Why is my dog losing fur? What are the possible causes of hair loss?

Hair loss can have a variety of causes. One of the first things to determine is whether he is scratching himself in that area or not. Dogs often scratch themselves at night when we are sleeping so it is harder to see. If he is scratching, the hair loss could be due to parasites such as fleas or mites, a bacterial infection, yeast overgrowth, or skin allergies. If he does not seem to be itchy, hair loss can be caused by hormonal changes or certain endocrine diseases. These are just some of the possibilities. In order to determine what is most likely, I recommend taking him to your local veterinarian for a thorough exam and an initial skin test if needed to determine the cause.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to us concerning your pets hair loss. Yes, hypothyroidism can be a cause of an older dogs hair loss. The clinical signs of hypothyroidism are no itchy hair loss, panting, constantly seeking out vents or shady places because the heat bothers them, etc. but this condition usually begins between the ages of two and five but there are some situations in which happens at an older age. There are many other diseases that can also cause hair loss so it is in your best interest To take him to a veterinarian to have a full physical examination performed. The vet will be able to run tests such as blood work up, thyroid testing, skin scraping, etc. to be able to make a diagnosis and put him on the correct treatment. I hope this information has helped. Have a great day.

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.

Please post a picture of your pets hair loss so that we can better help you with recommendations and possible causes for her hair loss. Hair loss in general can be caused by: Flea allergies (always a possibility if your pet is not on a high quality flea flea preventative), thyroid disease, allergic dermatitis (environmental or food related), seasonal Alopecia (due to genetics), or even a bacterial or skin infection. Starting with a skin scrape and skin impression through your vet, along with a thyroid test (if your pet meets the criteria) is usually the best place to start when trying to find out the cause. We look forward to hearing back from you soon with pictures of your Sadie. Or a consultation can be requested for a more in depth and personal response. Best of luck and take care.

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 be differentiated by the clinical signs associated with it and the physical exam findings. If Wally is only showing some hair loss without scratching or overgrooming then it could conditions such as alopecia areata that can affect dogs 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 him overgrooming himself in that area then it could be something like psychogenic alopecia which is more of a behavioral issue. I think that since he 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 him examined by your veterinarian. Good luck!

The main reasons for hair loss include allergies, other primary dermatologic conditions, certain endocrine diseases, or self-inflicted trauma. Based on the look of the skin, it doesn't appear to be irritated or itchy.. Usually hair loss without itchiness is attributed to a systemic problem or something immune mediated in nature. Lastly, there are also some instances where dogs and/or cats can lose hair for no apparent reason without their being any sort of problem. To figure out the reason with certainty, some testing of the affected area would be required. If Bryant isn't showing any other problems right now and the area of effect is not growing in size, it isn't really an urgent thing to get checked out. Continue to monitor for changes and seek attention should the time come when it becomes necessary. Hope this makes sense.

Hello, it looks like Lucky may be shedding his winter coat since it is starting to warm up. If he does have an active skin condition however, look for any sings of itchiness, anxiety, further hair loss, red skin, and scabs. Dogs with skin allergies may also bite and chew at their feet constantly, and environmental allergies are common during this time of the year. If you note any of these, then have lucky seen by his veterinarian as he may need medications. Please also make sure that he has monthly flea and tick control as fleas can also cause severe itchiness and hair loss, especially around his lower back, legs and belly. Hope this helps and best of luck.