My dachshund puppy has a bald spot. What's causing the hair loss?

Hmmm, it sure does make him look cute, though! This is a very interesting pattern of hair growth. It is quite possible it is just how his hair grows! Possible causes for this (although not very common in puppies) include hypothyroidism, endocrine or hormonal disorders, or color dilution alopecia since it appears to be no hair growth in the blue areas. I recommend that your vet test his different hormone and endocrine levels to see if there is a treatable cause. If it is alopecia, you can try supplements (discuss an appropriate dose of melatonin with your vet) but there is no cure. For the sores and bumps, common causes include fleas, mange, infections (bacterial or yeast), ringworm, allergies, among others. You can try a medicated shampoo like Dechra MalAcetic Ultra Shampoo as well as a good flea preventative like Seresto Collars or a prescription oral feal preventative. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/color-dilution-alopecia-in-dogs

Hi there and thanks for posting this question. Certainly there can be many causes for this, but young dogs commonly will have a mite called demodex mite. I suspect by the age and description that this may be the problem. I would recommend that he be seen by a veterinarian. They will likely do a skin scraping to look for mites. If positive they will discuss treatment options. I hope this helps and thanks for using Pet Coach!

The spot on the nose could be a scab, small mass, or ringworm. I don't really see evidence of hairloss or hair lightening in the picture, so I am not sure what that could be. You can try apply an antifungal cream to the spot on the nose twice daily for a week. If it doesn't seem to respond, Kobe should get checked out by a vet.

At his age I would consider an endocrine problem such as Cushings disease or s low thyroid. These can cause hair loss and skin infections. Your vet can do a skin scraping to check for parasites and lab work to check for the endocrine problems. If there are raw spots now you can apply some cortisone cream until you can get him treated

Hello and thank you for using our consultation service. dogs that are his age and breed can sometimes get conditions or diseases that can cause all of the dermatological symptoms you are experiencing. Some of the possibilities include shedding, food allergies, breed specific pattern baldness, flea bite dermatitis, ringworm, etc. In order to find out exactly what is going on, you need to have your local veterinarian do a complete physical examination as soon as possible before this gets worse. Your vet will want to do some testing such as a skin scrape, ringworm culture, bloodwork, etc. so that they can make a correct diagnosis. Although this certainly could be considered shedding, it is fairly unlikely because there are patches missing in different places. Therefore, this is most likely a condition or disease that needs to be diagnosed by a veterinarian. I hope I have provided you with the answer you needed. Have a great day.

I would have this checked by a vet. It sounds very much like ringworm. Although the name suggests otherwise, ringworm is not caused by a worm at all-but a fungus. This highly contagious infection can lead to patchy areas of hair loss on a pet, and can spread to other animals-and to humans, too. Classic symptoms of ringworm include lesions that typically appear on a pet’s head, ears, paws and forelimbs. These lesions can cause patchy, crusted circular “bald spots” that sometimes look red in the center. In mild cases of ringworm, there may be just a few broken hairs, while bad cases of ringworm can spread over most of a pet’s body. It’s also possible for a pet to carry the fungus and not show any symptoms whatsoever. Treatment of ringworm depends on the severity of the infection. A veterinarian may prescribe a medicated shampoo or ointment that contains miconazole or a dip such as lime sulfur to kill the fungus. In some cases, oral medications are necessary to cure ringworm. In severe cases, it may be necessary to use a topical and oral treatment, in addition to clipping away the fur. Once treatment begins, lesions should begin to heal in about one to three weeks. Please note, it is important to treat your pet for as long as recommended by your veterinarian. Even though the skin lesions may have cleared up, this doesn’t mean your pet is cured or can’t infect another animal or person. Certain diagnostic tests may need to be repeated in order to ensure cure. And unfortunately, there is no guarantee that reinfection won’t occur!

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.