A husky losing hair is completely normal and part of shedding, but if they lose hair excessively, leading to bald spots or thin patches, something is wrong.
Always consult your veterinarian if you are concerned about your husky’s hair loss. They can determine the cause and prepare a treatment plan to restore your husky’s hair.
This guide will go through what to expect from normal husky hair loss (regular shedding and coat blowing) and some conditions that can cause excessive hair loss and the symptoms.
Let’s get right into it.
Contents
How Much Hair Huskies Do Lose Normally Through Shedding?
Knowing how much hair your husky should be losing normally is important so you don’t become worried for no reason.
The truth is, huskies shed a lot, thanks to their thick double coats.
They shed even more when blowing coat (more on that later).
They start shedding excessively around 10 to 14 months as they transition from puppy coats to adult coats. After this, you can expect them to shed quite a lot daily, with their fur quickly covering just about every surface they touch.
Coat Blowing
Huskies blow their coats twice per year on average.
This happens when they transition to and from their summer coat, and during this process, they will shed lots of hair from their undercoat.
New owners can easily mistake this for a health-related problem causing excessive hair loss, but it’s normal seasonal shedding.
If your husky starts to shed excessively before the summer – usually for up to a week or two – then don’t worry. Just make sure you keep up with grooming using the right tools, and they should be fine.
How To Know If Husky Hair Loss Is Normal Or Not
It’s normal for huskies to shed a lot year-round, so how can you tell if there is an issue?
The most significant indicator is if the hair loss is not uniform and the condition of the coat is changing. Your husky should maintain a thick, shiny coat year-round with no bald spots.
If the coat suddenly becomes much thinner in certain areas, or if the skin beneath looks irritated, something is wrong, and you should contact your veterinarian.
With any problems relating to hair loss, there will always be other symptoms as well that might not always be related to the coat. For example, if your husky is more tired than usual or suffering from stomach issues like diarrhea.
Health Problems That Can Lead To Hair Loss
In the list below, you’ll find some examples of health issues that can cause huskies to lose hair.
Some of these are more common than others, and if you suspect that your husky is suffering from a health condition causing them to lose hair, always speak to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Bacteria And Fungal Infections
Fur loss in huskies is often linked to a skin infection.
Bacteria, fungi, or yeast can cause skin infections, leading to hair loss primarily, as well as flaky and irritated skin.
Allergies
Allergies can cause huskies to lose hair, and flea bites most often trigger these.
Huskies can also have allergic reactions to environmental triggers like pollen, and they are quite easy to notice as your husky will start licking or biting at one area in particular excessively.
Cushing’s Disease
Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism) is when a dog produces too much cortisol, which is one of the body’s natural steroids.
Excess cortisol weakens the immune system, leading to increased thirst and appetite, as well as hair loss and fragile skin.
Fortunately, huskies are not at a high risk of Cushing’s, and it’s more commonly found in breeds such as poodles and boxers.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition that huskies are prone to, where the body doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone.
Hypothyroidism can lead to dry skin and coat, as well as hair loss, weight gain, behavioral changes, and more.
Shaving
Huskies can suffer from post-clipping alopecia, which is when they struggle to re-grow hair after being shaved.
This is one of many reasons why we strongly recommend never shaving your husky unless instructed to do so by a veterinarian.
It’s a common mistake that we see a lot of husky owners make, as they think that shaving their coats will help them to stay cool in warm climates, but this is not the case.
The short, wooly layer of the double coat traps cold air against the skin, which helps keep your husky cool. Shaving stops this mechanism from working and can make it more difficult for your husky to cope with warm temperatures.
How Do You Treat Hair Loss In Huskies?
Although there are natural home remedies for hair loss in huskies, you should always speak to your veterinarian before you do anything.
They can determine the problem (if there is one at all) and prepare a plan of action to deal with the issue.
From there, hair loss is typically treated with drugs, and lifelong treatment is often needed.
In Summary
It can be challenging to know whether your husky is just shedding like usual or is losing excessive hair due to a medical condition.
If you notice significant hair loss in small areas or if their fur is starting to thin out even more than it does during coat blowing, they are likely suffering from an underlying condition.
You should also look for other symptoms like dry skin or rashes, as these can be present if a medical condition is to blame.
If you aren’t sure what is causing your husky to lose so much hair, it’s always a good idea to speak to your veterinarian to get to the cause of the problem.
