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Parasites such as fleas and mites living on or within your dog’s skin can result in hair loss and scabs. These small insects feed off of your dog, damaging the skin and hair follicles in the process. A dog losing hair in patches with scabs is a problem that many owners come to see us about at the clinic. No owner wants to see their dog’s beautiful hair falling out, let alone see their dog’s skin all scabby. In this article, Dr. Alex Crow covers the most common reasons & share tips to help your dog. To understand alopecia in dogs, you need to know how canine fur grows.
Treatment for Alopecia in Dogs
A very common cause of hair loss in dogs is an infestation by parasites such as mites, lice or fleas. In particular, if your dog is losing hair around its neck and tail, there’s a high chance it’s due to fleas. These tiny parasites can rapidly infest your dog and irritate their skin; this leads to intense scratching, which in turn can cause hair loss. Any skin condition your dog has, including eczema or dandruff, can eventually lead to hair loss. If your dog is uncomfortable or their skin is causing them distress, they’ll try to alleviate this by scratching or licking themselves. Over time, this can lead to hair loss as specific areas of skin are weakened and their coat pulled out.
How to Treat Alopecia in Dogs
Always administer treatment according to the veterinarian’s instructions. Follow up appointments may be necessary to ensure the problem is resolving and any infection is clearing. Monitor your pet’s skin and hair regrowth and communicate any changes or concerns to the veterinarian so they can adjust treatment accordingly. Depending on the diagnosis, a variety of treatments are available for dog hair loss.
Allergies
In an ideal world the dog avoids the allergen, but if this is something like grass then it’s impractical. In this case, taking lots of small actions, all of which make a little difference, adds up to a more comfortable dog. Incidentally, they found that a growth hormone was useful as a treatment. “Lots of things affect the thyroid, so that’s where testing would have to be done by the veterinarian,” he says.
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What Is Alopecia in Dogs?
Should the hair loss be the result of Cushing’s disease, the average cost of treatment is $2,000. All costs will vary based on the location where treatment is obtained. Dogs can develop allergies just like humans, and some of the most common signs are itchy skin and hair loss. The most common allergies in dogs are environmental allergies to irritants like pollen, mold and dust mites, flea allergies and food allergies. If your veterinarian suspects allergies, they may recommend flea control, medication to control the itching, avoiding allergens or a food change to rule out food allergies. There are also various types of mites that can affect your dog’s skin including cheyletiella, demodex and sarcopes.
Veterinary professionals will also likely ask you about changes in your dog's behavior, such as excessive scratching. Sometimes minutes of exposure, while other symptoms may arise, include listlessness, fever, and vomiting. First, a vet will suggest topical therapy consisting of either a cream, ointment, or medicated shampoo. Dog hair loss is not the only symptom of Cushing's Disease – it is usually accompanied by a lack of energy, bruising, obesity, and increased hunger, thirst, urination, and panting. Dogs often suffer from a flea allergy, leading to increased licking and biting of the irritated areas.
For animals that share heritage with the mighty wolf, dogs can be real scaredy cats. When your dog is feeling extra stressed, it can help to have calming dog treats on hand. "Calming treats can be extremely helpful for dogs who do not do well with change, including if you move to a new home or bring in a new pet." If your dog’s shedding suddenly increases, it may be a sign of an underlying health issue. Consult with your vet to rule out any health concerns that may be causing the excessive shedding. And not just a little bit — we’re talking tufts of hair rolling down your hallway like tumbleweed in the Wild West.
Also, many (if not most) causes of alopecia are ongoing conditions that will need periodic medications or other treatments. Understanding this before you even make the vet appointment will go a long way in saving you from frustration if symptoms return in the future. Hair loss may need to be treated more than once, depending on your pet’s predisposition to skin infections.
Kradle Calming Bliss Bars
The vet can perform a physical examination and examine a dog’s hair follicles for signs of damage. You may also need to do blood tests or biopsies can confirm or eliminate medical causes. There are many reasons why a dog develops this irritating skin condition, including heredity or hormonal issues. Usually, these cause the dog’s coat to thin out but don’t produce excessive itching and scratching.
A puppy’s weak immune system may struggle to control infections that an adult dog would see off. Puppies and senior dogs may shed more than adult dogs due to hormonal changes and age-related factors. Adjusting your grooming routine to accommodate your dog’s age can help manage shedding. Sarcoptic mange is the result of an infection with the Sarcoptes mite. You will observe significant itching, self-trauma, papules, crusts and scales as well as hair loss. Should your dog have ringworm you may observe scaliness, crusty areas, pustules, some itching and hair loss.
When the dog is only experiencing mild symptoms, you will monitor it instead of treated it immediately. If the dog's symptoms become worse, a vet will prescribe trilostane. Hyperadrenocorticism, or Cushing's Disease, is caused by an overproduction of a cortisol hormone, which helps dogs respond to stress and modulates the immune system. At GreatPetCare™, we're proud to be part of Covetrus®, a global animal health company that's all about helping vets improve care for our furry friends. Products purchased from this site will be fulfilled by Covetrus North America, LLC.
"Drugs are a big part of a vet practice in that we want to do things that take stress off of our animals. It's better living through chemistry." Purina formulates this daily probiotic supplement for dogs that display general anxiety in the form of pacing, spinning, whining and/or barking. The brand says its proprietary strain of probiotics can help calm your dog, but there is no clinical study on it. We like that the powder is simple to sprinkle over your dog's regular food.
Other potential options include aloe vera, vitamin E, and coconut oil. Ideally, you will consult your dog's vet before treating any skin conditions. One of the most common treatments for losing hair in dogs is medicated shampoos, but some natural remedies can also work. You should, however, consult your vet, especially in the case of extreme hair loss or other symptoms.
Flea preventatives are an important step in protecting your dog and your home from infestation. If you suspect your pooch has fleas, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian so they can prescribe medication to treat the itch and kill the fleas quickly. At-home remedies include coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, and a flea comb. There are several reasons that dogs may experience bald patches. Allergies are prevalent, including environmental and food ones.
This condition can be unsightly but is of no deeper significance than too many hair shafts entering a resting phase at the same time. These dogs usually have other symptoms such as thirst, changes in appetite and weight, and lack of energy. One form of mange, Demodex, is known as ‘red mange,’ as the bald spots become inflamed and sore.
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