below are some that I can highly recommend to every dog and their owner without hesitation!
These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. But it’s products that I use daily myself, and I have nothing but praise for.
Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be hard, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. But since 2015 when the company was founded, I’ve been using Ollie Petfood. With their product being tailor-made to suit every dog’s specific needs, and as my dogs absolutely love the product, I’m pretty sure I’ve found a product I will continue to use for many years more. If you use my link you can get 50% off your first order.
Dog Training: If you’ve ever owned a puppy, you know that they require a lot of training to grow into a well-behaved adult. Brain Training for Dogs has helped me immensely with the mental training part of raising a dog, and it’s something I strongly recommend you consider.
Grooming: If you have a dog in your home, you’re going to need a brush, and for this, I recommend a Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush. For that price, you simply can’t beat this brush for everyday grooming.
If you’re looking for the most up-to-date recommendations, check out my recommended products section that I’ve created to help every dog owner!
