Do Yorkies Shed A Lot: 9 Shedding Triggers & Control Tips

In this post, we will be addressing the question do Yorkies shed a lot if that is what you are looking for then continue reading.

We will be discussing most of the common reasons why your Yorkie may shed excessively. We will also outline ways to control shedding in Yorkies.

You can’t stop Yorkies from shedding, but you can manage how much they shed. Every dog with hair sheds; what counts are how much they shed.

Before we continue, let me quickly answer your question do Yorkies shed a lot, then we proceed to other things.

Do Yorkies Shed A Lot

Yorkshire Terriers do shed their hair on occasion, although their shedding rate is rather modest when compared to other dog breeds.

Because they shed less, their hair is usually hanging in their long coat, creating the impression that they do not shed.

Yorkies shed relatively little throughout the year.  When their hairs finally come out, there’s a good possibility you won’t notice much hair on the floor. 

His hair goes back into his coat when it falls out. As a result, you’ll only notice it when combing or washing him.

Causes of excessive shedding in Yorkies

Here are a few of the most common causes for Yorkies to shed more than usual:

1. Side effects of medication

If you give your Yorkie medications, and it immediately begins shedding, the medication’s adverse effects might be contributing to the excessive shedding.

Certain drugs, on the other hand, may cause your Yorkie to scratch excessively and shed as a consequence of irritation or scaling.

Your Yorkie may overgroom or lick herself too much due to side effects of a medication or sickness, resulting in baldness in some part of its body.

If your Yorkie is shedding excessively, you should have him checked out to rule out any health issues.

Consult your veterinarian to discover if any of your Yorkie’s medications are contributing to her excessive shedding.

Read more about the 8 Common Yorkie Sick Symptoms.

2. Reactions to allergies

Allergies to food or certain items in the environment might cause a Yorkie’s skin to get irritated, leading it to shed.

Your Yorkie may scratch, lick, or bite himself as a result, causing significant hair loss.

Food, dust, medicine, and insect stings can all cause allergies in Yorkies.

When Yorkies come into contact with anything they are allergic to, their hair comes out as a consequence of an allergic reaction on their skin.

This form of shedding is uncommon; you’ll only notice it on rare occasions. Keep allergy triggers out of reach of your Yorkie if you notice any.

Yorkies may shed in response to shampoo changes when you bathe them, so talk to your vet if you must change shampoo.

If you’re concerned about your Yorkie’s excessive shedding due to allergies, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.

3. Response to poor diet

Malnutrition is the leading cause of abnormal shedding in dogs of all breeds, not just Yorkies.

If Yorkies consume a poor diet, they may lose a lot of hair. A bad diet has the same effect on Yorkies as it does on humans.

Hair loss in Yorkies might be caused by a nutritional imbalance. As a result, watch what you feed your dog.

If you observe any unusually heavy shedding after changing your puppy’s diet, whether it’s winter or spring, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.

A well-balanced diet supplies the minerals and vitamins required to maintain healthy skin, strong hair follicles, and minimal discharges.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help Yorkies develop healthy hair, so including them in their diet is always a good idea.

The importance of a liquid diet in the life of a Yorkie cannot be overstated, since dry skin can lead to unwelcome hair loss.

4. Reactions to hormonal changes

Hypothyroidism is a hormonal disorder that affects many Yorkies and causes significant hair loss.

It affects the thyroid glands of Yorkies, causing a thyroxine deficiency, a hormone that regulates metabolism.

Hypothyroidism causes hair loss, a dull and thin coat, discolored skin regions, fatigue, a lack of enthusiasm to exercise, and weight gain.

If your female Yorkie hasn’t been spayed, her heat cycles may impact the quantity of fur she sheds at any one time.

You may notice her shedding more hair at the end of those cycles.

Hair loss caused by hormonal shifts is the term used to describe all of these causes of hair loss.

5. Reactions to seasonal changes

Because the pace or degree of shedding is controlled by the seasonality most often, the season is, therefore, one of the primary reasons for Yorkie shedding.

There will be a lot more Yorkie hair droppings in the spring than there were in the winter.

As a result, it’s logical to conclude that the season has an effect on Yorkie shedding.

Yorkies shed in the spring to avoid overheating, then lose hair in the summer to make their winter coats thicker.

Yorkies shed less in mild weather, so keep your Yorkie’s temperature down in the spring.

You’ll be astonished at how much your Yorkie sheds if you don’t look after them throughout the summer.

6. Age factor

Between the ages of four and seven months, Yorkie puppies are known to go through a puppy stage in which they lose their puppies.

However, you might argue that older Yorkies lose more hair since they are bigger and have a larger surface area of hair.

Yorkies over the age of eight are more prone to suffer from health issues, which can result in hair loss.

Keep in mind that after Yorkie puppies have outgrown their puppy coat, which happens around four months, they shed a lot more.

Then, until they reach maturity, they will shed regularly.

7. Response to stress or anxiety

Yorkies shed a lot because stressed or anxious dogs lose their hair, and Yorkies are no different.

When the Yorkie is overworked, agitated, or nervous, hormonal swings occur regularly, resulting in excessive or low secretions.

Your dog will start flinging hair more frequently when things get highly excited for the same reason.

You could believe your Yorkie is developing more hair when you return home from a trip and discover hairs all over the place, but this is only a symptom of stress.

As a result, anxiety, grief, and other negative emotions are frequently connected with stress-related dog hair loss.

Keep in mind that Yorkies are a little breed designed to be a human companion, therefore they can’t withstand too much stress.

Read more: Yorkie Separation Anxiety: 9 Signs & 11 Helpful Tips.

8. Reactions to parasite infestations or attack

Hair loss in Yorkies is commonly caused by bacterial illnesses, fungal infections, flea infestations, and worm infestations.

These health issues commonly cause a great deal of discomfort and contribute to hormonal imbalances, which result in hair loss.

Bacterial illnesses like salmonella can be contracted by eating raw foods like raw chicken.

If your Yorkie gets into touch with mold or other forms of mold, this can happen.

Snacks and dry foods can grow mold, so store them carefully after each use.

Keep in mind that Yorkies are inquisitive canines that will smell out whatever they can discover in your home’s crevices.

As a result, ensure that your house and the areas where your Yorkie spends time are mold-free.

Excessive shedding can occur when the Yorkie inhales spores on the ground, on birds, and on other objects.

9. Response to sudden changes in diet

This type of shedding is prevalent in Yorkies whose owners want to try new foods instead of adhering to tried-and-true recipes or dog food.

Excessive Baldness and shedding may occur if your Yorkie’s diet changes. This is more likely to occur if your Yorkie’s diet is deficient in nutrients.

If your Yorkie’s coat changes after you change their diet, go return to the prior food.

When you switch to a new dog diet that is lacking in particular nutrients, your Yorkie will shed more to compensate for the absence of or excess nutrients.

Always talk to your veterinarian before changing your dog’s food.

Ways to control excessive shedding in Yorkies

Some of the most common strategies for regulating or minimizing excessive shedding are as follows:

1. Stick to daily brushing

Using a brush to treat Yorkie hair loss is the most effective method. It not only improves blood flow to the surface of the skin, but it also aids in the dispersal of natural fats.

It also ensures that the brush’s loose bristles won’t fall to the floor or onto the sofa.

Treats are always welcome before and after brushing since Yorkies enjoy them.

However, it is recommended that you brush your Yorkie for at least 7-10 minutes per day.

Depending on your schedule, you may be obliged to brush your Yorkies at least twice every 8 days, but if you’re busy, you can brush once a week.

Daily brushing should be regarded as a preventative method when analyzing why Yorkies shed.

2. Provide your dog with high-quality food and supplements

Keep an eye on your Yorkie’s food consumption. A well-balanced diet supports good skin and reduces shedding in all dogs.

The food that a Yorkie consumes should be healthy and well-balanced. The quality of your dog’s coat is influenced by how well you feed him.

Feed your Yorkie a well-balanced diet to keep even the tiniest hair loss on the inside to a minimum.

Your Yorkie’s hair and skin will be as smooth and healthy as possible if she eats dog food high in Omega-3 fatty acids, oils, and minerals.

Natural fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-3 fatty acids, which are particularly helpful to Yorkies and help keep their skin and coat in top form, are typically found in dietary supplements.

If your Yorkie has skin issues, he or she will scratch and itch a lot, causing hair to fall out of the follicles in greater numbers.

To assist prevent shedding and itching, give your Yorkie a decent vitamin and Omega-3 supplement.

Supplements containing these components are not only helpful for your health, but they also help you get rid of hair.

In addition to skin and coat benefits, fish oil helps to keep joints and bones healthy.

Before making any modifications to your Yorkie’s diet, speak with your veterinarian.

3. Keep away all forms of allergies

Itchy ears, constant nibbling at your Yorkie’s skin, tears welling up in your Yorkie’s eyes, and repeated licking of the paw or skin are all indicators of allergic responses to watch for.

Eliminating allergies is one of the most critical things you can do to protect your Yorkie from shedding excessively.

Yorkies can be allergic to pollen, mold spores, dust mites, and dead skin cells, to name a few allergens.

Keep a watch on your dog’s skin or hair for rashes or hair loss that might suggest a food allergy.

4. Avoid dehydration

To avoid dry skin and to assist decrease your Yorkie’s body temperature, make sure your Yorkie has access to clean drinking water at all times.

This is critical because dogs with insufficient water intake have dry skin and hair, which contributes to excessive shedding.

The chance of hazardous germs being swallowed is reduced if your dog’s water dish is kept clean and full.

Keep an eye on your Yorkie’s water bowls to make sure they’re drinking only freshwater.

Dehydration not only causes health problems, but it can also cause shedding in tiny dogs like Yorkies.

As a result, ensure that your Yorkie has constant access to fresh water.

5. Provide a stress-free environment

Reduce shedding by managing your Yorkie’s stress level. Your dog may shed more than normal as a result of stress.

Many changes in your dog’s environment, such as a move, the death of another pet, or the birth of a new pet, might create further anxiety.

Give your dog plenty of exercise, love, affection, and attention to help her cope with stress and shed.

6. Bathe your Yorkie once in a while

When it comes to shedding control, Yorkies benefit from regular washing and the use of de-shedding dog shampoo.

Bathe your Yorkie once a month to ensure that their double coat is clean, which will help to avoid excessive shedding.

Also, don’t be concerned if you’re removing a lot of stray hair in the bath. Bath time causes a lot of shedding in Yorkies, but it’s nothing to be concerned about.

Before bringing them back into the house, make sure they’re totally dry with a towel or a blow-dryer, and be gentle around their tight eyes.

7. Control pest attacks

Fleas, ticks, and other parasites can irritate your Yorkie’s skin and coat, lowering its quality.

If flea bites are not treated consistently and effectively, they can cause significant hair loss as well as itchy, irritated skin in Yorkies.

To discuss tick and flea prevention, make an appointment with your veterinarian.

8. Regular medical check-ups

Because shedding may be caused by a variety of health concerns, this is an important step to take when considering how to prevent Yorkies from shedding.

Always consult your veterinarian and get your Yorkie checked on a regular basis.

With all the information provided in this post, I assume your question Do Yorkies Shed A Lot was addressed!

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Samuel Ogbonna
Samuel Ogbonna

I'm Samuel Ogbonna, the founder of allpetspot.com. I grew up with lots of pets, with 15 years of experience living with pets. My love for pets made me start allpetspot.com, I'm here to share his experiences with pets.

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