My dog has hair loss and itch. Could it be hypothyroidism? What helps?

Not sure how you would know that a stray dog has hypothyroidism, since it requires a blood test to diagnose. You cannot diagnose this disease based on the clinical signs alone, especially in this case, as hair loss with severe itchiness (reflected by his chewing) are likely caused by mites (mange), ringworm, allergies, or fleas. If the antihistamines and steroids provide relief, he may very well have an allergy, but a veterinarian should rule out the other skin problems mentioned above with simple testing. You should also confirm the diagnosis of hypothyroidism with a blood test before continuing medications.

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.

If it's a thyroid problem, then this will eventually get better once she starts treatment. In the meantime, you can help by giving a bath with a medicated shampoo followed by a conditioner with the active ingredient of phytosphingosine. The product at the link below would be ideal. https://www.amazon.com/Douxo-Chlorhexidine-Shampoo-16-9-oz/dp/B000O1HEJ0 I hope that helps and all is well with Mya.

I'm so sorry that Duke is doing poorly. Unfortunately skin problems can be very difficult to diagnose and treat because they often look the same on exam and require further testing for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. If Duke has a low thyroid level, then he will need thyroid medication for the rest of his life. I have attached more information on hypothyroidism below. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=461 Unfortunately, hair loss can be caused by a huge variety of hormonal and skin problems. Below is a handout that discusses another hormonal disease that can affect the skin called Cushing's disease. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1551 If Duke is itchy, I would also recommend that your veterinarian perform a skin cytology to evaluate for secondary bacterial or yeast infection which is very common with hormonal diseases. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=466 I think you will likely need to have your vet recheck Duke's skin, recheck his blood work, and possibly do additional testing to determine the best treatment for Duke. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Hello. If your veterinarian has not checked Moka's thyroid levels, then yes this needs to be looked at. Otherwise, this is a good fatty acid supplement, but it can take 6-8 weeks to see results after a supplement is started. If this does not work, she may need some additional testing. You can ask your veterinarian if there are any veterinary dermatologist specialists in your country. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If I'm reading this correctly, it says Covo is hyperthyroid which is very rare in dogs. I recommend to discuss with your veterinarian if retesting is needed to make sure there was not a lab error. Here is a link about thyroid abnormalities: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/thyroid-disease-in-dogs/ Hyperthyroidism is very rare in dogs and skin disorders are not commonly associated with the condition. The most common causes of persistent itching are allergies to fleas, allergies to something in the environment, food allergy or endocrine disease. Each one of these problems is detected and addressed differently and I recommend to discuss with your veterinarian which one to start hunting down first. Parasites are often ruled out with an oral medication like Simparica. Food allergy is best ruled out with a diet trial using a hydrolyzed protein. Endocrine diseases are detected with blood work. Environmental allergies are a little more difficult to detect but a response to therapy or a blood test can give an indication. Once you figure out and address the underlying cause, the itching should not come back. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing her diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. Continue to use the elizabethan collar at all times. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Skin problems are common in dogs with hypothyroidism, and should improve once medication has been started. I would give it about 6-8 weeks for the coat to get back to normal again. It is possible that it may appear to get worse around the 3-4 week mark though, as the old hairs are pushed out for the new coat to grow in. In the meantime, if the only problem is dry skin, try to bathe no more than once a month, and use a conditioner afterwards. Omega 3 (fish oil) supplements can also help to combat dryness. I hope this helps, and your pup is feeling better soon!