Hair Loss Symptoms, Causes & Treatments

What is Hair Loss?

Hair loss (alopecia) is a common disorder in dogs that causes the animal to have partial or complete hair loss. Alopecia in dogs refers to hair loss that can be partial or complete, but it also refers to deficiencies in a dog’s coat or a failure to grow hair at all.

A visit to the vet should help to find the root of the problem and allow you to find a suitable treatment to get your dog back to their usual, gorgeous selves.

Symptoms 

• Overall hair loss
• Itchiness
• Dry, scaly skin around the area of hair loss
• Patches of baldness
• Red, inflamed skin
• Oozing or bleeding around areas of hair loss
• Inflammation of the skin
• Black or dark grey skin under hair loss

Causes 

• Diabetes
• Thyroid issues
• Skin cancer
• Hormonal imbalance
• Allergies
• fungal infection
• Injuries and scarring
• Exposure to chemotherapy
• Nervous chewing or licking

Treatments

• Antibiotics (oral or topical) will treat bacterial infections.
• Vitamin E, Vitamin A and fish oil supplements may be recommended for pets with certain conditions or a predisposition to dry skin or skin infections.
• If alopecia is a result of your dog chewing and licking, you may need an Elizabethan collar to stop the behaviour.
• Hypoallergenic diets will often solve hair loss due to food allergies. Allergies to foods take some time to define. The veterinarian will recommend a prescription or over the counter hypoallergenic diet and explain the proper method of transitioning to the new diet.
• Surgery may be required to remove sections of skin cancer or tumours. Neutering or spaying your pet may be required for sex-hormone disorders.