Why is my Golden Retriever puppy's hair so thin at 7 months old?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I can’t tell for sure without looking and feeling but it is likely that it is perfectly normal. Austin is simply loosing his “puppy coat” and growing in his new adult fur. The adult coat of Goldens is quite soft and shiny when properly cared for but it will never be quite as soft as his newborn fur. Of course if it stays very thin or there are large patches missing, talk to your vet about what else could be going on (mites, hormonal problem, post shave alopecia, or other problems.) Best of luck to you and Austin!

There are a number of reasons why he could be losing hair. If his skin seems fine and he's not scratching, his skin looks normal (no redness, scaling, oozing, etc.) it could be part of the natural shedding cycle or due to his age and developing his adult coat. If the shedding seems abnormal, if the skin is involved, if he is losing hair in patches, itching, etc., I recommend you get him seen by a vet who can examine the skin, possibly do some labwork and., based on these results, will be better able to advise you on the cause of the shedding and how best to manage and treat it.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! They are gorgeous! This is not expected to be due to the puppy. There is a variety of reasons that can explain alopecia or hair loss. The causes can easily be differentiated by the clinical signs associated with it and the physical exam findings. If they are only showing some hair loss without scratching or overgrooming then it could conditions such as alopecia areata that can affect cats 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 them overgrooming in that area then it could be something like psychogenic alopecia which is more of a behavioral issue. I think that since they are not having overt clinical signs and it is mostly hair loss, I think it is likely transient and will resolve on its own. You can monitor this closely and if it does not resolve or it worsens then have them examined by your veterinarian. 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!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! yes dogs can shed or blow their undercoat in the summer. It is hard to predict what Austins adult coat with be. I agree it's a bit wiry. If he is pure bred gold and not a doodle mix I see no reason why his coat won't look like his parents. I think is just a bit underweight. I would increase his puppy food by 25%. Be sure he has been dewormed well and is on a high quality commercial puppy food. Diet and intestinal parasites can affect the coat as well as body weight. I wish you the best!

It is not normal for a pet to have bald spots, but it is normal for a pet to shed. If Cookie has bald spots, then the top causes for this are: Flea allergies or Demodexx mites. It is best to have him examined by your vet to determine which is the cause and to start treatment. I hope that Cookie's hair issues resolve soon! Best wishes and take care.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Lily Cruz! Is Lily scratching? I would have her seen by your Vet. The most common causes of excessive shedding and areas of balding are: demodex (non-contagious mite), ring worm and a skin infection. Demodex can be easily treated with one of the oral flea/tick preventatives (Nexgard, Simparica or Bravecto). Skin infections are treat with antibiotics or anti-fungals if it is yeast. Ring worm can be a bit more complicated. I do not think it is normal shedding because she shouldn't have areas that are thin or balding. I wish you the best!