Many owners love showing off their furry friends, whether a dog, cat or any other type of pet. Whether your pet is a beautiful white fluffy fur ball or a little black pug with wiggly eyebrows, you want them to look their best. However, not all pets are as easy to take care of as others. One thing that many pet owners can agree on is the hair dilemma.
Prevention of Heat Damage
The best way to prevent heat damage to your pit bull is to keep them cool and hydrated. Make sure their living space is cool and well-ventilated, and keep them out of the sun when possible. If your dog does get overheated, take them to a cool place and fan them until they calm down. If their body temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, seek veterinary attention.
Shaving
Shaving is the most common grooming method for dogs and a good reason. It’s relatively easy, quick, and doesn’t require a lot of supplies. Plus, it leaves your dog looking clean and healthy.
However, a few things to remember when shaving your pit bull. First, use the correct type of blade for their coat texture. Coarse hair will need a coarser blade, while fine hair will need a finer one.
Second, ensure that you’re giving your pup enough time to adjust to the new grooming routine – start slowly and gradually increase the time as needed. Finally, be careful not to nip too close – overzealous shaving can cause cuts and irritation.
Sunburns
Pit bulls typically have coarse, wiry hair that stands on end when wet. This is because the hair follicles are close together, which makes them more susceptible to sunburn. Wet fur also increases the chances of a burn from sunlight reflecting off the water droplets in the fur.
Another common cause of pit bull hair standing on end is a lack of humidity. Pit bulls are bred in arid environments, where they spend most of their time outdoors breathing in dry air. When indoors, their locks can become overly dry and brittle, leading to frizzing and excessive hair standing up.
Finally, pit bulls are particularly prone to scratching themselves raw if they have sensitive skin. Overly dry skin can easily bleed when scratched, leading to bald patches or even lesions on the dog’s body.
Reactivity to Allergens
There are many potential reasons your pit bull’s hair stands up, ranging from food allergies to environmental sensitivities. Food allergies are the most common cause of hair standing up in dogs, and they occur when the dog’s immune system reacts adversely to a particular type of food.
Environmental sensitivities can also cause a dog’s hair to stand up, as can certain medications or toxins. If you suspect your pit bull has a food allergy or environmental sensitivity, you must consult a veterinarian to rule out more severe causes of hair standing up.
Foreign Objects in the Ear
Pit bulls can develop foreign objects (such as hair) in their ears. This is often due to an accumulation of ear wax and debris. The object can become lodged in the ear canal, which can cause pain and difficulty hearing. There are a few ways to remove this object: using a syringe, boiling water, or a vacuum cleaner with the hose attachment. If one of these methods cannot remove the object, it may need to be removed surgically.