Being the smallest of all dogs, with an apple-shaped skull and a soft, fine fur coat, this fine-haired Chihuahua breed is found in a variety of colors, from light brown to black. Being a cute and compact dog, the adult measures 15-23 cm and weighs between 1,8 and 2,7-kg.
Dogs shed small amounts throughout the year, but they may lose a larger amount of hair in spring and autumn. The long fur of dogs can fall as tufts. A regular brush will help prevent this. If brushed regularly, a Chihuahua should not need a bath more than once a month or once every two months. Use a shampoo with a special formula for dogs, so as to prevent dry fur and skin.
You might also like my articles on whether other breeds, like wolfhounds, chow chows, or bull terriers shed.
These little pups can have two different types of fur: smooth and long. The smooth coat is glossy, stretched on the body, with thicker and longer hair on the neck. The hair on the head and ears is thinner and the tail is bushy.
Chihuahuas that have long fur, have it soft and straight or slightly wavy. On the body, it is almost as smooth as that of a smooth-haired Chihuahua, but the ears have fringed hair, and the vertical tail extends like a fan over the back.
The dog also has a collar of hair around the neck and long hair on the legs. The back legs are also covered with long hair that resembles pants. On the stomach the hair is longer, known as “adornment”. Besides the fact that Chihuahuas are of two types, depending on the appearance of the fur, they can be of several colors. Colors can be strong like black, white, silver, chocolate, gray, and silver, as well as tricolor, for example, chocolate, black or blue with gold and white, striped, stained, and with a variety of other patterns. The spots can range from very pale to very dark in all colors.
Is chihuahua shedding manageable?
Grooming is not particularly demanding in the case of a Chihuahua. Its fine fur variety can be groomed periodically using a rubber comb/brush. Chihuahua sheds, but being small, does not lose much hair. It is also a good idea to brush the Chihuahua’s teeth every day because, as with all small breeds, they are prone to the formation of thick tartar.
In addition, females often shed after giving birth, or estrus. You should only worry if your pet is losing its fur constantly and very abundantly, or if it is uneven.
Abundant shedding in a Chihuahua can be due to several reasons. It can be caused by various hormonal or non-hormonal dog diseases. In the case of hormonal loss, fur disorders occur uniformly and independently of the season. It is usually caused by diseases associated with the dysfunction of the endocrine glands.
In addition, the reason for the abundant loss of fur can also be connected to an allergic reaction to animal-like stress, eczema, or fungal diseases. In such cases, hair loss occurs unevenly, losing tufts and becoming “bald” only in certain places.
There are rare cases, but still possible, in which the wrong food is the cause of hair loss.
That is if you notice a non-seasonal, and more abundant or irregular hair loss in your pet, it is recommended to contact your veterinarian immediately to determine the cause of it.
Do short hair chihuahuas shed?
It is not a demanding job for grooming a short hair chihuahua. Fine fur requires good brushing and combing from time to time. Because they are small, the amount of hair is not too large. Brushing their teeth daily is welcomed because this dog is prone to massive tartar deposits.
How can you help with chihuahua shedding?
It is a puppy that can be washed easily and then it’s ready to go. It takes only a few minutes to take care of a Chihuahua and this can be done once a week. Brush it weekly with a rubber brush glove or a short-toothed brush if your dog has short fur and a brush with fixed hairs if the dog has long fur. A comb with fine teeth helps to remove dead hair.
Bathing can be done monthly, but only with a special shampoo for dogs, so as not to dry out the skin and excess fur.
Are chihuahuas hypoallergenic?
Allergic reactions can become dangerous and life-threatening, so choosing the best breed if you have pet allergies can be crucial. Chihuahuas may not be the best choice for people suffering from allergies.
They do not shed too much and lose very little hair, which led some to believe that Chihuahua is hypoallergenic. This is not the case, because while the absence of discarded fur may reduce exposure to dog allergens, a person allergic to dogs would still be allergic to this breed.
Even though no dog is truly hypoallergenic, the best way to find out if you’re allergic to a Chihuahua is to spend some time with one.
During the grooming, check your Chihuahua for various lesions, rashes, or signs of infection, such as redness, tenderness, or inflammation that may occur on the skin, ears, nose, mouth, eyes, and legs. The ears should smell good, have no excess wax or wax plugs inside, and the eyes should be clear, without redness or leakage. Your weekly exam will help you identify potential health problems early.
