Chocho is shedding a lot of the long tail hairs (not under coat). Is this just cause of the heat or something else? Her tail is looking kind of thin... Or at least thinner than I've ever seen it.
Check her thyroid levels. Thinning hair on the tail is a classic case of low thyroid levels, and in my experience, with NKs, even moderately low thyroid levels can cause problems.
It is likely seasonal shedding of the guard coat. I notice that around 2 years old it is very profound and then every 2 years my dogs do a total coat change where all the guard coat and undercoat is replaced at the same time in the spring/summer, and they look like naked rats for a few months. Usually there is a pattern of shedding for mine with a big coat blow once a year, but there seems to be a total change of coat all at once about every 2 years (tail coat and everything). They look amazing once the new hairs and guard coat grow in however. Cho will probably have a stunning tail in a few months.
Thanks for writing that LIndsay! Sage shed a ton of guard coat this year, and I have never noticed that before- he must be just exchanging it all at once like you described. He is 6.
Yep, Ditto on what Lindsay notes. My Shibas do the same thing, and the tail is really skimpy along with it as the chunks have come out. Once the coat returns from full blow out they will look somewhat chubby since it is so thick. Had a vet tell me once that he felt fat on my smaller female and I had to laugh and tell him his fingers were deceiving him due to the under coat (lol).
ChoCho's thyroid was tested when she lived with us, so that's not a concern.
I think you are seeing a combination of downswing in testosterone from when she was spayed, the results of moving from UT to Miami, and typical seasonal shedding. I wouldn't worry about it.
Glad to hear you don't need to worry about the thyroid! It's still worth (everyone) keeping in mind, though, since it seems to be so common in so many NKs these days, which is why I always think of it.
Miyu is kind of going through something similar, except her shed fur gets clumped up again her skin and needs to be combed out instead of just falling out on its own. Both Tetsu and Tikaani are also feel very thin coated right now (though they look fuller due to the diet switch) and their tails are ratty looking. So I wouldn't be too concerned about it
Conker is doing this too, big time. Lots of overcoat dropping off everywhere. It's been really hot (for southern Oregon) though, for longer than normal, so I think that's definitely a big factor in his shedding.
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This year she didn't get so thin so maybe it's like Lindsay said.
I dunno.
I think you are seeing a combination of downswing in testosterone from when she was spayed, the results of moving from UT to Miami, and typical seasonal shedding. I wouldn't worry about it.
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