Generally, the persons who are willing to adopt a Pitbull feel eager to know whether it discards a lot or not. It is a vital step before selecting a dog breed as a pet.
So if you ask, does Pitbull shed? The answer will be yes.
But, before starting the discussion about the dropping frequency of Pitbull, we need to remember, they are not an individual dog breed. It is more like an umbrella term that gathers a lot of other breeds under it.
Generally, bulldogs and terriers fall under this category. So there is more than one individual type of dog when it comes to the Pitbull breed. And usually, all of them are minimum sheds.
Do pitbull shed a lot?
No, they do not shed a lot, but Pitbulls tend to shed more frequently than other single-coated canines. The type of dog that generally comes to be known as Pitbulls often surprises the adopter by its shedding frequency.
After bringing them home, most Pitbull owners find their adobes full of dog hair all over the year.
All dogs shed, and Pitbulls are no different. Still, even after being single-coated dogs, Pitbulls naturally shed more frequently than most other single-coated canines.
Still, Pitbulls comes with another advantage. Even though they do shed, their coats are tiny.
So it is easier for the pet owners to clean the house. Also, having short furs comes with a bonus point of less need for grooming.
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So now, when you become aware of the shedding characteristic of a Pitbull, the one question that comes to your mind is how much fur do they shed naturally? More importantly, is the shedding amount easily manageable by you? So let us dig into the matter and take a look at the information.
While most dogs shed their fur or hair seasonally, Pitbulls shed their fur minimally throughout the year, and especially a bit more in shedding season. So, the shedding amount is easily manageable even by a novice pet owner.
The reason behind their minimal shedding is their single-coat attribute.
Having single-coats come with an advantage, and that is they do not have any undercoat to shed.
So the pet parent of the Pitbull only needs to deal with almost the same amount of dog fur all year and a little more in shedding season (if they have any).
Even though every variant of Pitbull sheds minimally, sometimes it appears one sheds more than others.
This visual difference occurs due to various reasons, but mainly for the color of the coats.
If a light-colored Pitbull drops its fur against a dark backdrop, it naturally appears more than typical and vice versa.
But, if your Pitbull sheds unusually, this might indicate an underlying health issue. It can happen for countless reasons, and if it does, immediately seek medical help for early recovery.
So, to sum up, every variant of Pitbull falls in the category of minimal shedding mongrels.
You can easily manage it only through regular grooming.
But if your Pitbull sheds more than usual, then it is always important to follow your vet’s advice. Often excessive shedding shows some common symptoms.
If you notice your lovable Pit friend is scratching a lot lately, grows bald patches here and there, or gets skin inflammation, immediately head to the nearest pet clinic.
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Why does my pitbull shed so much?
Pitbulls shed minimally but more frequently than most other single-coated mongrels. Even though the shedding is not much, its frequency can appear much to some Pitbull parents.
Even though all Pitties shed almost throughout the year, fortunately, some Pitbulls do not feature the seasonal shedding characteristic. There are some terriers and bulldogs that shed the worst during late winter to early spring.
As we always say, owning a canine always comes with the hassle of shedding, but the amount varies. As a pet owner, you need to adjust to the shedding, and there is no way around it.
Still, the shedding frequency and dropping amount matter while owning a dog.
Even though Pitbulls do not shed much typically, sometimes it gets harder to manage the dropping. Still, through some home remedies, you can reduce the amount. If there is excessive shedding, ask for medical help instantly.
So, if you ask why your Pitbull sheds so much, we will tell you first you need to understand how much is too much.
Since they shed a bit more than usual in mating season starting from late fall to early spring, pet owners can mistake this minor issue as a severe health problem.
But if you ignore your cute Pitbull’s extreme hair fall issue, the problem can take a severe turn.
So, here we have shared the correct information about how much shedding is natural for a Pitbull and what probable causes trigger excessive shedding.
The fact is there is no settled answer for the question of how much is too much. Since all Pitbulls are different, there is no fixed amount of hair fall for all the canines.
Still, when you take care of a dog starting from the puppy phase, you are probably aware of its usual shedding amount.
So, if you notice a sudden upscale in the amount of dropped fur, then it is something unusual. If your Pitbull starts shedding more out of the blue, it can flag some underlying disease of your loving dog.
If this is the case, you need to look for other symptoms like skin irritation, excessive licking, or frequent bald patches in the body of your Pitbull.
Also, if you notice sores over the body of your Pitbull, then immediately take it to the vet.
As unusual shedding signs off some underlying health issues, only a medical professional can help your Pitbull in this case. Below are some possible causes that trigger your affectionate Pitbull companion to shed much.
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Allergies can become severe
We know Pitbulls come with the characteristic of single-coated fur, which usually sheds throughout the year to maintain their sleek, shiny hairs. Generally, the shedding amount is minimal, and it increases, especially during the seasons.
But the scenario can worsen if your Pitbull gets allergies.
It is sad but true that every variant of Pitbull is generally prone to allergy.
Most of them can have allergy atopy, which is nothing but an immune system disorder. It triggers the mongrels to become prone to develop skin allergies quickly.
If your Pitbull catches an allergy, the primary sign it flags is excessive shedding, and then it shows other symptoms gradually.
So, if you notice a shedding issue in your Pitbull, check out whether it shows other signs like itchiness, inflammation on the skin, diarrhea, poor indigestion, sneeze, cough, runny nose, swollen ears, or puffy eyes.
If you notice any of these symptoms coupled with extreme shedding, then chances are your Pitbull has grown skin allergy.
Even though some home remedies you can find online, those will only provide brief reliefs to your Pitbull. An allergy-affected Pitbull badly needs proper medical help.
Skin irritation can trigger over-shedding
If your Pitbull grows itchy red spots all over the body, that does not always mean the dog has allergies. A red area on the body of your Pitbull can also be a symptom of irritant skin which triggers excessive shedding in the case of a Pitbull.
Canines develop skin irritation mainly from insect bites. As Pitbulls have short coats, it does not provide them much protection against insect bitings.
Most insect bites develop irritant skin that causes excessive shedding.
Often some toxic plants like poison ivy, oak can aid Pitbulls growing irritation on their skin.
If your garden has shrubs like mulberry, sago palms, oleander, chances are these can cause allergic reactions in your Pitbull.
Even some fungal and bacterial infections can cause skin irritation that develops patchy spots on your Pitbull.
These itchy spots also trigger excessive shedding.
Even though most of these tropical skin irritants naturally vanish, medical help can reduce the time course. The prescribed medications can also fix the problem of excessive shedding in the case of your Pitbull.
Mongrels also have hormonal issues
All these can happen because of the hormonal changes that take place in time.
In the case of a human being, when puberty hits, their skin breaks badly due to fluctuating oil production in the skin. But for Pitbulls, hormonal changes trigger excessive shedding.
During the postpartum period, or the time of pregnancy, the hormonal changes in Pitbulls cause them to over shed.
Similarly, recently spayed or neutered Pitbulls often experience a hormonal imbalance in their system that causes them to over-shed. It happens because the animal takes time to adjust to the sudden changes of hormones in its system.
Your dog also needs some moisturization
Excessive dry and flaky skin can grow itchy, bald patches on the body of your lovable Pitbulls.
This phenomenon leads to extra strands of dog hair floating in the house.
Frequent bathing or shampooing your Pitbull can strip the natural oil from the skin and make it dry.
If you shampoo them too often, the dog’s skin will ultimately lose its ability to rebuild the oil.
So to maintain proper lubrication in the skin of your elegant Pitbull, it is suggested to wash them not more than once a month or only if they are dirty and stinky. Your Pitbull can develop dry skin due to multiple reasons, like season change, drop in humidity.
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Poor diet triggers hair fall
A healthy diet aids your Pitbull to maintain the shiny coat with no unusual shedding. A consistent, well-balanced diet results in a shiny coat with minimal shedding.
If your Pitbull is shedding abnormally, think whether you brought any change in its diet.
Even if you introduce it to a new food, the dog can shed excessively. So, vets always suggest providing the new and old treat alternatively to the Pitbull to reduce the stress.
Pitbulls require more protein and fat to maintain an elegant and shiny coat.
If you notice any unusual shedding from your dog, chances are its diet does not consist of the required amount of proteins, minerals, and nutrients.
Your Pitbull can shed out the anxiety
A Pitbull can get anxious for various reasons! Shocking but true, anxiety often gets neglected that triggers heavy shedding in the case of a Pitbull.
Dogs can get stressed even due to some trivial matters.
Asking them to behave appropriately, meeting any strangers, change of environment, any of these can make them anxious and stressed, and leads to excessive shedding.
Is it normal for Pitbulls to shed a lot?
No, it is not normal for Pitbulls to shed much, as they feature minimum dropping attributes. In general cases, they do not shed much, but you will experience shedding all over the year. Even though some Pitbulls have their couple of shedding seasons in a year, starting from late fall to early spring, the situation never gets out of hand.
Through regular grooming sessions, a healthy diet, and timely medical checkups, you can reduce the amount of shedding to the least. So, if your Pitbull molts badly and grows even bald patches on the skin, do not delay calling for medical help.
How much do pitbull shed?
Generally, all Pitbulls shed regularly over the year, but the amount typically does not cross the limit of minimal shedding. That is why pet owners consider Pitbulls as minimum shedding dogs on average. As Pitbulls have tiny, sleek fur over their body, even if they shed, the hairs are barely visible compared to other long-haired dog breeds.
Although these single-coated dogs with short fur shed minimally throughout the year, some individuals shed heavily once or twice a year.
These Pitbulls need to drop their seasonal hair to maintain the elegance in their coat.
Surprisingly Pitbulls shed badly during the shedding season despite not having an insulating undercoat. But if you notice any unusualness in the shedding amount or frequency, it is vital to seek medical care immediately.
How do I stop my pitbull from shedding?
No matter how much you try, there will still be some shedding.
But, once you identify your Pitbull is suffering from the health issue of over-shedding, only an appropriate medical treatment can improve the situation.
Still, you can try some tricks to reduce the amount of shedding of your Pitbull. Below are some steps that can be effective for the unusual shedding of your Pitbull.
Brush your Pitbull regularly
Consistent brushing with a proper comb is hands-down the ultimate way to lessen shedding and improve the coat of a Pitbull.
Having a Pitbull is hassle-free because it is a low-maintenance canine. Typically they do not need regular brushing. But if they shed badly, brushing with a quality comb can improve the condition.
As brushing removes the old or damaged fur, once-a-week brushing can be helpful to the Pitbull to maintain their elegant coat.
If the shedding amount does not improve, increase the frequency of brushing to even twice a day. Brushing distributes the natural oil all over the skin of Pitbull evenly.
Bath them wisely
As Pitbulls generally love bath time and washing them helps remove extra fur, giving them occasional baths would be a vital step towards reducing extreme shedding.
Pitbulls with typical shedding amounts require a bath only once a month or two.
But, if your pet is suffering from a shedding issue, vets generally suggest bathing them at least once a month or more often.
While offering them frequent bathing, choose a mild shampoo or soap that does not strip the natural oil from their skin. If you do not feel that much confidence, you can rinse your Pitbull with water.
Keep them moisturized
Excessive dryness can cause itching and flaky skin in your Pitbull that will lead to shedding even more. So, like us, their skin also needs to stay moisturized throughout the day.
You will find countless creams, lotions, potions at an affordable price to prevent the dryness in the skin of your Pitbull.
Vets often suggest using coconut oil to keep the Pitbull coat elegant, shiny, and healthy. The anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of this oil also prevent skin irritation in Pitbulls.
They need to be healthy and hydrated from the inside
Lastly, but most importantly, cure the problem of the inside. Poor diet and inadequate hydration can lead to extreme shedding in the case of a Pitbull.
So if you are noticing any unusualness, change their diet.
Your vet can help in this while suggesting what you should include and what you can eliminate.
Generally, grainy foods along with animal proteins can do wonders in reducing excessive dropping.
Also, your loving pet needs to stay hydrated. It is a medical professional who can tell you the exact amount of water the Pitbull needs daily.
Still, there is a general rule you can follow.
Pitbulls typically need almost an ounce of water per pound of their body weight. But, the amount can vary depending on several factors.
Remember, while Pitbulls shed their seasonal coat, the amount increases. So, do not mistake that as unusual shedding. Also, if you notice any abnormality in your pet, immediately head to a local pet clinic.
Do Pitbulls have a shedding season?
Yes, some variants of Pitbulls do shed seasonal coats, while others do not. As said earlier, Pitbulls breed consists of different variants of dogs with all the diverse attributes. So it is hard to set a definite answer that can apply to all of them. When it comes to shedding, some Pitbulls differ from others.
Generally, all Pitbulls discard the same amount throughout the year, and they do not need to shed their seasonal coat, as they are single-coated.
But some variants of Pitbulls do have their couple of shedding seasons that start from late fall to early winter and late winter to early spring.
When do Pitbulls shed more: summer or winter?
Even though Pitbulls shed their coats throughout the year, you can notice an upscale in the amount of shedding either from late winter to early spring or from late fall to early winter. As we have mentioned earlier, Pitbulls are single-coated dogs that shed almost minimally all over the year.
While a few Pitbulls do not need to experience seasonal shedding, mostly others drop their seasonal fur. If your Pitbull drops its seasonal coat, the condition worsens two times in the year.
The pups shed badly from late fall to early winter and when spring comes. If you are an owner of a Pitbull, chances are your house will get full of dog hair, especially during this time.
Wrapping it up
Hopefully, now you know what amount of shedding you can expect from your Pitbull and when you need to get concerned about the situation.
If your Pitbull sheds unusually, you can follow the tricks we shared. Still, seeking medical help is the primary thing you need to do.
Hi There, AJ Oren here. I am the founder of this amazing pet blog & a passionate writer who loves helping pet owners to learn more about their pets through my articles. I am also the content manager of this blog. I have experience in pet training and behavior, sheltering, and currently working for a veterinary clinic.