How Hair Loss In Dog Can Be Avoided

How Hair Loss In Dog Can Be Avoided

Scratching, shedding and biting all lead to hair loss in your dog. Review treatment for preventing hair loss around your dog collar plus products recommended by vets.
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Signs And Symptoms Of Hair Loss In Your Dog

* Inherited Or Disease Causes. Dog hair loss can be categorized as inherited (congenital alopecia), developed during the dog's life (aging) or symptomatic of an underlying disease. Since most dogs, except for hairless breeds, have full even coats, the signs of patchy hair loss in dogs are cause for concern and the need for treatment.

* The Pattern Of Dog Hair Loss Identifies Causes. Patchy hair loss in dogs can be localized in one particular area or generalized over the animal's entire body. The pattern of canine hair loss can be useful in identifying the nature of the underlying dog hair loss cause.

Circular patches of red crusty skin may be a sign of ringworm, which is a contagious fungus that can be spread from animal to animal. Ringworm infection is more likely to occur in hot, humid environments. There are four fungal species that cause dog hair loss. The fungi live in the hair follicle causing the hair shaft to break off. As the fungi spread the initial circular patchy hair loss will become irregular and spread over the dog's body.

* Microscopic Mites Attack Hair Follicles. Dog hair loss may also be caused by mites (demodex). The mites reside in the hair follicle and feed off the oil glands of the skin.

In low concentrations, the mites do not cause hair loss. But as the mites multiply, hair loss in dog can be noticed around the mouth, eyelids and front legs. As the mites spread, patchy hair loss becomes noticeable over the entire body. There is a risk of infection with the larger patchy hair loss.

There are hair loss medication products (Mitaban) that can be topically applied to the lesion to treat the patchy hair loss. Normally, once the mites are killed, the dog will not develop patchy hair loss again because the dog's immune system has developed a defense to the mites.

* Hair Loss In Dogs Caused By Flea Bite Infection. Some dogs are allergic to fleabites. Dog hair loss in reaction to fleabites occurs in a triangular shape from the base of the tail (tip of the triangle) to the dog's shoulders (base of the triangle).

Unusually heavy scratching and abnormal agitation may accompany the dog hair loss. If a dog is allergic to fleabites, then as little as one flea bite per week can lead to dog hair loss. A flea medication like an imidocloprid (Advantage Rx) can address the problem. Allergies are also treatable with a corticosteroid.

* When Hormonal Imbalance Occurs. Dog hair loss can be caused by hormonal imbalances. The pattern of hair loss is patchy in specific areas and symmetrical on both sides of the dog's body.

Hair loss can occur from a deficiency in estrogen (hypoestrogenism) in older spayed dogs. The female dog's skin is smooth and her coat is thinning, first around the vulva, then over the entire body. A deficiency in a dog's thyroid hormone may cause canine hair loss.

The hair loss pattern is generalized over the entire body with the dog's coat being thin and the hair loss coming easily. The remaining hair will be coarse and brittle.

* When Poor Nutrition Occurs. Hair loss in dog from a nutritional deficiency is unlikely in light of the nutritional supplements in brand name dog food. Lack of protein, or essential fatty acids, causes a thin, dry coat. A better diet can quickly reverse dog hair loss caused by a nutritional deficiency.

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