Why is my dog losing hair on its body? Melatonin isn't helping.

Poor Marley! Slow regrowth of hair on certain parts of the body can often be caused by hormonal problems such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease. Your vet can run some simple blood tests to check for these problems, so I would suggest having this done when you are able to - these are very treatable issues once a diagnosis is made :) In the meantime, if he isn't having any other symptoms at all, you could also try an omega-3 fatty acid supplement such as Welactin to help promote healthy skin and hair - sometimes this can help if he's otherwise doing fine.

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.

The only way to know if this is truly alopecia X is to either do a skin biopsy or to do a short trial of melatonin to see if he grows the hair back while on treatment. However, alopecia X typically only affects adult dogs age 1-10, so it isn't my first suspicion. I would rule out Demodexx mites and allergies (especially if the skin is red or crusty) first with a skin scrape and response to allergy medication. I hope you get to the bottom of Dudu's hair loss. Take care.

Melatonin does help with stress if that is what you vet thinks is causing the alopecia. I would just get a high quality brand like natures made and I think tablet or capsule is fine. Just be sure it has the correct milligram your vet recommended. For stress, there are also composure chews that help. See link below. Neither of these supplements work on everyone though. If this only happen during certain seasons, you may also consider this being an allergic reaction. If he is itchy, I would talk to your vet about trying an allergy medicine like apoquel. This will help to decrease the itch and help the hair grow. I hope this helps! VIP-_-92700026086767577&kwid=p26086767577&device=m&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoK2R5PiR2AIVRR1pCh2zdQarEAQYASABEgLVPPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Dogs that are hypothyroid have a deficiency of thyroid hormone which can cause the symptoms you describe as well as lethargy, weight gain, etc. Replacing with thyroid hormone is the only way to treat the problem, and it is necessary to confirm that she is indeed hypothyroid before starting treatment. Unfortunately there is nothing that can be given at home.

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.

Poor Louis! This type of hair loss can be caused by cushings and hypothyroidism among other things like allergies, bacterial or yeast infections and more. Keep in mind that both Cushings and hypothyroidism dogs usually show other signs as well, but not always. Dogs with cushings usually with have excessive drinking and urinating and/or excessive panting. Dogs with hypothyroidism are usually over weight and/or always lethargic. Cushing's and hypothyroidism both require specialized blood testing to diagnose so they were likely not tested for back in August of 2017. I would talk with your vet about your concerns and see if they feel like you need to run any additional diagnostics or if they think there is another cause. I hope this helps!