A question a lot of us ask ourselves, do French Bulldogs shed?
French Bulldogs are lively, alert dogs and most have a short, single smooth coat. The one exception to this is a brindle French Bulldog. They have a double coat, so they shed more.
All French Bulldog shedding happens twice per year during the spring and fall. During this time, they lose their coat. The rest of the year, Frenchies have minimal shedding.
What Causes French bulldogs to Shed?
There are four common reasons why Frenchies shed. Some of these causes are remedied by lifestyle changes. The others are the natural hair cycle of growing, resting, and shedding phases of the French Bulldog breed.
- Diet – When Frenchies shed on a daily basis, the culprit could be diet. If necessary, try different dog foods to see if the shedding stops. It takes a while to determine which food causes the shedding. Grains, such as wheat and corn, often cause skin allergies that increase shedding.
- Age – As Frenchies age, their body chemistry goes through changes that can cause shedding. Making sure aging Frenchies receive all the nutrients they need to age well helps keep shedding to a minimum.
- Breed – As a breed, French Bulldog shedding is minimal, so it isn’t a non-shedding breed. Frenchie’s blow their coats two times per year.
- Season – French Bulldog shedding seasons are spring and fall. During these seasons, French Bulldogs shed to adjust their body temperature to the weather. Their fur sheds either in tufts or individual hairs.
Other Reasons: Being in Heat
When your female Frenchie goes into heat, she experiences many physical and hormonal changes. The heat cycle itself doesn’t cause shedding, but the physical stress on her body can cause fur loss.
During her heat cycle, if she can’t find a mate, female French Bulldogs get very anxious. Her increased estrogen may also cause hair loss.
Stress
French Bulldogs like their routines. If their everyday schedule changes, it can cause French Bulldog shedding. Also, putting them into stressful situations, such as visiting the vet might result in shedding, especially if the Frenchie is extremely anxious.
To prevent excess shedding during stressful situations, antianxiety medication can be helpful.
Allergies
Several types of allergies result in Frenchie’s fur shedding. These are related to the dog’s genetics, environmental allergies, fleas, dog food, grooming products, household cleaners, and medications. Determining which allergy is resulting in Frenchie’s hair loss, can help find a treatment that stops shedding.
Endocrine Disease
French Bulldogs suffering from thyroid disease or Cushing’s disease can cause fluctuations in normal hormones. The stress of increases or decreases in hormones might cause shedding.
Skin Infections
Most skin infections in French Bulldogs are either fungal or bacterial. French Bulldogs shed when afflicted with these conditions that cause itchy, red skin and often result in hot spots in the infected areas. The fur will fall out as the dog scratches and bites the area.
How much shedding is normal?
Dogs shed for various reasons, including living and health conditions. People often ask, ”Do French Bulldogs shed?” It’s hard to determine the normal amount of shedding. If the Frenchie is in good health, eating nutritious dog food, and being brushed regularly, a little shedding is normal every day.
If the French Bulldog isn’t blowing its coat and is still shedding large amounts of fur, then a visit to the veterinarian is recommended.
What to Do in Case of Excessive Shedding?
If your Frenchie is shedding more than usual, grooming daily will help keep the shedding to a minimum. For French Bulldogs’ short coats, use a natural bristle brush or a de-shedding glove.
Lift the fur with the brush and move it in the opposite direction of the hair growth. This removes dead hair from underneath. Keep brushing until most of the loose fur is removed. Brushing also helps spread natural oils throughout the coat, making it shiny and healthy.
For excessive shedding, repeat this process daily until the fur loss is under control.
How to Take Care of Your Shedding Frenchie?
If your French Bulldog is already shedding excessively or if you want to prevent it before it’s too late, here are some of the best ways you can minimize without much effort
Groom to prevent your french bulldog from shedding
You should groom your Frenchie every four to eight weeks. This depends on if your dog goes outside a lot or is more of a house dog. Regular grooming keeps shedding down.
Bathing Your French Bulldog
Begin your Frenchie grooming with a bath. Use shampoo and conditioner made for dog fur to keep your Frenchie’s coat smooth and shiny.
Wet the dog with warm water and apply shampoo. Work it into the fur. Try not to get any soap in your French Bulldog’s eyes or ears. Make sure to rinse all the soap out thoroughly and apply the conditioner. Rinse again.
Grooming includes cleaning the eye area, especially the large folds around the eyes. This prevents bacteria from growing in the skin folds.
Brushing Your French Bulldog
Since French Bulldogs have short coats, use a soft-bristled brush to remove old or damaged hair. Begin at the head and continue brushing down the coat and across the back. Make sure you brush under the legs and belly.
When you own a French Bulldog, grooming is important to make them feel and look their best. It also prevents excessive French Bulldog shedding.
Ask Your Vet for a Better Shampoo and Conditioner
If you find that regular bathing and grooming aren’t helping your French Bulldog’s shedding problem and coat health, ask your vet for a better shampoo and conditioner. Veterinarians usually offer prescription shampoos and conditioners that clear up skin problems that cause shedding.
Medicated dog shampoo and conditioner relieve skin allergies that make French Bulldogs scratch, chew, and pull out hair.
After using vet-approved shampoo and conditioner, if your French Bulldog still has excessive shedding, try more nutritious food.
Improve your french bulldog diet
Improving your Frenchie’s diet can help with French Bulldog shedding. Consult your vet for a prescription food formulated for skin conditions that cause French Bulldogs to shed.
Look for high-quality, natural ingredients if you’d rather feed your Frenchie nutritional over-the-counter Frenchie food. Read the label and check for any artificial ingredients or flavors.
Limited ingredient French Bulldog food and hypoallergenic foods are the best options if your Frenchie has food allergies that cause dog hair shedding.
