Is Tibbe "Blowing" His Coat???

[yorkietalkjilly]

Tibbe has become a giant hairball! And so has my furniture! His hair is very thick and full as of this past winter and he's got masses of it. It's somewhat cottony but almost never mats. This past week I'm finding tiny fine hairs all over the couch, the bed and wherever he spends much time. I just bathed him Wednesday, changed the sheets, vacuumed the couch, washed the throw, etc., and already there are tiny hairs everywhere again. If I pull on his coat, sometimes one or two hairs come out in my fingers but mostly not.

He was diagnosed with MVD last year and is on his special diet, has been itching a bit, scratches his tummy with his hind foot maybe 6 times a day since it got warm weather but no bumps on his back or tummy or anything. He's eating fine, feisty, playful and all else seems normal. He's up on his vet exams, next one comes in June, is on heartworm preventative, last checked for worms in December but isn't scooting, biting his bottom or having odd stools or anything. I've just never been aware of him shedding so much in the past. His coat seems fuller than it's ever been in the past so how is what is happening blowing his coat? You'd think his coat would look sparse if he were shedding.

What does everybody think is going on? Do you all find tiny, fine hairs where your Yorkies lay on your furniture or bed?

[Ellie May]

I'd run this by the vet. It is not normal for adult Yorkies. They might want to check his thyroid/endocrine system and consider allergies.

Dog hair does grow in cycles, but Yorkie hair should not fall out to that extent. I'd be thinking allergies.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I'd run this by the vet. It is not normal for adult Yorkies. They might want to check his thyroid/endocrine system and consider allergies.

Dog hair does grow in cycles, but Yorkie hair should not fall out to that extent. I'd be thinking allergies.

Do you think he should he have a thyroid test and what else?

[KazzyK810]

I find a few hairs on surfaces where ZoE regularly sleeps. Sometimes there are more than others. I think they are like us in their hair growing cycle. It's normal for us humans to lose 50 to 100 hairs per day, so I'd assume it's the same for our "non-shedding" pups.

[yorkietalkjilly]

I just don't know what's going on with these stray hairs unless it is thyroid. And his coat is quite thick and full now, fuller than it's ever been. The ends of his gray hairs are now tannish and he has an overall golden color look. He's gained about a pound in the last year and a half from 5.3 to 6.3 to 6.6 and back to 6.3 lbs. But I can see a stray hair or hairs sticking up on the couch throw or back of the couch all the time and frequently vacuum the couch, the throw, pillows, washing and changing them out and brush him and am always running the Swiffer thing over the floors. It's getting old now - but I never thought he could have a thyroid or endocrine issue!!! It's not like regular shedding where the dog gets up and there are a pool of hairs where he was or the floor is covered in hair where the dog has been playing but it's far more hair than any of my Yorkies ever left around on furniture.

[chachi]

My Jewels did that she got to look like a golden yprkie on the body then the gray ended up back in it

[sandy simpson]

Any concerns i would call the vet. Excessive shedding sounds like that needs to be addresses. Poor tibbe does not need that. Using a hypo allergenic shampoo and conditioner. In a y grasses lately. New food or treats. I love that little tibbe in the pic5ure and hope this clears up

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by sandy simpson

Any concerns i would call the vet. Excessive shedding sounds like that needs to be addresses. Poor tibbe does not need that. Using a hypo allergenic shampoo and conditioner. In a y grasses lately. New food or treats. I love that little tibbe in the pic5ure and hope this clears up

Yes, he goes out in the grass several times a day and maybe the scratching started when things began growing again??? I can't remember for sure but he stopped all those awful bumps and itching he had last September/October. I use a Rx shampoo his vet gave me when he had bumps on his back last fall, together with itching, called Hexaclor or something like that for his body, neck and legs and a generic type dog tearless shampoo for his head and face so I don't get that Rx shampoo in his eyes. I don't use conditioner as he doesn't seem to need it as he doesn't have dry hair, skin or split ends. His food has been the same since last year and his treats are made from it. I have noticed his pawpads seem dryish lately whereas usually they are warm and soft feeling.

He's got twice as much hair as he had in that avatar picture now, it seems, and he's a pound heavier. I'm going to get him in to see the vet this week and get a thyroid test and whatever else and see if we can find out what's causing these stray hairs on the furniture. I hope he's not sick - no thyroid tumor or anything like that.