Beagles are one cute breed of dog that can make great family pets. However, one should consider all aspects of a breed before committing to a lifelong partnership with them in your house. One factor that you may want to consider before bringing a beagle into your home, is whether or not they shed, and if so, how much, and what can you do about it if they do shed? So let’s start from the top…. do beagles shed? Dr. Jess answer this and more, in the article below:
Do Beagles Shed?
Yes, beagles do in fact shed their coats and are considered moderate shedders. It is completely healthy for a beagle to shed on a daily basis.
You may even notice that at times when your pet is stressed or anxious, that they may shed more. This is a normal reaction to stress on their body.
It is also natural for your beagle to turn their shedding up a notch during the warmer seasons and become a heavy shedder for the time being, before settling back down to a more moderate amount.
How Much Do Beagles Shed?
Even though Beagles are considered a short-hair breed of dog, beagles do still shed. In fact, they shed a moderate-to-heavy amount for such a short coat, compared to many other short hair breed of dogs.
The reasoning behind this is because beagles have a double coat, an undercoat and an overcoat.
This double coat serves its purpose – it protects the beagle that was once used as a hunting dog, from environmental threats, such as brush and thorns, mud, and water too, as it is both waterproof and weather-resistant.
The second purpose of the beagle’s double coat is that the double layer keeps the beagle’s body warm in the winter in cold climates, climates where the beagle may have been out hunting.
So while today’s beagle’s double coat may seem silly inside your smarthome, the beagle of yesteryear appreciated it’s features immensely.
Are Beagles Hypoallergenic?
No, beagles are not hypoallergenic. Because a beagle sheds so much, and there is a significant amount of fur coming off of their body, they are not considered hypoallergenic by veterinarians.
What You Can Do To Stop the Shedding:
There are a few things that you can do to help with shedding of your beagle.
None of these strategies will fully eliminate your dog from shedding.
In fact, we want your beagle to shed, they are naturally supposed to shed their coat, with new growth coming in in it’s place. It’s only natural and healthy for your beagle to shed. If your beagle isn’t shedding some of it’s coat, then that would be a problem!
One thing that you can do is to have your dog routinely groomed.
Whether this be from a reputable professional dog groomer, or it you decide to do it yourself, grooming your pet’s coat will help some of the shedding coming into contact with your home, your close, and anything else that your dog may come in close contact with.
Grooming can consist of anything from brushing your dog with a coat brush, to bathing your dog, to vacuuming their coat with a grooming vacuum if they’ll let you.
Pet and grooming supply stores have many options of products to help with grooming, especially brushes, some of which are specifically made to help collect hair that would typically fall out due to normal shedding.
Items like the Furminator, are very popular grooming tools that help remove the shedding coat onto a brush before it can collect into your home.
Be careful when using specialty products like deshedding brushes and shampoos, as some of these products can irritate the skin and cause problems if overused or used improperly.
Check with your veterinarian if you are unsure how to use these products or do not know how often to use them.
No matter what route you choose to go, make sure that your pet is not over-groomed. Overgrooming can cause pain, sores, and behavioral problems in your beagle that you do not want.
Can Beagles Shed Too Much?
Yes, there are diseases and disorders in which excessive amounts of shedding or hair loss can be seen in dogs, including beagles.
Some of these conditions include:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- alopecia
- allergies
- mange
- seasonal changes
- skin infections (such as bacterial or fungal)
- poor nutrition
- hormonal imbalances such as Cushing’s Disease (hyperadrenocorticism) and hypothyroidism (thyroid gland does not produce enough of the thyroxine hormone)
When To See A Vet About Shedding / Hair Loss:
You should bring Fido in to see your vet if you have any concerns about their shedding or hair loss. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Although shedding is not a medical emergency, excessive shedding, shedding in certain areas, or other topical abnormalities, can mean that there is something more serious going on under the surface that needs to be examined.
If your beagle is shedding abnormally, in an abnormal pattern, or if they are shedding with a combination of any of the following,
- itching
- redness/swelling/inflammation
- foul odor
- blood/weeping wound
- change in behavior/attitude (such as eating, drinking, sleeping, bathroom, or attitude changes)
…then giving your vet a call is a really good idea.
It is also a good idea to seek medical advice, if you and your pet are experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms at the same time.
Shedding Summary:
Beagles do shed, and they shed a moderate to heavy amount for a short-haired dog breed.
However, there are options for you if you want to lessen the fur balls coming into your house that is produced from your beagle.
One great option is grooming techniques to leave more of your beagle’s coat in the grooming tools, and less on your floors and on your clothes.
No matter what route you chose to help remedy the hairballs in your home’s nooks and crannies, there is always room for concern if you feel that your beagle is shedding too much.
Dogs can shed excessively for many reasons, and some of those reasons may be detrimental to your pet’s health. Therefore, if you have any concern regarding your beagle shedding, contact your local vet for more help.
