Chihuahua Fur Issues

There is no difference between these types of Chihuahuas beside the length of the fur. They will have the same temperament, health issues, feeding requirements, etc.

Fur issues can happen to either type of Chihuahua; however with a long haired Chihuahua it may be more noticeable.

You will want to use gentle shampoos and canine conditioners during this time. The skin will be sensitive and not as protected. Soft baby blankets can be used to offer a comfortable padding for a Chihuahua to rest upon.

By the age of 1 year old, give or take a couple of months, a Chihuahua will have his or her adult coat. During this process, there may be a color change. It is not uncommon for the adult coat to be lighter or darker. In addition, sabling may increase or decrease and markings may fade into the coat or grow in more.

There may be times beside the puppy stage when your Chihuahua 's hair is falling out. Healthy males will not have shedding issues that are very noticeable. Females, however, may have heavy sheds due to hormonal changes that take place during heat cycles.

There are many medical diseases and issues that can cause hair loss for a Chihuahua and this is referred to as Alopecia. Medical issues usually involve skin problems that in turn cause hair loss. Skin may appear dry, red, irritated or a rash may be visible.

Some of the reasons for this include:   

There are 3 remedies that can help bring back a coat. Please keep in mind that the first 2 rarely work on their own. If used, they are most effective when used in conjunction with the third grouping of treatment. 

1.Melatonin. This is safe for dogs (in moderate quantities) and is part of an encompassing plan to prompt fur to grow back in. This can make a dog feel sleepy or drowsy, so you'll want to discuss this with your vet first. Dosing is 1 mg per day for 4 to 8 pound Chihuahuas. Melatonin manufactured for human consumption is often of a higher quality than that made for canines and for this reason, is recommended. 

2. Omega 3, 6, 9. This supplement plays a role in maintaining and restoring healthy skin and coat. 

3. Restorative coat/bath products. The DerMagic line of products works very well if you are willing to put in the effort. You will want to use the rescue lotion twice daily for the 1st week; this is massaged into any thinning or balding spots for at least 5 minutes. Then, starting at week #2 and moving forward until the coat is back to normal, massage once per day. 

Along with this, bath your Chihuahua every two weeks, using both DerMagic shampoo and conditioner. Do not blow dry. Use a towel to blot and allow to air dry. 

You should see improvement after 4 weeks and many Chihuahuas have a full coat after 2 months. If this does indeed work for your Chi, you may need to routinely use these products to keep the fur from falling out again. 

Q: Do you have any suggestions for controlling the shedding on my short hair Chihuahua? The vet gave me a fat to put in the dog food but it did not help. ~ Owner:Lisa, Chihuahua: Buster.

A: Hi Lisa. If your Chihuahua's veterinarian performed a full evaluation for medical causes such as: allergies, parasites and other and your Chi is still shedding more than normal, there are some things that you can do. If your have been assured that your Chihuahua is healthy, there are 3 elements to take a look at.

1) Your Chihuahua's dog food. A low quality food will not give your Chi enough of the needed vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Therefore, even with the extra fat supplements given by the vet, fur retention and shedding issues can be very affected by low quality food. Be sure to ignore the generic dog food in the supermarket. 

2)  Baths. Some owners, in an attempt to keep their Chihuahua very clean do not realize that too many baths can cause a Chihuahua's skin to dry out. This can then, in turn, cause fur to fall out. Keep baths to once every 3 weeks, unless needed otherwise. 

The other element about baths is that if the correct shampoo is not used, the skin of the Chihuahua can quickly become dry and cause fur loss.

Keep in mind that when a dog's skin is dry, you may not notice. The clearest sign is when a dog scratches, but some will not do this and it will be your job to make sure the skin stays soft and healthy.

It is extremely important to never use human shampoo or a cheap generic brand. Only a gentle canine shampoo should be used.

3)  Grooming. While short haired Chihuahuas may not look as if they need a brushing every day, they do. And for those with long haired Chi's, brushing is important to keep the coat free of tangles. It is suggested to brush your Chi every morning. 

It should be part of a daily routine that is done along with dental care, exercise and other tasks. All Buster needs is a quick 5 minute brush each day to groom through and pick up the loose hair. This also helps to keep the skin healthy by stimulating the natural oils of the skin.