Dog Hair Loss

Monday, October 5, 2009 at 8:48 pm

This article is a great place to start if you want to learn more about dog hair loss – information, causes and symptoms but also how to treat it. Sometimes dog hair calls for urgent intervention…

Dogs can lose their hair for a wide variety of reasons. It is by no means an uncommon occurrence and there are many causes of it, but one can usually treat it without too much trouble. But please remember that this article is merely for information purposes – always seek the advice of a vet if you see enough hair loss in your dog to have become worried about his or her health.

Why this interest in hair loss, anyway? Actually, humans can find it a “devastating” thing; although vanity tends to be at the root of it. But that is not always the case – humans sometimes link their hair loss to genetics rather than to illness; although there definitely are times when illness is what has caused hair loss in a human. And it is not that different with dogs: any dog seen to be suffering from hair loss may be suffering from poor health; it could be a sign of existing or oncoming illness. Dog owners should always take it is a warning sign of an underlying condition that possibly requires inspection by a vet (and I doubt that they would want to gain a reputation of being neglectful of their pet as a result of someone else having been the first to point it out!).

Here are four possible causes of hair loss in dogs. The first is allergies. Dogs’ allergies are usually the same as those of humans; certain food items, pollen and dust all belong to the list. Flea bite is also a common allergy with dogs (they react to the saliva rather than the actual bite).

Itching, hair loss and feet licking are common signs of food allergies. Sometimes itching can bring about inection as a result of relentless scratching. Household cleaning products and rubber may also provoke allergies.

Then there is hereditary causes; like Black Hair Follicular and Colour Dilation / Mutant Alopecia. Note also the influence of Pituitary Dwarfism.

One notably sinister-sounding cause of hair loss in dogs is parasites – usually fleas or mites. They relish moist and warm conditions, so monitor indoor heating. There are many anti-flea products available on the market – and don’t forget to treat bedding, floors and yards as well as the dog itself. Mites produce mange, of which there are three types: sarcoptic, demodectic and cheyletiellosis. Mites bury themselves deeper under the dog’s skin. Look for these as possible signs of mange: hair loss, redness, pustules, legions and scales. But it will require a veterinarian to decide there are mites present, using skin scrapings.

Finally, consider, stress and psychological abuse, and poor nutrition.