The great Christmas moult has begun...

[Stiff Knees]

...Jake has blown his coat. Big style. Christmas Eve he began to look a bit ginger (he's a black Labrador). Come Christmas Day morning it was coming out in tufts, big ginger tufts. He gets brushed every day, he loves being brushed, he also lives being vacuumed with the upholstery attachment, usually we get a small amount of hair off him, but this type of superfast moult, total and over within 3 days, has only ever happened to him twice before. Each time he has had an infection, a temperature and been a little unwell so has required antibiotics. This time around he had an infection that only became apparent when he had his six monthly blood and urine tests, he showed no symptoms, did not appear unwell in any way. Had we not been having the tests I may never have known. He is very stoic. Anyone else have any experience of a moult as fast and intense as this, and what might gave triggered it? I'm thinking if it is linked to an infection, it might be a useful tool in identifying an infection before any symptoms appear. Mince Pie and a cup of tea to anyone was has read this far. ???

 

[CorvusCorax]

Mine is blowing his coat like nothing normal, been going on for weeks now, I normally put it down to changes in weather. It's usual for it to come out in tufts for his breed.
He did have a pretty bad infection in late October and has had a couple of flare-ups since then.

 

[Stiff Knees]

Possible that it is down to an elevated temperature then maybe? Jake's happened literally overnight. This is not his usual moult pattern at all, usually, he has two moults a year each lasting six months ? so this is unusual for him. I wondered because he was running a temperature, that triggers the moult perhaps? His coat now looks amazing, glossy, even shinier than usual, and hes always pretty shiny, but a bit wirier than before the moult. I also wonder if the antibiotics trigger it, was yours on ABs?

 

[CorvusCorax]

He was on pretty strong ones for a fortnight at the time.
Mine have always blown their coats at any change in temperature. And don't forget the heat will probably be on more at this time of year!

 

[Penny Less]

Stiff Knees, are you sure its not an allergic reaction to having to wear the antlers

 

[Stiff Knees]

Stiff Knees, are you sure its not an allergic reaction to having to wear the antlers

Of course! I knew HHO would provide the answer!! ??

 

[Clodagh]

Stiff Knees, are you sure its not an allergic reaction to having to wear the antlers

Do you see the death rays in his eyes?
Mine are the normal labrador moult pattern, twice a year six months a time. Love that description!

 

[Stiff Knees]

That's his ffs face! ???