Any Basset Hound Experts

[Leche]

My first basset hound is 8 months old and has a shedding problem. She is a backyard dog, isn't excessively washed and is brushed a few times a week. She gets excellent food and attention. Currently the temps are in the mid 60's although she has been shedding all winter. I have ferminator brush that pulls piles of hair off. I think I could shed her for hours and get nowhere. I don't think this is normal and the area vets are not very good and like to push medications and give no other recommendations. She is a pure bred from good lines and is tricolored. Beautiful dog. Any recommendations or is this normal.

[FlatFork]

I'm not a basset hound expert but I have had hounds. Try gradually switching the food out to a another kind or brand. If you can afford to feed a good super premium feed buy it, try not to get anything with by-products in it or corn it's just a filler and dogs can have allergies to the corn. A super premium food will cost a buck per pound and even more but it's worth it for me because our 125 pound bloodhound only eats 4 cups of it a day not 8-9 cups like the brands you get at the grocery store, that equals less poop and a healthier pet. This time of year I tend to see a lot more shedding, I try to brush every day and use a undercoat rake as well. Bathe your dog at least once a month. It could be something as simple as changing the food. Hope this helps. Our hound don't miss a thing :001_rolle

[JohnnyKent]

I am an avid hunter and I have had up to twenty beagles at one time. I agree with the above post about changing the dog food and making sure that it is a quality dog food not something like ole roy. Another point is that hounds like beagles and bassets have very thick hair so a certain amount of shedding year around is normal. As long as the shedding is not causing bald spots (this would be caused by a skin condition) and you are giving proper care I would not stress about it too much. Hope this helps, my father and I have been raising beagles for a long time.

[Ru4scuba?]

I have had a French Basset for 9 years. She sheds routinely and all year long. Good food is important for a quality coat, but you should expect a decent amount of shedding year round.

[K9DVM]

Could be normal. Sometimes dogs go through some funky coat transitions while they are going through puppy puberty. The coat is changing from the puppy fluff to a more normal adult coat. If there is no excessive itching and scratching I would allow it to go through an entire shed and regrowth cycle. Endocrine problems such as low thyroid are fairly rare in young dogs but they do occur. Diet can certainly be an issue. Just because a diet may be "premium" doesn't mean that it agrees with your dog. Aside from those extremely general statements, any other speculation is pointless without being able to examine your dog. Best wishes for you and your hound. I wish I could be of more help but the "devil" as they say can be in the details.

[Dubbya]

No hound expert here. I've always had bulldogs of all sorts and they tend to shed twice a year. Once shedding is when the weather warms and the other when it cools. My vet(a very good farm vet) says that it's one coat being replaced by another more well suited for the incoming weather.

Hope that helps.

[Jim]

+3 (or 4) on changing the food, check your bag and see whats in it.

I had a Chessie that did very well on the Lamb and rice but another that did not.

[Leche]

Cool, thanks for the advice guys. I'm chalking up to normal. She is on excellent food and doesn't have any bald spots. Thanks again. Guess I wasn't used to it.