A question that you may never have thought about before, but what Irma Pots did wonder about: why does dogs never actually get fat hair? People sometimes can’t wash their hair for days and then look like they have poured a frying pan above their heads. But with dogs? Always a fresh head, even after a rain shower or muddy walk. Time to find out.
Incidentally, she would have liked to take her ‘crook’ to the studio of RTV Drenthe, but because of his watchful nature that didn’t seem like a good plan. “A lamb for me, but he doesn’t tolerate another in his neighborhood.” No worries Irma, we are looking for it at a safe distance.
To understand why dogs don’t get fat hair, we have to take a look at the biology of their fur. Dogs have a different type of skin and sebum production than people. In humans there are many sebaceous glands on the scalp, which separate oil to keep the skin and hair flexible. But if that sebum production is running at full speed by, for example, hormones, stress or simply wash too little, you will get fat hair.
This is different for dogs. The fur of a dog is structured in such a way that the dirt and moisture naturally repel. The sebaceous glands of dogs work much calmer than in humans, and the structure of their hair ensures that fat hardly accumulates. Moreover, dogs do not wash themselves with soap or shampoo, which protects the balance of the skin and fur.
Many dogs, such as Irma’s bouvier, have a double fur: a soft bottom layer that insulates and a somewhat stiffer outer coat that protects against dirt, cold and moisture. This combination ensures that the skin can breathe well and that water and dirt hardly get a grip on the hair.
The coat actually functions as a self -cleaning system. Brushing helps to remove loose hair and dirt, but washing with shampoo has to be at most a few times a year. And greasy hair? Dogs just don’t do that.
Although it is rare, some dogs may suffer from oily skin or fur, a condition known as seborrhea. This is a chronic skin condition in which the sebum production is disturbed, which can lead to oily or dry skin, often accompanied by flaking.
In such cases it is advisable to consult a veterinarian for the correct treatment.