My golden retriever's hair clumps after rain. Is it a skin issue?

There were no photos attached to your question. It sounds like Benelly may have allergies but without actually seeing him I cannot say exactly. I would recommend bringing Benelly to your veterinarian and have them evaluate his skin to see exactly what is going on with him. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There is a variety of reasons that can explain alopecia or hair loss. The causes can easily be differentiated by the clinical signs associated with it and the physical exam findings. If Cookie is only showing some hair loss without scratching or overgrooming then it could conditions such as alopecia areata that can affect dogs and cats and usually resolves on its own. If there is evidence of scratching and you start noticing some redness or irritation associated with it, then other conditions such as allergies are possible. If you notice her overgrooming herself in that area then it could be something like psychogenic alopecia which is more of a behavioral issue. I think that since she is not having overt clinical signs and it is mostly hair loss, I think it is possibly transient and could resolve on its own. You can monitor this closely and if it does not resolve or it worsens then have her examined by your veterinarian. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. You may add fish oil to her diet which may help with dry and flaky skin. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

There are a number of reasons why he could be losing hair. If his skin seems fine and he's not scratching, his skin looks normal (no redness, scaling, oozing, etc.) it could be part of the natural shedding cycle or due to his age and developing his adult coat. If the shedding seems abnormal, if the skin is involved, if he is losing hair in patches, itching, etc., I recommend you get him seen by a vet who can examine the skin, possibly do some labwork and., based on these results, will be better able to advise you on the cause of the shedding and how best to manage and treat it.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I can’t tell for sure without looking and feeling but it is likely that it is perfectly normal. Austin is simply loosing his “puppy coat” and growing in his new adult fur. The adult coat of Goldens is quite soft and shiny when properly cared for but it will never be quite as soft as his newborn fur. Of course if it stays very thin or there are large patches missing, talk to your vet about what else could be going on (mites, hormonal problem, post shave alopecia, or other problems.) Best of luck to you and Austin!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Bubba! How old is Bubba? A lot of skin conditions can look the same. But from your photos I think either a skin infection from yeast or bacteria, ring worm or demodex (non-contagious mite). If he is older I recommend having blood work done, some systemic illnesses can manifest in the skin. If he has a skin infection then medicated shampoo and antibiotics or antifungals are needed. If demedex is suspected, especially if he is young, than your Vet will perform a skin scrape to look for the mite under the microscope. Thankfully demodex is very easy to treat these days with the new oral flea and tick medications (Nexgard and Bravecto). Ring worm is diagnosed with a cultured and is treated with either lyme sulfur dips or oral antifungals. I think it is best to make an appointment with your Vet when they open on Monday and start medications based on your Vet's diagnosis. I hope this helps and I wish you and Bubba the best!

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If she doesn’t have a history of skin allergies I would suspect she may have a bacterial infection, thyroid disease some other kind of skin disorder (seborrhea). I would suggest starting with pet formulated fish oils to see if this makes a difference. Also a topical shampoo (Duoxo seborrhea shampoo is recommended) can be tried. If there is no resolve after this, then a trip to the vet is warranted to get the skin tested and a thyroid test done. Best wishes with Holly and I hope her skin resolves soon. Take care.