Do Chihuahuas Shed a Lot?

Richard Thomas
Over 15 years handling, testing, and restoring pocket, fixed-blade, and Damascus steel knives across hunting and everyday-carry disciplines.

Whether your affectionate Chihuahua has a long or short coat, both will shed. But what about their daily hair loss as they reach adulthood?

In fact, it is a natural and continuous process that is actually beneficial for our little canine companions 😊

However, as a (future) owner, you may have questions about shedding in the Chihuahua dog breed:

🐶 Why do Chihuahuas shed?

🐶 How often does my Chihuahua shed?

🐶 Do Chihuahuas shed more than other breeds?

🐶 Do long-haired Chihuahuas shed more than short-haired ones?

🐶 How can I manage excess hair at home?

🐶 Is excessive shedding a sign of a health problem or that my dog is fragile?

Why Do Chihuahuas Shed?

Chihuahuas shed their fur so that a new, more protective coat can grow in its place. 😊

Composed of keratin (a protein also found in nails) and dead skin cells, fur helps regulate the internal body temperature of dogs.

Dogs have the ability to maintain a constant body temperature, generally between 38-39°C.

Unlike us, dogs cannot sweat to cool down, so they use other methods to regulate their temperature.

To cool off, dogs pant, lie on cold surfaces like the kitchen tile, and limit their physical activity. To stay warm, they lower their metabolic rate, sit in front of a sunny window, or burrow under a blanket: something Chihuahuas particularly love to do!

A Chihuahua’s coat can also help them stay warm or cool, depending on its thickness

Chihuahuas generally have a thicker coat in autumn and winter, and a thinner one in spring and summer.

👉 A thick coat helps them stay warm by preventing heat from escaping their body, much like clothing insulates us.

👉 A thin coat, on the other hand, keeps the Chihuahua cool by slowing down the heat absorption process.

Short-Haired and Long-Haired Chihuahuas

According to the official Chihuahua breed standards, these little dogs can have a short coat or a long coat.

Short-haired (smooth) Chihuahuas have a topcoat that lies flat against the body, which is shiny and soft. If there is an undercoat, the topcoat will be slightly longer.

Long-haired Chihuahuas also have soft but finer fur, slightly wavy, with a potential undercoat of varying density.

As for the beautiful coat colors of this dog breed, officially all are accepted except for the merle (spotted) pattern by the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) nomenclature.

Which Chihuahua Sheds the Most?

At first glance, one might assume that long-haired Chihuahuas shed more than short-haired ones, but that is not necessarily true.

If a short-haired Chihuahua has an undercoat, it sheds less than a long-haired Chihuahua without an undercoat.

Most long-haired Chihuahuas have a double coat, but some only have a topcoat.

Furthermore, long-haired Chihuahuas often shed in clumps, which makes them easier to clean up. 😉

When Will My Chihuahua Shed?

Most long-haired Chihuahuas shed their undercoat twice a year, in the spring and late autumn, and their topcoat gradually throughout the year.

Short-haired Chihuahuas generally shed once in the spring or gradually throughout the year.

Spring shedding allows for the development of a lighter and thinner coat, while autumn shedding allows for the development of a heavier and thicker coat.

When a dog loses all or most of its coat in a short period, it is called “molting”.

In addition to seasonal shedding, both Chihuahua varieties also lose small amounts of hair throughout the year. That’s why you don’t see packs of hairless Chihuahuas roaming the streets!

But not all Chihuahuas follow this strict shedding schedule. Whether short-haired or long-haired, a Chihuahua can shed once a year, twice a year, or gradually throughout the year.

How Daylight Affects Chihuahua Shedding

It is often thought that temperature changes are responsible for shedding, but it is actually variations in daylight that trigger this biological process.

The frequency and time of year a Chihuahua sheds vary according to its biological clock, known as the circadian rhythm.

Indeed, all animals have a circadian rhythm: these are the physical, mental, and behavioral changes that respond to light and darkness in the animal’s environment. The circadian rhythm tells the Chihuahua not only when to sleep, but also when to shed. 😇

The Chihuahua’s circadian rhythm, and therefore when it sheds, depends mainly on the amount of daylight.

After the spring equinox, the Earth’s northern hemisphere begins to tilt toward the sun, resulting in longer and sunnier days. In comparison, the northern hemisphere tilts away from the sun in autumn and winter, making days shorter and less bright.

The nuances of seasonal daylight influence melatonin production, signaling to the Chihuahua when to shed its hair and when to grow a new coat.

Common Causes of Excessive Shedding

You can expect your Chihuahua to lose some hair through shedding. However, excessive hair loss and/or bald patches, uneven clumps of hair, or brittle fur can be signs of an underlying problem » ALWAYS consult your veterinarian, who can best advise you.

– Hypothyroidism: Usually appearing in middle-aged dogs, hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces an insufficient amount of thyroid hormones.

Symptoms include high cholesterol, lethargy, excessive hair loss, weight gain, and anemia. If you suspect your Chihuahua has hypothyroidism, ask your vet to perform a blood test to check its thyroid hormone levels.

Cushing’s Disease: Characterized by chronic overproduction of adrenal gland hormones, Cushing’s disease leads to hair loss, increased appetite, increased thirst, and increased urination.
Heat Cycle: Due to high estrogen levels, female Chihuahuas shed more during heat. Estrogen levels normalize about 24 to 48 hours before the end of the second phase (estrus).
Stress: Just as stress causes our hair to fall out, it can also cause a Chihuahua’s hair to fall out.

Common stressors include separation anxiety (when your Chihuahua is left alone), moving to a new house, a death in the family, and the arrival of a new pet.

– Food Allergies: If your Chihuahua is allergic to one or more ingredients in its food, it may lose an excessive amount of hair. This is a direct response of your Chihuahua’s immune system to what it perceives as a foreign invader.

Try different varieties of food until you find one that does not cause excessive shedding or other allergic reactions. Every dog is different, and what works for one may not work for another, so consult your veterinarian.

– Contact Allergies: Even if your Chihuahua does not have a food allergy, it may be allergic to other chemicals or compounds in its environment, such as a bed, cushion, or basket (all our basket models are handmade by the best canine accessory specialists).

For dogs, possible allergens include shampoos, flea medications, antibiotics, metals like nickel, rubber, wool, plastic, and household cleaning products.

Use the process of elimination to identify and remove the allergen from your home.

Infections: Certain bacterial infections can cause excessive hair loss, including ringworm and pyoderma.
Fleas: Fleas are not responsible for hair loss in all Chihuahuas. But if your Chihuahua is allergic to flea saliva (flea allergy dermatitis), it may scratch excessively until bald spots appear.

How to Control Your Chihuahua’s Shedding?

Chihuahuas are considered low-shedding dogs compared to other breeds.

The Chihuahua ranks seventh among the breeds that shed the least, just behind the Poodle, Bichon Frisé, Miniature Poodle, Chinese Crested, Yorkshire Terrier, and Maltese.

Nevertheless, Chihuahuas do shed, leaving behind small piles of hair scattered throughout the house, but fortunately, there are ways to control shedding.

😉 Here are some tips for shedding:

🙌 Brush your beloved Chihuahua

Daily brushing is the most effective way to control a Chihuahua’s shedding. Brushing with a dog brush removes loose hair, straightens out tangles, and evenly distributes the natural oils of your Chihuahua’s skin throughout its coat.

🙌 Give your little dog a bath

Although it may not be the most pleasant activity for Chihuahuas, bathing promotes coat cleanliness by removing dirt and dead hair.

We recommend bathing your Chihuahua once a month; too often, and you will damage its skin and fur.

However, if your pet dog sheds in winter and/or spring, you can give it a weekly bath during these seasonal shedding periods.

Use a special dog shampoo and don’t hesitate to ask your veterinarian.

🙌 Use a dog hair dryer

After bathing your little dog, use a hair dryer on the cool air setting to remove loose hair from its beautiful coat.

You can also use a dog hair dryer, but go step by step so as not to scare your dog (plug it in another room for several minutes to get it gradually used to the noise).

🙌 Use a lint roller

Sofas, armchairs, and fabric cushions are magnets for loose hair! To prevent your Chihuahua’s hair from invading your furniture, use a lint roller on the upholstery.

🙌 Give your Chihuahua quality food

Avoid feeding your Chihuahua food consisting mainly of preservatives and artificial ingredients. Instead, choose a varied canine diet where the main ingredient is a high-quality protein.

Dietary supplements can certainly help too, and why not talk to your vet about it? They will give you perfect advice.

🙌 Take your Chihuahua for regular check-ups

If it is an adult, you should take your Chihuahua to the vet every six months for a routine exam.

This can reveal infections, diseases, skin disorders, and other problems that may cause excessive hair loss.

🙌 Dress your Chihuahua

A piece of clothing, a sweater, or even a Chihuahua harness is not just a fashion accessory; it helps control hair loss by keeping the hair in place.

After undressing your Chihuahua, brush its coat immediately to remove loose hair.

Final Thoughts

Although excessive shedding can be annoying, you should NEVER shave your Chihuahua puppy or adult. 😵

A dog’s coat plays an important role in regulating its body temperature. If you shave its coat, it will not have the insulation needed to stay warm in winter, and it will not have the protective hairs needed to slow down heat absorption and stay cool in summer.

Shaving your Chihuahua also exposes its skin to damage caused by the sun.

Without a protective layer of fur, dogs (and small dogs) can develop painful sunburns, regardless of the season, so you can trim your Chihuahua’s coat, but you should never shave it.

Tell us in the comments: what are your grooming and canine care tips, and what type of coat does your magnificent small pet have!

– The DoxieLife team – We are fans of dachshunds but remain in love with all canine breeds 💚🐶