Malting is quite common among dog breeds with a long fur coat. This happens when the shedding of the fur exceeds the amount of regeneration of hair. The coat gets thinner and this is when you can call the dog is getting malt. But for the French bulldog, the shedding is lesser than in other dogs. So losing hair or getting malt is rather uncommon among this dog breed.
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Is malting natural among French bulldogs?
Malting is a natural process. Hair has a certain life span. Some old hairs fall every day and some new hairs grow as well. But if you do not find the hair coat of the dog as dense as it used to be then it is malting. However, malting can be seen among some dogs due to several reasons. But it is not a very unusual thing.
When malting of French bulldog is natural?
In the time of season change when the winter gives way to summer, the weather becomes hotter than before. At this point, the need for warmth decreases and the dog’s body becomes ready for the forthcoming summer season.
This is when the coat of the hair thins and hair shedding increases. This is the natural process to keep the body of the dog adjusted to the summer heat. So malting during this period is somehow natural and the owner should not be worried about it. But malting does not mean that the hair will come out in clumps as that will cause the dog to have bald patches on its skin. At that point malting makes the owners worry.
What should you do when your French bulldog is malting?
Malting to an abnormal rate is not a healthy sign and you should contact the veterinarian for this purpose. This can be due to a skin problem that needs proper medication to be cured.
When the problem is not so accurate and you find that it can be handled at home then you can help the dog by brushing its coat regularly. Brushing not only removes the dead hair from the coat but also pores and hair follicles get massaged so they get rejuvenated with fresh blood circulation.
Also, there are shampoos that come with the follicle dilation pore cleaning process. These products will come in handy as they will make the new hair growth regular.
Is malting normal all year?
Shedding to some extent is normal for any dog breed, and so is it for the French bulldogs. All the dogs shed to a moderate amount throughout the year and that is why, when the dog sheds a few hair strands there is nothing to worry about.
But French bulldogs shed a bit too much in some particular time of year. This can be called malting. But this is a seasonal thing and it lessens to normal shedding when summer sets in.
How long do French bulldogs malt?
Malting continues for six to seven weeks. Then it decreases to a moderate and regular amount. Within this period the coat of the dog gets lighter and this is a non-complicated thing. If the dog is showing bald patches and it is also having problems like dandruff then the situation can become serious.
How often do French bulldogs malt?
Usually, French bulldogs malt during the time of season change. This happens twice a year. In the case of the aged dogs, this cycle changes, and the malting increases. This is the symptom that the dog has come to the last stage of its life.
How can I prevent malting in my French bulldog?
As we have already mentioned in this guide, brushing regularly helps in decreasing shedding. Along with that, bathing with medicated shampoo as prescribed by the vet will also help. Bathing should be more than the regular times so the dogs do not suffer from the heat if the approaching season is summer.
Bathing is recommended five times a year for the French bulldogs but to control shedding, this can increase. You should take the suggestion of the vet regarding the frequency of bathing. The region and the weather can have an effect on the bathing of the dog.
Giving the right kind of supplement is also necessary. Sometimes the dog’s meal does not contain enough nutrients and that causes malnutrition. Hair shedding can be an outcome of such a situation. If your dog’s vet prescribes any supplement then it should definitely be given to maintain the hair growth and prevent malting.
Brushing is good for preventing malting, but remember to brush the coat of the French bulldog after it is dried and not promptly after it has bathed. The wet coat is not suitable for brushing. The hair follicles remain weak after getting wet and it may increase malting when you apply a brush.
Blow drying the coat after bathing is helpful, if you plan to brush the coat then first blow dry the fur coat and then use a brush, the excess water will not be clogged in the roots of the hair and that will help in less shedding.
Do all French bulldogs malt?
French bulldog owners know that this short-furred smooth-coated dog is not difficult to maintain as they shed quite less compared to other dog breeds. However, as we mentioned, they shed occasionally. They are double-coated dogs and during malting, they only lose their undercoat. Spring and fall are two seasons that incur their shedding.
There are equipments like stripping comb and grooming mitt which will help you in getting rid of the excess loose hair from the dog’s coat.
Does the malting of the French bulldog affect humans?
If any of your family members are allergic to dogs, then you should think twice before adopting a French bulldog. As we have mentioned French bulldogs are shed at a particular time of the year and that may not be great for people prone to allergy.
Also, some French bulldogs shed more than others as this is a genetic trait. In case you adopt a bulldog that has more shedding tendency than at the time of fall or spring it can definitely hamper the health of the people in the house. But thankfully most of the dogs from the French bulldog breed do come with a low shedding tendency.
More:
Do French Bulldogs Change Color As They Grow?
