Is it normal for my dog to have no hair on his belly and armpits?

Hello. I would not be overly concerned, but do point this out to your veterinarian at Lucy's next veterinary visit. We do see some situations where hair can be very slow to regrow after shaving ( she may have had her neck shaved when blood was drawn prior to her surgery ), but unless she is showing signs of illness, such as lethargy, weight gain, lack of energy, or you notice skin lesions such as redness or pustules, it is not an emergency to have her seen. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It is not unusual for a dog to have thin hair on the belly/armpit area, and this can be more obvious in dogs with a very short hair coat such as a pug. If, however, you feel that hair is falling out on her legs this is abnormal and could be a sign of mites on the skin or an allergy. The photos are a bit hard to really tell how the skin appears. If your pup is losing hair on the legs I would recommend an examination by a vet to check for parasites and be sure we don't have an allergy that needs medication to treat. It looks like your pup also has an umbilical hernia. Most often if these are small they are not a problem but it is another reason to have a vet check your puppy and be sure this isn't one that needs surgical repair.

You can see this occur in some dogs and it can be completely normal but, just like anything, it can be pathologic as well. Monitor the skin very closely for redness, itching, progression of hairloss or scabbing. If these signs are seen it is more likely pathologic and he should be examined by his veterinarian. Otherwise point it out to the veterinarian at his next regularly scheduled exam. An omega-3 fatty acid can help maintain good skin and coat health. Make sure to get a supplement for dogs specifically. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I'm sorry to hear Angelica is losing hair. It is not typical for a short haired breed such as a pit bull to blow or shed their coat seasonally. I would be concerned that there is something more going on with her skin, such as parasites (mites or fleas), an infection, or an underlying medical issue. I would recommend she be seen by her regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for her hair loss and start any treatment if necessary. Good luck!

Hello, my name is Dr. Shines and I am happy to help. If Pico isn't itching or licking the area, if the skin's not red or scabby and if the fur looks normal, this is probably normal. As they age, the skin can darken, particularly in the groin and armpits. If Pico seems to be scratching or licking more, or if you sees signs of infection, then make an appointment to have him examined. Allergies can cause the skin to darker as well. I hope this helps and please feel free to reach out any time.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Gola. The dark spots on his belly appear to be normal pigment changes. This is common in white haired dogs. There will be multiple darker spots on the belly. The spots can grow, change and fade as the dog ages. They are flat with the skin, there is no redness and they do not bother the dog. If this seems to be the case for him, testing should not be needed. This is not a cause for concern. If the bumps are itchy or develop scabs, then this is different and could indicate an infection. I hope this information helps!

The hair around the mouth and lips is usually not as dense as on other parts of the body, but it looks patchy, sparse, or if the skin looks irritated or different in some way, then I would get her checked by the vet. If you've recently changed bowls that she east or drinks from, she could be allergic to them, especially if they're plastic.