My dog is losing hair under his legs and belly. What's wrong?

Without seeing Jax it is hard to say. I know you haven't seen fleas, but fleas don't have to spend much time on a dog to cause scratching. Other things like microscopic mites, allergies and metabolic problems can also cause hair loss. There isn't much you can do from home but I would recommend making an appointment with your vet to better narrow down the cause.

There are a number of things that could cause redness and hair loss in a particular area like this. The most common possibilities would include allergies (food allergies, or an allergy to something in the environment), fleas, or a bacterial or fungal skin infection. If Jackson isn't already on a good quality monthly flea control medication like Revolution or Advantage Multi, this is the first thing that I would suggest. If you're positive that he doesn't have fleas, I would recommend having him examined by a vet when you are able to - he/she can do some simple skin tests if needed to help diagnose the problem and get him started on appropriate medication to treat it.

Jax is very cute! In dogs HYPERthyroidism is very rare. However HYPOthyroidism is much more common and can certainly cause hair loss or unusual hair patterns. It would be a good idea to have Jax's thyroid levels checked. Cushing's disease can also cause hair loss so it may be a good idea to have him rechecked for Cushing's. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and best to you and Jax!

Hi. Thanks for the photos. There are a few common things that can cause the dark coloring, hair loss, and even itching. The most common can be allergies. Others would be deep infection, parasitic, low thyroid, and hormonal imbalances. With the photos here and the severity, I am highly suspicious of severe allergies or low thyroid level. I would make an appointment with your veterinarian when you are able and they will do a full exam. They will do some skin testing, bloodwork that will include thyroid levels, and whatever medication may be needed depending on the probable cause after an exam. Good luck

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!

I'm sorry to hear that Jax is so uncomfortable! The redness and inflammation on his foot is pretty significant. This type of skin issue is most commonly caused by underlying allergies to fleas, food or the environment. When dogs itch and bite a lot, they damage the protective outer layers of the skin, often resulting in the onset of bacterial and/or yeast skin infections. It's possible that he may need some anti-itch medications, antibiotics or anti-fungal medications. I understand that Jax is not the most cooperative at the vet, but this is something that warrants veterinary attention. I'd recommend calling your vet to ask if they can prescribe a sedative before the appointment or consider working with a house call vet in your area. I hope that everything goes well!

I'm glad that Jaxi doesn't seem to be bothered by the lesion on her skin. Flaky areas with hair loss can be caused by a variety of conditions, including ringworm, mange and skin infections. Since these issues can only be diagnosed with microscopic evaluation and/or culture, I recommend taking Jaxi to her vet. I hope that she's on the mend soon!