මේරි ඇලන්
The hair coat is different in dogs depending on the breed or breed parts. This affects the structure, density, and length as well as the undercoat. Some dogs, mostly from warmer regions, have no undercoat at all. However, it is a misconception that four-legged friends with a dense undercoat are better protected from the cold but not from the heat because the texture and density change with the seasons and always have an insulating effect.
Undercoat and Top Coat
Dog hair grows from the smallest openings in the skin. In dogs with undercoats, hair of different consistency grows out of the same opening – the longer topcoat and the shorter, finer undercoat. The topcoat with the firmer structure protects against injuries, among other things, the woolier undercoat provides the insulating effect against cold and heat, offers protection against moisture due to the sebum production of the skin, and is also dirt-repellent to a certain extent. Dogs with little or no undercoat, therefore, tend not to like going for walks in cool water or in the rain and often need protection from the cold in winter. In summer, dogs left to their own devices in southern climes prefer to doze off in sheltered, shady places; they are only active in the cooler morning and evening hours or at night.
Change of Fur – the Hair Coat Adapts to the Seasons
The dog registers the seasonal changes in day and night length via the pineal gland and controls the biorhythm accordingly, but also gives the organism the signal to prepare for the warmer or colder season. Successively rising or falling temperatures also contribute to this. As a result, the undercoat thickens in the autumn months, while the topcoat becomes thinner. In the spring, the reverse process takes place. In winter, the undercoat ensures that the body does not cool down, in summer the more airy, insulating consistency protects against overheating.
However, this does not mean that you can expose your dog to excessive heat without hesitation, because, unlike humans, it does not sweat through the skin, which has a cooling effect but has only a few sweat glands and pant to regulate the temperature. This is accompanied by a loss of moisture and the cooling effect that panting has on the brain, primarily through nasal secretions, is limited. The undercoat, therefore, offers a certain amount of protection against overheating from the summer heat, but you should nevertheless stop activities in higher temperatures and give your dog a place in the shade in addition to sufficient fresh water.
Brush, Trim, Shear
Coat care is particularly important during the change of coat, but also regularly in between. It contributes significantly to the fact that the coat can fulfill its tasks properly. Some dog breeds are said to not shed. It is true that these leave less fur in the area. Instead, the hair that falls out gets stuck in the fur. The purpose of brushing or trimming is to remove them so that skin function is not affected. Otherwise, germs can settle here, the skin can no longer breathe and is also blocked by its own sebum production. This can cause itching and inflammation.
Shearing is common in some dog breeds. The dense, often wavy, or curly structure and the length of the coat prevent loose hair from falling off and it is often difficult to remove it even with brushes during the change of hair. Shearing results in a shortening, grooming is easier, and the skin also benefits. With correct clipping, however, a certain hair length is always maintained so that the undercoat and topcoat can still fulfill their tasks and retain their natural protective function.
Be Careful with the Short Hairstyle
If the undercoat is clipped short, the organism and the skin are no longer adequately protected from heat, cold, moisture, and other environmental influences. For example, you would not be doing your Bernese Mountain Dog or Yorkshire Terrier any favors by clipping their fur as short as possible in the warmer months, you would actually have the opposite effect. Since the topcoat is not in the growth phase in the summer months, but the undercoat becomes fuller again in autumn, it can become longer than the topcoat, which leads to a fluffy coat structure. Tangles are encouraged and skin diseases are not uncommon after such a radical summer clip.
On the other hand, if you brush your dog regularly outside of the molting period, this promotes blood circulation in the skin, dead skin cells and loose hair are removed, the skin is better ventilated and can breathe and the undercoat retains its protective, insulating effect. Therefore, brushing is a wellness program that should not be underestimated, even for short-haired dogs with little or no undercoat.