A Sheep ... Or Husky?

One of the things we've learned about blind animals is that shedding out their winter coats doesn't always happen at the "right" time.  That's because a key signal for the brain to know when to start shedding a winter coat ... and when to start growing it back ... is length of daylight.

You'd think temperature would be a good indicator, but this is so variable -- you can have weeks of very warm weather in autumn, for example -- that temperature isn't what nature wants animals to rely on to tell them when to begin preparing for the change in seasons.  Daylight length is the sure thing.

Because this signal is communicated to the brain by eyesight, of course, a blind animal who can't register even light versus dark (depending on retinal function, some blind animals can get light in) isn't able to detect the change in daylight length.  And then their brains don't know what to do.  We've had blind horses show up here in December with summer coats on, only to grow out a winter coat in July.  Oops.  We've found the same thing happens with some of our dogs who are "seasonal shedders."

For instance, our blind sled dog Dusty takes longer to begin shedding in some years than other years.  But when he starts to shed, look out -- it's a fur festival.  Last week Dusty began blowing his coat, with big tufts of white hair coming out.  We had family visiting the past few days, and naturally we put them to work -- with one of the tasks being to groom Dusty. 

Although it looks like we had sheared a sheep in the photo at the top, it's actually where my sister-in-law, Debbie, managed to get Dusty to sit still long enough to work all that hair off of him.  Dusty isn't very comfortable around people, but he "survived" the up-close-and-personal grooming session just fine.  By the time she finished, I think Debbie had as much white hair all over her as there was on the ground!

The next morning Dusty was a much sleeker looking fellow:

Comments

[boundforglory]

How interesting; I didn't know eyesight was connected to the shedding factor. Education all wrapped up in this great blog? Doesn't get any better.

[Kris, Shari, Lipo, Kua and Lulu]

Was Dusty brushed out or shaved? Have you considered shaving all your long haired dogs for the summer months? We just shaved our 15 year old lab/retriever mix for the FIRST TIME this summer and what a difference it has made!! NO shedding, NO excessive panting to try and cool off in the summmer heat and the best part - we can let her get wet whenever she wants and she'll dry in about an hour.

[Lynn]

Dusty must feel several pounds lighter! What a good boy to let Debbie touch him for what was undoubtedly quite a while. Thanks Debbie.

[Evelyn]

Very interesting and very refreshing for Dusty, I am sure.
He looks great!

[Miranda]

I'm guessing one whole lint roller wasn't enough to de-fur Debbie when she was through! I have a cat who drops fur like this and right now chunks of fur are falling. She's Maine Coon so I guess I'm not going to come home and find a bald cat but you'd sure think so by the chunks. At least they are easy to pick up!

Miranda and Erin (the shedder)

[Debbie]

Wow...enough fur for a litter of puppies! Thanks, Debbie, for what had to be a very long grooming session...I am sure Dusty is grateful!

[Lynne Parker]

That's so funny! After we clip our black lab/chow mix there is enough left over to build another dog!

I didn't realize that blindness and shedding were related. I always learn something from you!

[Shirley * James/Portland, OR]

Good job Debbie--looks like the furminator got to Dusty---I'm glad he had some human contact because it's not easy for that beautiful Husky boy to be around his two legged friends!!!!

[Janet in Cambridge]

I'm guessing a Furminator was involved. And I'll bet he feels soooo much better!