My 4-week-old puppy is shedding hair. Should I be worried about it?

I would have this checked by a vet. It sounds very much like ringworm. Although the name suggests otherwise, ringworm is not caused by a worm at all-but a fungus. This highly contagious infection can lead to patchy areas of hair loss on a pet, and can spread to other animals-and to humans, too. Classic symptoms of ringworm include lesions that typically appear on a pet’s head, ears, paws and forelimbs. These lesions can cause patchy, crusted circular “bald spots” that sometimes look red in the center. In mild cases of ringworm, there may be just a few broken hairs, while bad cases of ringworm can spread over most of a pet’s body. It’s also possible for a pet to carry the fungus and not show any symptoms whatsoever. Treatment of ringworm depends on the severity of the infection. A veterinarian may prescribe a medicated shampoo or ointment that contains miconazole or a dip such as lime sulfur to kill the fungus. In some cases, oral medications are necessary to cure ringworm. In severe cases, it may be necessary to use a topical and oral treatment, in addition to clipping away the fur. Once treatment begins, lesions should begin to heal in about one to three weeks. Please note, it is important to treat your pet for as long as recommended by your veterinarian. Even though the skin lesions may have cleared up, this doesn’t mean your pet is cured or can’t infect another animal or person. Certain diagnostic tests may need to be repeated in order to ensure cure. And unfortunately, there is no guarantee that reinfection won’t occur!

It is not normal for a pet to have bald spots, but it is normal for a pet to shed. If Cookie has bald spots, then the top causes for this are: Flea allergies or Demodexx mites. It is best to have him examined by your vet to determine which is the cause and to start treatment. I hope that Cookie's hair issues resolve soon! Best wishes and take care.

Poor pup! It would be best to bring him to a vet for a complete exam and to have a sample taken from the areas where there is hair loss. Allergies can definitely play a part in hair loss, however ruling out other issues such as parasites (fleas, ticks, even internal parasites), illnesses, or fungal/bacterial infections is best to do as well. If allergies are suspected, your vet can work with you to try a diet change for any food allergies, or get started on a medication to treat any environmental allergies. Until you can get to the vet, placing an Elizabethan (cone) collar or T-shirt on your pup is best to keep him from licking and scratching at the areas where there is hair loss. This can help prevent the spread of any infection or prevent a secondary infection from taking hold.

Your description has me concerned about possible ringworm. I would recommend having her examined by your veterinarian. In the meantime please be cautious and use good hygiene. If it is ring worm then it can be contagious to people as well. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hello, congratulations on your new pup. Its likely that his puppy coat is beginning to fall out as is normal and thats what your are noting. As long as he is eating and drinking normally then just continue to monitor him and make sure that you continue to feed him his puppy diet. Hope this helps and best of luck.

I am sorry to hear about your puppy. Many different things can cause hair loss, also known as alopecia, in dogs. Parasites of the skin such as mange mites and fleas can cause this. Bacterial or yeast infections of the skin can also be a cause, as well as some genetic disorders. I would recommend an examination at a veterinarian to determine the cause of the hairloss which will help guide treatment recommendations, which may include medication to treat for mange, antibiotics or medicated shampoos.

I am sorry to hear about Norik! We can see shedding at certain times of year, especially when the seasons are changing, however we would not expect a bald patch of skin as a result of this normal shedding. If Norik has a bald spot we would worry about things such as a hot spot forming (a bacterial infection of the skin), a fungal infection such as ringworm, ectoparasites, or other disorder. I would recommend Norik have an exam by his vet to check the patch of bald skin so we can figure out why he is losing this hair and treat appropriately!