Boston Terrier Shedding Issues & Tips
Every dog owner's dilemma will always be about the dreaded shedding. For one, it's pretty tiresome to consistently sweep your furry friends' dog coat all over the floor. Secondly, it's also a risk for you and your kids' health especially that it can cause allergies. Luckily, Boston Terriers shedding isn't much of a problem.
Boston Terrier Shedding Issues & Tips
The American Gentleman, as what they are usually called, is a low shedding dog and isn't very high maintenance. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), three out of 10 people will have allergic reactions to their pets. Alongside this, an estimated seven out of 10 kids have a high probability of acquiring allergies if both of their parents have one in the first place.
However, this doesn't guarantee that kids with parents that have no allergies can be safe from this. More often than not, pet allergies usually stem from exposure to dander. Dander is known as the dandruff of dogs and which your Boston Terrier has as well. Whenever this gentleman sheds its fur, these dander is also released in the air and can stick in the clothes of your kids or with the air they breathe.
The good news is, Boston Terriers are a low-shedding dog breed so grooming them is pretty easy and the risk of dander is also low. This does not mean that Boston Terriers are hypoallergenic by nature. There's just a low risk for pet allergies because of their single coat.
Here are some tips on managing their shedding issues no matter how low maintenance they may be
1. FIX THEIR DIET
One of the best ways to manage Boston Terrier shedding is to manage their diet. You would be surprised how much the food they eat can impact how much their fur sheds.
To make sure that they shed as little as possible their diet should be filled with protein and have an abundance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. These acids keep their skin healthy, like how eating certain foods can help your hair and skin.
In addition to making sure that they have all the nutrients, you should also make sure that their diet is consistent. You shouldn’t change it from day to day.
If your dog isn’t getting enough nutrients from their food, then you can always get supplements to feed them as well. This ensures that they are still happy and healthy.
You should also make sure that they have plenty of clean water available so that they can stay hydrated during the day as well. Staying hydrated will also help control their shedding.
2. BRUSH AND BATHE THEM
It’s incredibly important to brush your dog’s hair every day. This will help remove hair that is about to fall off before it gets all over your living room or on your new couch.
Not only will it keep them from shedding a lot, but it will also be a good bonding opportunity for you and your furry friend. The brushing session shouldn’t take longer than five minutes, so it’s an easy thing to incorporate into your daily schedule.
To make sure that you are getting the most out of brushing your dog, you should make sure that you have chosen a good brush. Most owners recommend using a brush that has rubber bristles. The hair will stick to the rubber making sure that you get it all before it falls off your pet as they wander around your home.
In addition to brushing them, you should also give them baths. Dogs can get into all kinds of things, so they probably need a bath anyway.
But by doing this every week or every other week, you are loosening up some of the extra fur so that it falls out during the bath.
3. UNDERSTAND HAIR CYCLES
You may not realize it, but your hair goes through cycles which is why you’re not too concerned when some of your hair falls out.
Well, your Boston Terrier’s coat goes through some of the same cycles.
The first phase is known as anagen. This is the phase where the hair first starts initially growing.
The second phase is known as catagen. This is the phase where the hair starts to shed and fall out. This happens after the hair has grown to the length that is standard for the dog breed, thanks to genetics.
Telogen is the final phase where the hair isn’t growing at all. However, this stage doesn’t occur as frequently as the other two. Most of the time your dog’s hair is growing, which means that it is shedding.
Understanding these cycles helps you realize that your dog’s shedding is going to fluctuate. There may be periods of time where they don’t shed as much and times where they shed even more.
Other factors can contribute to this as well. For example, it can be determined by how much sunlight they get. It can also change with the weather. Pet owners have said that during springtime, their dog’s shedding becomes an even bigger problem.
These cycles can also change if your pet is sick. It will also change as they get older, so try not to be upset with them because they can’t control it.
If you still think your Boston Terrier is losing too much hair than is normal, or if their coat doesn’t look as healthy, you should take them to go see their veterinarian.
4. SEE A PROFESSIONAL GROOMER
Before you take a trip to the vet, you may want to stop in to see a professional groomer.
Brushing your pet every day is important, but so is getting their haircut. These people are trained to know how to make your pet look adorable, so it may be best to leave the styling to them.
Your pet should be groomed every month or so which also helps with shedding. All their pet hair will be left at the salon where you don’t have to worry about it.
A professional groomer can also give your Boston Terrier a bath if you’re not up for the challenge.
5. USE AIR FILTERS
You’ll never be able to stop your pet from getting at least a little bit of hair around the house, so you may have to do some clean up on your own.
Getting a good air filter can help reduce allergies. When your dog sheds, the dander that’s in them spread into the air, which you then breathe in.
However, if you are using an air filter, the dander will get circulated into that so that you’re not breathing it into your lungs every day. You can install them through your air conditioning and heating system, but you can also buy standalone filters.
Once you install the air filter, you should also remember to change it every month or two to make sure that it is still filtering the air you’re breathing.
6. VACUUM
An air filter won’t be able to clean up everything, so you will need to make sure that you have a good vacuum.
There are all kinds of different vacuums to help you clean up your pet’s hair, so just make sure you do your research before you buy one.
Boston Terriers are generally lively and playful dogs to be with. Shedding problems is just a normal aspect to deal with once you have them with you but you'll definitely be able to manage them. Want to learn more about this lovable breed? Here's the Boston Terrier 101 guide that details everything you need to know about them.