Shedding
The change of coat and closely related changes in the skin are a very subtle biological process that initially ensures the preservation of the integrity of the body integument, as the main protective formation of mammals. Guard hairs, guide hairs, and partly downy hairs, brushes of elastic hair on the soles of the feet and other relatively delicate formations, often in contact with the substrate and surrounding objects, quickly wear out. Premature, severe wear of the fur occurs in the corsac fox ( Vulpes corsac), hiding for the day in dense reed thickets, near the sable ( Martes zibellina), often hiding in narrow passages between stones, near a mole digging the ground ( Talpa europaea) etc. During the molting process, these defects are eliminated.
While in amphibians and reptiles - animals with an unstable body temperature, the change of integument simultaneously covers all its parts, in warm-blooded animals - birds and mammals, during molting, as a rule, the integument of individual parts of the body is successively replaced. This feature is associated with the complication of the structure and functions of the integument.
The development of new fur begins with the laying of guard hairs, from the bursae of which, it is believed, the rudiments of down hairs bud off. Hair replacement process different groups mammals does not proceed in the same way. In predatory animals, the germ of a new hair is formed from the cells of the bottom of the old bulb. As the new hair grows, it pushes out the old one, which has separated from the bulb but remains in the hair follicle for quite a long time. In rodents, the formation of new hair buds occurs completely independently of the old hair follicles that fall out. Therefore, in contrast to predatory ones, the hair groups of their new fur do not correspond to those of the old one.
Pattern of molting on the flesh of a steppe mouse ( Sicista subtilis). Thanks to the different intensity of pigmentation of the new hair follicles, the location and width of the dark and light stripes on the back of the animal are accurately reflected. (According to Barabash-Nikiforov and Formozov, 1963.) Pigment grains are concentrated in the buds of new hair. Translucent through the subcutaneous tissue, they give a bluish color to the mesra (lower surface of the skin). Since molting usually does not occur simultaneously in different areas, but in a certain sequence, a characteristic pattern is formed on the flesh - a molting pattern, consisting of the so-called. molt spots. By their location and shape, one can judge the onset of one or another stage of molting. With the growth of hair, which removes pigment from the skin, the inner skin becomes lighter, proceeding in the same sequence as its darkening. The flesh, completely cleared of spots, is a sign of the end of the molting process. Naturally, with the development of white (pigment-free) hair, molting spots do not form on the undergrowth. 
Successive stages of change in the color of the flesh during the autumn molt of the common squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris ) (according to Barabash-Nikiforov and Formozov, 1963). Molting is often associated with a change in the structure of the fur and its color, sometimes expressed very sharply. Other structures are also subject to change. Thus, during molting, the dermis is loosened by the developing rudiments of new hair and accordingly thickens; during intermolting periods it becomes denser. The fat layer, highly developed in winter, thins out or completely disappears by summer. During the molting period, the need for food also increases. mineral nutrition and in vitamins, protein metabolism increases, excitability increases. Thus, the entire animal’s body participates in the physiological process associated with molting.
It has been established that the mechanism of molting is based on the hormonal effects of the pituitary gland and thyroid gland. The pituitary gland acts on the thyroid gland, and its hormone thyroidin causes the molting of protective and thermally insulating integuments. But these processes are not autonomous; they are controlled and influenced external environment.
The main factor influencing seasonal molting is temperature. However, the stimulator for the onset of this process is a change in the duration and intensity of illumination, acting through visual perception on the pituitary gland. In the white hare ( Lepus timidus), for example, molting primarily depends on photoperiodism, and temperature is a factor that accelerates or delays hair change. Under experimental conditions, by shortening or lengthening the duration of illumination, it is possible to change the timing of molting and greatly accelerate the maturation of fur, which has a significant effect on fur-bearing species. economic importance. Thus, by reducing the duration of daylight hours in summer, i.e., during the period of the longest natural daylight hours, it is possible to accelerate the maturation of winter fur in minks by more than a month ( Mustela lutreola) and foxes ( Vulpes vulpes). 
In mammals living in conditions of pronounced alternation of warm and cold seasons, periodic, more or less complete changes of coat occur. This is necessary mainly because the same type of cover with a certain thermal insulating ability cannot be suitable throughout the year. For example, in a number of Arctic animals with well-developed physical thermoregulation in winter, maintaining a constant temperature level in the most severe frosts is ensured by the high thermal insulation properties of fur. In the summer, the constancy of their body temperature is achieved to a large extent due to an increase in the thermal conductivity of the integument by 3-4 times compared to winter, as well as due to the well-developed mechanism of thermal shortness of breath and heat transfer through the limbs.
Most animals inhabiting the northern and temperate zone (white hare ( Lepus timidus), foxes ( Vulpes vulpes), arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus) etc.) there are two molts throughout the year - spring, in which thick, high winter fur is replaced by sparse and low summer fur, and autumn, when the reverse process occurs. Before the start of spring molting, the fur becomes dull, the hair loses its characteristic elasticity, the spine breaks, and the downy coat often becomes matted. Next, new hair begins to develop and old hair falls out. The spring moult may be more or less incomplete. At the mole ( Talpa europaea), for example, after the spring shedding, patches of winter fur often remain. Mink ( Mustela lutreola) loses downy hair during the spring molt, while the guard hair falls out only during the autumn molt. Autumn shedding differs from spring shedding in that it takes longer and involves a complete change of hair. Spring molting usually begins from the head and back, spreading from there posteriorly to the sides and abdomen; autumn molt proceeds in reverse order. Seasonal molting occurs especially rapidly, within certain short periods of time, among inhabitants of areas with a sharply continental climate.
Often, changing from one seasonal outfit to another completely transforms the appearance of the animal. Summer sable fur ( Martes zibellina) dark, short, close to the body. In this outfit the animal looks lean, skinny, big-eared and rather long-legged. After the autumn molt, the ears are almost completely hidden in high, shiny and thick fur, the tail, covered with long hair, becomes bushy, and the legs seem shorter and thicker. In winter, the sable is a stocky, strongly built animal. The appearance of Arctic foxes dressed in summer and winter fur changes even more strikingly ( Vulpes lagopus), white hare ( Lepus timidus), some subspecies of squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris), saiga ( Saiga tatarica), bison ( Bison bison). U bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) grows long, wavy hair in the winter, and is almost hairless in the summer. In the spring, the shedding winter fur hangs from its body in clumps. 
Moulting reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). It has been suggested that the white hare ( Lepus timidus), ermine ( Mustela erminea) and arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus) summer fur does not fall out during the autumn molt, but remains throughout the winter, growing and depigmenting. However, it turned out that the winter outfit consists entirely of newly developed hair, which has a different size and shape than summer hair. The density of hair and the ratio of their categories in summer and winter fur are also not the same. So, the squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris) per 1 sq. cm rump has an average of 4200 hairs in summer, 8100 in winter, the same for the white hare ( Lepus timidus) - 8000 and 14700. The length of hair in millimeters on the rump is as follows: for a squirrel in summer: fluff - 9.4, spine - 17.4, in winter: 16.8 and 25.9; the same for the white hare: in summer: down - 12.3, awn - 26.4, in winter: 21.0 and 33.4. The brown hare ( Lepus europaeus) per 1 sq. cm in summer, the average number of guard hairs is 382, intermediate - 504, downy - 8156 with an average length of the latter 18.5 mm. In winter, the same series of numbers looks like this: 968, 1250 and 18012, the average length of the underfur hair is 22.2 mm. Just for 1 sq. cm in summer there are 9042 hairs, and in winter 20240. Thus, the density of the coat more than doubles, which is mainly due to a sharp increase in the number of downy hairs.
No less dramatic are the seasonal changes in fur of the desert-dwelling Central Asian ground squirrel ( Spermophilopsis leptodactylus). During the winter, this animal does not hibernate and is thus active both in the summer, when the sand heats up to 60-80 °C, and in the winter when there are quite severe frosts. His summer hair looks more like short, flat needles that fit tightly to his body. On the back there are number of guard and guide hairs per 0.25 square meters. cm - 217, intermediate and down - 258, total - 475 with a length from 1 to 7.5-8.5 mm. The same in winter: guard hairs, guide hairs, intermediate hairs - 132, down hairs - 1109, total - 1241. The length of winter hair reaches from 9.2 mm to 18.1-20.9 mm; they are soft and silky. The delicate winter fur of the ground squirrel is very different from the hard and rough summer fur. Such a strongly pronounced seasonal dimorphism of fur in this species is fully consistent with the large annual amplitude sandy desert temperatures. 
Timing of molting of small insectivores and rodents in Karelia (according to Ivanter et al., 1985):
a - spring, b - juvenile, c - autumn, d - compensatory, d - summer. In mammals that hibernate (most ground squirrels ( Spermophilus), marmots ( Marmota) etc.), and also in seals, molting occurs once a year, in spring and summer. On the other hand, among the diggers temperate zone, the hairline of which, due to constant friction in the narrow passages of the burrows, wears out especially quickly in some places; in addition to the two usual moults, a third one is observed - restorative, or compensatory. Unlike ordinary shedding, it affects only areas of the fur that are subject to intense wear. Such restorative molting can be observed in moles (T alpa), mole rats ( Spalax) and mole voles ( Ellobius). It is mainly confined to summer period, but partially (in moles) it is also observed in winter. Shrews living in warm regions make do with only compensatory molting.
In mammals that do not experience sudden changes seasonal conditions(inhabitants of tropical countries, semi-aquatic forms), seasonal differences hairline no or they are insignificant, shedding proceeds unnoticed, often in the form of the loss of old hair and the appearance of new hair extended throughout the year. 
Duration of the only molting of the year and wearing a new outfit in adult harp seals ( Pagophilus groenlandicus) White Sea herd (according to Barabash-Nikiforov and Formozov, 1963). Yes, muskrat ( Ondatra zibethicus) is characterized by a very frequent and long stay in the water when searching for food, building huts, settling, and pursuing competitors. Since the water temperature in all seasons is significantly lower than the animal’s body temperature, weakening the protective role of the hair could cause unfavorable consequences for it. As a result, the ratio of the number of hairs of different categories (guide, guard, intermediate and down) per unit area of muskrat skin is almost the same throughout the year and does not depend on the seasons. The molt of adults lasts almost all year round. Only for a short period of time (in April or May for muskrats in the northern half of the European part of Russia and neighboring countries), which occurs at the end of winter, do the skins show no signs of molting. But already in May, the inner layer begins to thicken, and then a blue color appears on it - the accumulations of pigment in the follicles laying out new hair are visible. The elongation and slow progression of molting determines the good condition of the muskrat's fur in all months of the year. Only on the dorsal side of the body, which less often comes into contact with water, the density of the fur varies somewhat with the seasons: in July it is approximately half as much as at the end of winter. From August the fur density increases again. Young muskrats from early broods have two age-related moults during the autumn-summer period, and animals from late broods have one, which also occurs more quickly. Slow, extended molting is also characteristic of the muskrat ( Desmana moschata), sea otter ( Enhydra lutris), otters ( Lutra lutra
) and, to a lesser extent, minks ( Mustela lutreola).
Seasonal color changes, which often occur during coat changes, have a camouflage function. This is especially clearly manifested in species that turn completely white during the winter. The average duration of wearing winter white fur, which harmonizes well with the background of the snow-covered ground, quite accurately corresponds to the average duration of permanent snow cover in a particular area.
Ermine ( Mustela erminea) in the northern zone of the European part of Russia, about 8 months a year wears white winter fur and only about 4 months wears reddish-brown (matching the color of the soil) summer fur; in the southern zone - only 5.5 months in winter and about 6.5 months in summer. The change of fur in the latter case looks like this. In March or April, dark hairs appear first on the back and then on the sides of the ermine; This continues until all top part the skins will not turn reddish-brown. The abdomen remains white. In October, as the days shorten, a new molt begins: dark hairs are replaced by white ones, first on the sides and then on the back, making the animal appear spotted. By November, he is already completely winter white, with the exception of the black tip of his tail. Those animals that live in warm climates also shed. In the fall, they grow new wool, but not white, but the same brown as the summer one. 
Seasonal changes in hair color in ermine ( Mustela erminea) (after Carrington, 1974). Weasel living in northern Eurasia ( Mustela nivalis
) also turns white in winter. In areas with short or little snow winters as warm (south Western Europe, southern Ukraine, Transcaucasia, many regions of Central Asia), and frosty (Mongolia) winter weasel fur becomes thicker than summer fur, but, with rare exceptions, retains its brown or reddish-gray color. In conditions Central Europe summer color, as a rule, remains the same, but if it changes, it is not much, and large or small white spots appear.
On the Kola Peninsula near the Arctic Circle, the mountain hare ( Lepus timidus) can be seen in white fur from approximately October 20 to May 20; stable snow cover in the forest lies on average from October 31 to May 21 (from October 4 to October 31 there are frequent snowfalls, but the cover is unstable - at times it disappears, appears again, etc.). In Russia, the timing of the spring molt of the hare approximately coincides with the period of intense snowmelt and snow melting, and the autumn moult with the “pre-winter” - the time of cold rains, followed by increasingly frequent snowfalls. Greenland hare ( Lepus arcticus groenlandicus) wears white winter fur most of the year, and its summer fur is not brown, but almost white, only slightly smoky on the back. On the other hand, the geographical races of white hare that penetrated into North America along mountain ranges to the south, in areas with little snow in the United States, they do not turn white for the winter. Of the European forms, the Scottish hare ( Lepus timidus scoticus) is brownish-gray in summer, pure white in winter, but with short and not lush fur, and the Irish hare ( Lepus timidus hibernicus) becomes noticeably grayer in autumn; only a few individuals become white. 
White hare ( Lepus timidus) in a summer outfit. Chamois darken in winter ( Rupicapra rupicapra) and individual deer. So, Manchu ( Cervus nippon mantchuricus) and Japanese ( Cervus nippon nippon) sika deer in summer they are uniformly covered with white spots. In winter, spots remain only on the Manchurian form, while the Japanese form, which lives in deciduous forests, acquires a monotonous brown color.
Although the course of molting is closely related to external conditions, such a complex process cannot always and very accurately follow all the vagaries of the weather. Indeed, there are years when the snow cover sets in later than usual and the white winter plumage of the weasel, ermine, and mountain hare turns out to be very noticeable. dark background ground covered with dead grass and fallen leaves. At such times, whites look for more reliable shelters for daytime rest: they lie down under the protection of the lower branches of fir trees, under the tops of trees that have fallen to the ground, or in a swamp on hummocks overgrown with thick sedge. The weasel spends most of its time in the burrows of voles and moles and appears on the surface of the earth relatively rarely and for a short period of time.
At early spring and accelerated snow melting, the listed animals are sometimes “late” to change their winter attire to summer and for two weeks, and sometimes more, live in the disadvantageous absence of camouflage fur coloring. The white hare, being more noticeable and having many enemies, reacts more strongly to such a combination of circumstances than the weasel and ermine. It comes out to feed only in the dark; during the day it often takes refuge in the last drifts of snow, where it is very difficult to notice it. Of course, in such years, animal populations for some time suffer greater than usual losses from attacks by predators. However, on average over a large number of years, the significance of the advantages in the struggle for existence that the seasonal change of protective colors gives to the species that have them is beyond doubt. 
White hare ( Lepus timidus) in winter attire. The influence of the external environment on the timing of molting and on the nature of seasonal hair dimorphism is proven by the practice of acclimatization of mammals. For example, in species exported from countries in the northern hemisphere and released in Australia, New Zealand and South America, the timing of molting, as well as hibernation and reproduction, gradually shifted. Animals released into areas with relatively harsher conditions than in their homeland acquired more luxuriant winter fur (for example, the raccoon dog ( Nyctereutes procyonoides) in a number of regions of the former USSR). On the contrary, acclimatized species that found themselves in a relatively warm climate (Teleut squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris exalbidus) in Crimea and the Altai squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris altaicus) in the Caucasus), have lost their characteristic delicate and tall fur: it has become coarser and shorter. Interestingly, white hares captured in Norway and released in mid-19th centuries in the Faroe Islands, during the first period of acclimatization they still wore white winter clothing, and now in the cold half of the year they wear reddish-brown fur, similar to summer. In snowless winters, a white outfit is unprofitable because it is too noticeable; Over the course of about a century, the island population lost this useless and perhaps even harmful feature of the seasonal outfit.
In addition to enhancing heat-insulating properties and maintaining the relevance of masking properties, the hairline of many species during autumn molting acquires a number of other features that are necessary and beneficial specifically in winter conditions. For example, the structure of the cuticle of the guard and guide hairs of the winter fur of the wolverine ( Gulo gulo) is such that even in the most severe frosts frost does not settle on them. This is also typical for the guard hairs of the fox tail ( Vulpes vulpes) and arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus). Both the latter type when resting in the snow, they curl up and cover their head with their tail (the muzzle is covered with relatively very short fur and, naturally, should suffer more from the cold). If frost formed from breathing settled on the tail hairs, these animals would inevitably freeze head to tail and damage the coat upon awakening. 
Stages of shedding red deer (Cervus elaphus) (according to Geran, 1985):
A - in autumn; B - in spring. Soles of lynx feet ( Lynx lynx), wolverines ( Gulo gulo), arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus), northern fox races ( Vulpes), martens ( Martes), protein ( Sciurus) and some other species, by the end of autumn they are densely overgrown with rather long elastic hair, almost completely hiding areas exposed in summer. The resulting thick brushes of hair not only insulate, but also protect the toes and feet from possible damage when digging out old snow, dense crust, etc. At the same time, these brushes increase the supporting surface of the paws, creating a semblance of skis or snowshoes, which makes it easier for animals movement on loose deep snow. The significance of such dense pubescence of paws in the life of a wolverine is especially significant ( Gulo gulo), sable ( Martes zibellina), pine marten ( Martes martes
), whose daily movements in winter, during periods of heavy snow, can be very large. The hairs of the brushes shed during the period of heavy snowmelt in the spring, as soon as they become unnecessary. It is significant that subspecies of foxes inhabiting steppes and deserts with frosty but little snow winters do not have these brushes; The feet of the southern subspecies of the brown hare also have little hair in the winter ( Lepus europaeus), as well as the tolai hare ( Lepus tolai). On the contrary, among the Russians who occupy northern part habitat, in the winter the feet are overgrown with a brush, almost as thick and long as that of the mountain hare, which is better adapted to life in snow-covered areas than other Palearctic hares.
The squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris) when changing from summer to winter fur, rather long and thick hair brushes grow, covering the distal, coldest edge of the ear. They reach full growth by the time the autumn molt ends, and hunters in the first days of hunting often determine by the length of the tassels whether or not it is worth shooting this or that squirrel hidden at the top of a tree. The hairs of the tassels fall out quite quickly in the spring, but some of the surviving ones disappear only in June - July. In summer plumage, the ears of an adult squirrel are covered with very short hair. Tail hair changes extremely slowly. It performs a number of functions in the squirrel and, in particular, during large jumps from tree to tree, it supports the animal in the air, facilitating planning. He plays this role throughout the year, regardless of the season. The rapid spring shedding of squirrel fur, starting from the head and reaching the base of the tail in early May, slows down sharply. In an adult animal that has received a summer outfit, the frayed and faded winter tail hairs completely fall out and are replaced by new ones, also winter ones, only by September. Thanks to gradual molting in all months of the year, the tail, covered with long hair, can be used as a parachute; it molts once a year, while the head, body, and legs molt twice. Functions of the hair different parts bodies are not equivalent, and therefore molting occurs not according to one pattern, but according to several. 
Successive stages of molting of the common squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris) (according to Barabash-Nikiforov and Formozov, 1963):
A - spring; B - autumn. In addition to seasonal changes in hair, there is also age-related molting, in which the juvenile plumage(s) is replaced by the definitive adult. In some species, the latter appears after several age moults (for example, in the rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus) there are up to 4 of them). Age-related molting in a number of true seals (Phocidae) is associated with a change in the uterine plumage of the white (white high fur with guard and thick downy hairs, unsuitable for diving, lasts about 20 days in the pups) to the serka's plumage of coarse short hair (the serka already catches food in sea). With subsequent annual moults, which are both seasonal and age-related, the color of the animal after 2-3 years approaches that characteristic of sexually mature individuals.
In rodents that bear several litters per year, the young at the first juvenile molt receive different outfits depending on the season. For example, young squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris), those born in the summer receive a summer adult outfit, and those born at the end of winter, not yet reaching full growth, receive lush winter fur and thick tassels on the ears. Young hoofed lemmings ( Dicrostonyx torquatus), born in snowy nests, at the first molt they receive a thick white plumage, similar to the winter coat of adult lemmings. Since the timing of molting varies depending on gender and age, as well as the physiological state of animals, food and weather conditions, it can be quite difficult to accurately determine the state of the fur of a particular population of mammals. In moles ( Talpa europaea), for example, males molt much later than females, in dwarf pipistrelles ( Pipistrellus pipistrellus), on the contrary, males begin molting. Well-fed animals various types moult earlier than exhausted ones. In pregnant females and sick individuals, molting is delayed for a long time at some stage; Strong infestation with helminths also has a noticeable effect on the course of molting.
In addition to hair, molting is characteristic of almost all horny formations of mammals: periodically there is a change of claws, desquamation of keratinized cells of the surface layer of the epidermis, annual shedding of antlers in most deer (Cervidae), etc. Particularly rapid molting with hair loss in tufts and simultaneous shedding of the epidermis in large flaps are characteristic of northern seals - the coot ( Pagophilus groenlandicus), ringed seal ( Pusa hispida), sea hare (Erignathus barbatus). During the molting period, these pinnipeds lie on the ice or shore and do not feed for a long time. Among terrestrial mammals, equally intense molting is observed in the Transbaikal tarbagan marmot ( Marmota sibirica) and selevinia ( Selevinia betpakdalaensis). On the other hand, skin derivatives that have pronounced defensive functions are replaced slowly and gradually. For example, porcupines (Hystricidae) and hedgehogs (Erinaceidae) lose only a few quills per day. U long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) 5-20 needles fall out per day, thanks to which the animal always keeps its spiny shell suitable for defense. Tactile hairs (vibrissae), hard bristles on the rims on the paws of semi-aquatic animals, etc., fall out one by one and are replaced. 
The front foot of a hoofed lemming ( Dicrostonyx torquatus). The claws of the third and fourth fingers are large in winter and have a forked shape, since not only the claw itself grows, but also the keratinizing pad of the fingers. in spring most of the forked claw disappears - it acquires normal dimensions and a sharp end. (According to Barabash-Nikiforov and Formozov, 1963.)
Owners of furry four-legged pets are well aware of the period when their pet’s fur is found absolutely everywhere, and even in food. This causes a lot of inconvenience, but is a completely normal physiological process. Not only cats and dogs are susceptible to shedding, but also other representatives of terrestrial vertebrates. All of them require special attention during this period. What and how to do during molting - we will tell you further.
What is shedding
Molting is a natural process during which the outer covering of an animal changes. For each class of tetrapods this process has a specific character. So, reptiles change the top layer of skin, the epidermis. Mammals and birds replace skin covering(feathers, fur, wool). Insects are capable of shedding body parts during the molting process.
Mammals and birds are characterized by seasonal molting. They change their plumage and fur from warmer to lighter, and vice versa. Along with the density of the cover, its color may also change.
Pets that shed
Pets that are susceptible to shedding include:
- (canines);
- birds (etc.);
- lizards;
- amphibians ( );
Did you know? Latin name of all four-legged animals, Tetrapoda, comes from the merger of two ancient Greek words: τετράς, which means« four» , and πούς -« leg» .
Features of the molting process in pets
We have already said that for each class of terrestrial vertebrates, the change in cover has its own characteristics. We will talk about them further.
In dogs
Natural shedding in dogs and all canines is seasonal (spring and autumn). Seasonal molting does not last long, a week or two. Young individuals experience this phenomenon for the first time at six months of age. To make it easier for your four-legged pet to cope with a change in coat, it must be brushed every day so that the fur can recover faster and tangles do not form.
The more intensely you brush your pet, the less hair will be scattered throughout the living space. It should also be taken into account that each type of wool should have its own approach. Smooth-haired dogs need to be combed and dried with a hard towel. Long-haired dogs need to be combed and trimmed.
During the molting period, the animal's behavior may change, since this process is quite energy-consuming. The dog may lose weight and become more lethargic, lazy, and passive. To keep an animal's body in good shape, it is necessary to change its diet, making it more nutritious. You should also add more vitamins to the menu. Special vitamin complexes can be found in veterinary pharmacies.
Breeds that shed the least:
- some
- and some others.
Important!Pets living in apartments can shed year-round, or the period of seasonal shedding can be shifted. This is due to the constant high temperature and dry air in the room. Therefore, it is advisable to take the dog outside as often as possible so that shedding occurs at a certain time.
In cats
Little kittens exchange their soft baby coat for a coarse adult coat at five to seven months of age. This can last from several weeks to several months. It all depends on the breed. When the hairline has changed from child to adult, seasonal molting begins. It happens twice a year, in spring and autumn. Its duration is two to three months.
During this period, the cat becomes less active. To make the change of fur coat easier for the animal, it must be fed in a balanced manner and given a full range of vitamins. You should also brush it daily pet to rid it of dead villi and stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles for faster growth of new hair.
If you notice that your cat has been shedding for longer than three months and its fur is dull, unhealthy, and falling out in clumps, you should contact your veterinarian. Perhaps there are some deviations in the pet’s health.
To prevent unnatural changes in cover, you should:
- regularly examine your pet for bald spots, bumps or spots on the skin;
- enrich your cat’s diet with B vitamins, choose more suitable food for his coat type and age;
- Regularly treat your pet for fleas, ticks and worms.
Breeds of low-shedding cats:
In birds
Parrots and canaries are common bird pets in apartments.
Parrots are characterized by seasonal molting. The change of plumage occurs gradually, and therefore the behavior of the bird does not change. During this period, it is enough to introduce minerals, vitamins, and amino acids into the diet. They will help the plumage recover faster. The bird should also be restricted from free flight. If a bleeding wound has formed at the site of the fallen feather, it must be treated with a solution of ferric chloride.
Canaries change their plumage once a year, and this process lasts about a month. The young animals are still undergoing a juvenile molt, during which the fluff is replaced by feathers. This happens in the second or third months of life and lasts until the chicks reach six months of age. The end of the juvenile moult indicates the achievement of sexual maturity.
Changing plumage in canaries is more energy-consuming than in parrots. Therefore, during this period their voice disappears, their appetite is lost, and their temperature rises. If the change of plumage occurs in the warm season, then the cage with the bird should be taken out to Fresh air under the sun's rays. In the cold season, it is necessary to create artificial lighting using fluorescent lamps. You need to include greens, fruits, berries, vegetables, eggshells, ash, and clay in your diet.
Important!Try to disturb the birds as little as possible. If they get scared, they can easily injure their fragile feathers on the bars of the cage.
In spiders
In spiders, changes in cover occur constantly, starting from birth. This is how their exoskeleton grows and develops. Newly born spiders molt about once a month. In older individuals, the interval between exoskeleton changes is two to three months. In adults, this process occurs once every three years. The approach of molting is indicated by darkening of the exposed area of the abdomen.
The process of replacing the exoskeleton in arachnids can be divided into four stages: pre-molt, molt, post-molt and inter-molt stage. At the initial stage, a new exoskeleton is formed. Hormones are responsible for this. Because of this, the spider becomes very aggressive. Pre-molt lasts from several days to two to three weeks. During the molting stage, arthropods create excess pressure inside themselves, thus tearing the old exoskeleton.
This may take them from several minutes to several hours. During the post-molt stage, arthropods are very vulnerable.
Their new “shell” is still very soft, so they are not able to move and hunt normally. Recovery may take from several days to a month, depending on the age of the animal. At the last stage, the spider is completely restored and returns to its usual rhythm of life.
Did you know?During molting, arthropods are able to regenerate previously lost limbs.
In amphibians
Amphibians replace the top layer of their skin as they wear it down. This usually happens in the summer. The frequency of the process depends on the ambient temperature.
They molt regularly throughout their lives, since the animal’s growth does not stop, and the skin does not grow. The cover peels off in one piece. It cracks in one area of the body, and the amphibian crawls out of it. To help themselves get rid of the old cover, animals rub against stones or snags. Some representatives of amphibians (frogs, salamanders) immediately eat old skin.
During the molting period, the main thing is:
- Take cats and dogs for walks more often.
- Birds, spiders, amphibians and reptiles should be disturbed as little as possible.
- Nutrition should be as balanced and varied as possible. Vitamins and minerals should be included in the diet. In the mammals menu you need to enter fish fat, sea fish, liver.
- Cats and dogs need to be brushed regularly. To clean the fur from dirt, it is advisable to use dry shampoos that strengthen the hair.
At the moment when an insect of the larval stage grows to such a size that it begins to limit further growth, the need arises to change the cuticular cover. This regular shedding of old animals is called molting. It begins with the detachment of the old hypodermis from the underlying hypodermis (a process called apolisis) and ends with discarding the old one (a process called ecdysis).
Stages of shedding
The main stages of molting are as follows:
- detaches from the hypodermis and forms a new epicuticle.
- A liquid is released that dissolves the old endocuticle.
- There is a rupture of the old one, usually by midline on the dorsal surface and . The rupture is caused by blood pressure.
- Immediately after molting, the new one stretches. This happens for a short period and after that when stretched, it forms small folds or folds like an accordion. As it grows, the folds straighten out. When the possibilities of increasing the surface of the exoskeleton are exhausted in this way, a new molt becomes necessary. The fully formed new one is waterproof and has a specific color.
The process of discarding the old one in some cases takes no more than a few seconds, in others it takes an hour or more.
Butterflies molt
Age and stage
The period between any two molts is called stage, and the insect itself during this stage - age. So, the period between hatching and the first molt is the first stage. Any individual at this stage of development is called the first instar. In all insects, except primitive wingless ones, molting stops after reaching the adult stage.
Most insects molt at least 3-4 times, while some molt up to 30 times or more. On average, the number of molts is 5-6.
By experiencing periodic molting, insects can increase their size hundreds or even thousands of times. The most primitive insects molt even after reaching sexual maturity, and do not have a specific number of ages. For example, the Brushtail (Thermobia domestica L) can molt up to 60 times.
Seasonal variability. Wild mammals in temperate and cold zones usually change their hair coat twice a year. This change of hair, called molting, occurs in spring and autumn, and accordingly it is called spring and autumn. Observations have established that in tropical countries and in the far north, animals living there shed only once a year, and it occurs gradually. In mammals that live primarily in water, there is no noticeable spring or autumn molting. In some species of seals, molting occurs only in the spring.
When animals are domesticated, molting becomes irregular, so much so that in some areas of the skin hair change does not occur at all.
In connection with molting, a distinction is made between winter and summer hair. In most fur-bearing animals, the winter and summer coats differ in height, density, different quantitative ratios of guard and down hairs, shape, structure, hair color, thickness and density of skin tissue.
The strongest differences are in the structure of winter and summer hair in fur-bearing animals living in conditions continental climate characterized by sharp seasonal temperature changes. Summer hair is shorter, coarser, and less dense than winter hair. The downy hair is poorly developed.
In some species of fur-bearing animals, summer hair differs from winter hair in color, for example, the white hare, ermine, and white arctic fox, which change their white winter fur to dark summer fur.
The leather tissue of summer skins is coarsely porous and for the most part thicker than that of winter skins. The roots of the guard hairs are located so deep in the skin tissue that black dots can be observed in some places on the fleshy side. The fleshy side of the skin has a blackish, bluish or greenish color. Summer skins have little value. Their extraction in the USSR is prohibited by law for the vast majority of animal species.
Winter skins have long, fine and thick hair. Downy hair predominates in the hairline. The skin tissue on the flesh side is uniformly white.
The skins reach their fullest pubescence by the beginning of winter. The skins obtained at this time are called full-haired. By this time, the hairline acquires the best color for this type of animal.
The skins of various fur-bearing animals in different regions reach their greatest “maturity” in different time(in our latitudes between November and February).
The change of hair, called molting, does not occur simultaneously on all parts of the animal’s body; in some places it occurs earlier, in others later. The sequence of hair changes in individual areas of the different types animals are also different.
Molting begins in areas of the body called “molting centers” and then spreads to adjacent areas in a sequence characteristic of each species. In some animals, shedding begins from the rump, and then spreads to the ridge, hips, scruff, head, paws and womb; in others, molting proceeds in the reverse order, starting from the head and ending at the rump.
The periodic change of hair is determined by the cyclical nature of its development, characterized by the replacement of flask-shaped hairs that have completed their growth with growing new papillary hairs.
Shedding is associated with the formation of colored, usually dark spots visible on the fleshy side of dried raw hides. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that in dark places deep and closely lying pigmented hair roots lie. As the hair grows, its roots are freed from pigment and the color of the spot disappears. Therefore, in the light areas of the inner skin there are always grown or light, non-pigmented hairs that are in the growth stage.
The time of molting also depends on the age of the animal. Thus, in many species of fur-bearing animals, the molting of young animals occurs somewhat later than in adults.
There is also a dependence of molting on the sex of the animal. In the spring, female fur-bearing animals of many species shed earlier than males and their molting proceeds more rapidly.
Most species of fur-bearing animals shed twice a year. Animals that hibernate in winter molt once a year. The mole sheds three times a year.
Double molting during the year occurs in the squirrel, water rat, thin-toed ground squirrel, white hare, brown hare, sable, marten, weasel, ermine, arctic fox, and mink.
Fur-bearing animals that hibernate (gopher, marmot, chipmunk, badger) do not develop new hair during their 7-9 month hibernation. They have one long molt of hair, which begins in the spring and ends by the time they hibernate.
This means that these animals do not have summer fur. In summer they are covered with thinning winter fur, consisting mainly of faded, dull, guard hairs.
Age variability. The hair and skin of fur-bearing animals and animals undergoes significant changes with age, and the most dramatic changes are observed in early age. As a rule, newborn babies, growing up, at the end of the lactation period change their primary hair coat to another, secondary one, different in structure and color from the primary one. Age variability is characteristic of the hair coat of sheep, seals and white foxes.
Typically, the primary hairline differs from the secondary one in being more soft, tender and velvety; guard hairs are thin, differing little from fluff in thickness and length (which is why the primary hair coat is often called fluffy).
The primary hair coat also differs from the secondary one in its color, which is most often darker than the color of adult individuals. The exception is the white coloration of the lush hair of newborn seal pups (whites). The hair of adult seals is dark in color and less luxuriant.
The skin tissue of skins covered with primary hair is thin, loose and fragile.
Secondary hair is close in quality to the fur of an adult animal.
Due to the fact that the quality of the skins of young fur-bearing animals is low, their fishing is prohibited (with the exception of fishing for pests - wolves, jackals, gophers).
Age variability is expressed differently in most farm and domestic animals, in which the skins of their young produce the most valuable fur product (astrakhan fur, smushka, foal, goat, opoek). But even for this group of animals there are exceptions: the skins of rabbits, cats, and dogs with primary hair are of little value.
Sexual variability. The hair and skin of males and females of fur-bearing animals has some differences. These differences are relatively subtle and are expressed in the size of the skins, the length and thickness of the hair, as well as the thickness of the leather tissue.
The skins of male fur-bearing animals, except beavers, are larger than the skins of females.
Males, with rare exceptions, have more luxuriant and coarser hair (black polecat, weasel weasel, bear). In some animal species, males, unlike females, have a mane (fur seals, rams).
The skin tissue of the skins of males is thicker than that of females. Individual variability.
In a batch of skins of the same type, age and sex, obtained in the same area and at the same time of year, it is often difficult to find two completely identical skins in color, height, thickness and softness of the hair. This is explained by the individual (personal) variability of animals, independent of gender, age, season and habitat.
Individual variability in the hair of fur-bearing animals, agricultural and domestic animals is a serious factor that complicates the sorting of fur raw materials and semi-finished products, as it requires an individual assessment of the quality of each skin.
In different types of fur-bearing animals, individual variability is expressed differently. For example, in otter skins it is weakly expressed, but in sable skins, on the contrary, it is very strong.
A batch of sable skins, received from one region and one variety, can be so diverse that it has to be divided into groups according to color, fluffiness, softness and other characteristics of the hair.
In agricultural and domestic animals, individual variability in hair coat is no less pronounced than in wild fur-bearing animals.
For example, in the skins of Karakul lambs, individual differences in the nature, structure and size of hair curls are so great that when sorting the skins, they are divided into dozens of varieties of varying quality and value. In domestic animals, even belonging to the same breed, individual variability in hair color is observed. An example is the same astrakhan skins, which come in black, gray, brown and other colors.
What is molting in birds called? This is the process by which the feather cover changes. For birds it is a necessity. Over time, feathers wear out, lose thermal properties and even affect the ability to fly. When molting, the layer of the epidermis also changes, which periodically dies. The scales on the paws and beak plates are renewed.
All birds moult differently. For some it happens quickly, for others it lasts more than six months. Some birds shed profusely, so much so that bald patches even form; in others, you may not even notice the process of changing plumage. However, they all have one thing in common - weakened immunity. The birds become less mobile and feel drowsy. Also, birds during molting need more high-calorie food. As for domestic animals, they require more careful care during this period.
Types of shedding
There are two types of shedding:
- Juvenile - in young individuals. It occurs in all birds at different times. For example, in chickens, the juvenile molt begins between 3 and 45 days of birth and ends after about 4 to 5 months. And in young individuals this molting occurs somewhat later. It begins at the age of 60-70 days, but ends after 2 months.
- Periodic is molting in adults that occurs once a year.
What is molting in birds? This is a periodic change of plumage. In adults natural conditions it depends not on age, but on the season. Usually this is late summer or autumn. But in birds kept in captivity, molting occurs only after oviposition.
Periods of plumage change
Birds always begin to moult from the central part. The new feathers have a wider fan than the shed ones, and they are lighter than the old ones. The duration of plumage change is also different for everyone.
Birds can molt several times a year, it all depends on their species. But all birds, without exception, undergo the first annual change of feathers. The beginning of this process is different for each species. For some - between migrations, for others - in the interval between laying eggs and the appearance of chicks.
What do birds need during molting?
During this period, the birds’ immunity is weakened, and their body needs additional microelements. If in their natural habitat birds intuitively find everything they need, then birds living at home need additional care. This includes mandatory vitamin supplements and special foods. This is especially necessary for those whose process occurs in winter. Birds with bright colors need to be given more attention than others. If they are fed incorrectly, their plumage will become dull.
What to do if the bird does not moult
The reason for the lack of shedding may lie in illness or incipient health problems. Such birds are kept in warm rooms, but the air should not be very dry or humid. It is also necessary that the cage or enclosure be large and spacious.
What is molting in birds called? This is a change in plumage that can cause the skin to become tougher. So that it does not dry out and remains elastic, swimsuits with water should be installed in cages and enclosures. If the bird does not use them, then it must be sprayed daily with a spray bottle. But if molting has not yet occurred, then you can try adding ant pupae to the food.
Molting in chickens: features
Due to the fact that it is possible to regulate the climate, the molting process does not depend at all on the season. A chicken bred in spring moults in early winter or late autumn. Accordingly, if she was born in the fall, then this process occurs at the end of spring or summer. During the molting period, the chicken does not lay eggs. It lasts from 15 to 20 days. After molting, the chicken's egg production immediately resumes.
Individuals that were born in the spring are mainly raised for meat. Because their egg-laying period is short, keeping such a bird on a farm is unprofitable. At the same time, molting in such chickens proceeds very slowly.
How do parrots change plumage?
For these birds, the process occurs several times a year. The very first molt in parrots begins at two months of age. This period is very important, as individuals occur. After the end of molting, the parrot is considered already adult and sexually mature.
This is a process for the normal existence of birds. Feathers change not only during puberty, but throughout life. This usually happens twice a year. At the same time, the bird becomes inactive, lethargy and drowsiness appear. This is due to the fact that during molting, metabolic processes intensify.
Plumage changes also occur after the mating period. In some species, the molting process is completely invisible, and no bald patches are observed. But if the feathers fall out unbalanced, then the parrot cannot fly at that time. Often molting is a bird's reaction to fright. Sometimes this is a symptom of a serious illness.
How do cockatiels moult?
This natural process occurs in all birds, regardless of species. Corella also changes its color a little in this way, since the new feathers have brighter and more saturated shades. But this species of bird also has its own characteristics.
We have already found out what is called molting in birds. In cockatiels, this process occurs gradually. The flight feathers change first, then the tail feathers. The process takes a long time - up to six months. And in several stages. But it is very difficult to notice this visually.
Young birds moult a little faster: they begin to lose their plumage by four months, and finish by the end of the first year of life. At this time, diet is very important. Your cockatiel needs to get as many vitamins and minerals as possible.
When molting, some parrots experience severe pain. But for the most part, the process is painless. However, molting in cockatiels is accompanied by unpleasant sensations. Therefore, in captivity, drafts and high humidity are contraindicated for them. The food should be complete, and during the period of peak molting - very nutritious. Oil seeds must be present in the diet; sunflower seeds, hemp or chopped nuts can be given. It is also recommended to use fortified ones, which are sold in all pet stores.
In the article we looked at what is called molting in birds, how it happens and when. To summarize, we can say briefly: this is the replacement of old feathers with new ones, which occurs at different times in birds of different species and ages, and also depends on the change of seasons, etc.
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