[Reading level: B2 – Upper Intermediate]
Shedding is a normal process for most animals with fur and hair, even you. When it stops growing, it sheds. So when it comes to our furry friends like Fido, a number of factors can determine how much they shed, including breed, age and overall health. The season can even influence the amount of shedding, usually most notably in spring.
Double-coated dogs like German shepherds and Huskies build undercoats that later shed twice a year, making them among the breeds that shed the most.
What if the shedding is excessive?
Because of this variation among breeds, there’s no real answer as to what’s considered abnormal shedding. You have to get to know your pet’s own characteristics within your environment, in addition to what’s common for its breed.
If you notice new shedding and it seems unusual, it could be due to stress, poor nutrition or a medical problem. Maybe your pet has experienced a traumatic event, or you made changes in their food, grooming, medication or other routine.
Excessive shedding that leads to bald spots or skin irritation could mean your pet has an allergy. While you would most likely notice a severe case of fleas, lice or mites, the cause could also be due to several less obvious conditions like:
- Fungal or bacterial infections
- Kidney, liver, thyroid or adrenal disease
- Excessive licking
- Cancer
- Immune disease
If you can’t figure it out, talk to your veterinarian who can help determine if your pet’s hair loss is part of the normal shedding process or is a symptom of an underlying trauma or disorder.

Fuzzy was he: The good news
Just like humans, pets can’t do a whole lot about age-related hair loss, but fortunately, most shedding is normal and easily controlled with regular grooming either by you or a professional. There are shampoos to help reduce shedding or soothe irritated skin if you choose to bathe them yourself.
Also make sure you select the right tools for your pet’s fur. For instance, you wouldn’t use a wire rake brush on a short-haired dog or cat, and you’d get nowhere with a stiff bristle brush on a longhaired dog or cat.
Diet-related shedding can often be addressed by switching to a high-quality food that contains a proper balance of nutrients. You can also add supplements if you don’t want to change your pet’s diet.
If you want to try and avoid the whole shedding issue (none are 100 percent), go beyond the ‘Doodle and check out this list of low-shed dogs. Keep your pet healthy and well-groomed and you’re sure to love each other forever!
Source: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/dogs-cats-shed.htm
WORD BANK:
shed /ʃed/ (v): rụng lông
fur /fɝː/ [B1] (n): lông
breed /briːd/ [B2] (n): giống
undercoat /ˈʌn.dɚ.koʊt/ (n): lớp lông bên trong
abnormal /æbˈnɔːr.məl/ [C1] (adj): bất thường
grooming /ˈɡrʊm.ɪŋ/ (n): việc chải lông, chải chuốt
medication /ˌmed.əˈkeɪ.ʃən/ [C2] (n): thuốc men
irritation /ˌɪr.əˈteɪ.ʃən/ (n): đau, khó chịu, kích ứng
allergy /ˈæl.ɚ.dʒi/ (n): dị ứng
flea /fliː/ (n): bọ chét
louse /laʊs/ (singular) – lice /laɪs/ (plural) (n): rận
mite /maɪt/ (n): ve
veterinarian /ˌvet.ər.ɪˈner.i.ən/ (n): bác sĩ thú y
nutrient /ˈnuː.tri.ənt/ (n): chất dinh dưỡng
supplement /ˈsʌp.lə.mənt/ [C2] (n): thực phẩm bổ sung
ỦNG HỘ READ TO LEAD!
Chào bạn! Có thể bạn chưa biết, Read to Lead là một trang giáo dục phi lợi nhuận với mục đích góp phần phát triển cộng đồng người học tiếng Anh tại Việt Nam. Chúng tôi không yêu cầu người đọc phải trả bất kỳ chi phí nào để sử dụng các sản phẩm của mình để mọi người đều có cơ hội học tập tốt hơn. Tuy nhiên, nếu bạn có thể, chúng tôi mong nhận được sự hỗ trợ tài chính từ bạn để duy trì hoạt động của trang và phát triển các sản phẩm mới.
Bạn có thể ủng hộ chúng tôi qua 1 trong 2 cách dưới đây.
– Cách 1: Chuyển tiền qua tài khoản Momo.
Số điện thoại 0947.886.865 (Chủ tài khoản: Nguyễn Tiến Trung)
Nội dung chuyển tiền: Ủng hộ Read to Lead
hoặc
– Cách 2: Chuyển tiền qua tài khoản ngân hàng.
Ngân hàng VIB chi nhánh Hải Phòng
Số tài khoản: 012704060048394 (Chủ tài khoản: Nguyễn Tiến Trung)
Nội dung chuyển tiền: Ủng hộ Read to Lead
Fortunately, my family doesn’t take care of cat or dog???