Why is my hypoallergenic puppy shedding excessively? Is it normal?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Sam may have other breeds in him that shed if he is a mix. I recommend Krillex Shed Free Chews, which can be found online quite easily. I would try this for at least 3 months and see if this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. Please take the time to mark this question as helpful or not as it helps us to improve on the quality of our answers to other pet owners. Thank you kindly!

Excessive shedding can have a multitude of reasons: It could be seasonal shedding as we are now in full-blown autumn and Sam may be shedding his coat and replacing it with a winter coat. He could also have a thyroid condition that is making him shed excessively. This can be diagnosed or ruled out easily via a blood test. Other reasons could be bad quality food, a lack of essential fatty acids, parasites or fungal/bacterial infections. Some dogs naturally shed more than others. If you think that the shedding is caused by something other than a seasonal change or fur I suggest you take Sam to your veterinarian for an exam. I am afraid there are no pills or vitamins to prevent excessive shedding. Brushing and feeding a good brand complete dog food for small dogs is the best treatment. Regular grooming (shaving) also will hep.

I am most suspicious of mange with this distribution of hair loss. There is not much else that causes them to lose hair in these areas as a puppy. In order to get this diagnosed and treated appropriately, you'll need to take him to a veterinarian. It's best to take him as soon as possible, because this will get worse and will take longer to treat. He doesn't appear to be a specific breed. My guess is that he is a cross of either a German Shepherd, or a Schipperke. I would have to know his age and examine him in-person to narrow this down. I hope that helps and Hiro gets better soon.

I am sorry to hear about your puppy. Many different things can cause hair loss, also known as alopecia, in dogs. Parasites of the skin such as mange mites and fleas can cause this. Bacterial or yeast infections of the skin can also be a cause, as well as some genetic disorders. I would recommend an examination at a veterinarian to determine the cause of the hairloss which will help guide treatment recommendations, which may include medication to treat for mange, antibiotics or medicated shampoos.

It might just be normal shedding but it could also be caused by a medical condition. You could bathe him with a moisturizing dog shampoo, brush him and add an omega-3 supplement (Free Form Snip Tips) and see if that helps. The black spots could just be normal pigmentation of his skin. If the excessive shedding and spots continues then he should be examined by a vet to determine if there is a problem. Your vet can do some testing to help diagnose. He could have a skin infection, mites, flea allergy, hypothyroidism, etc.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Nala. The increase in shedding is likely a combination of factors. The warm weather will certainly cause a dog to shed. She may also be losing her puppy coat. Her hair could be turning into more of what it will look like as an adult. If she develops a rash or bald spots, then she will need to see her veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

Dry skin does not generally progress to hair loss and shedding. I would be more concerned that Kane is dealing with an infection in his skin. Demodex mites and ringworm (which humans can get) both can have this appearance. I would recommend to take him into the vet to have an exam and a skin scrape to test for mites. Both of these conditions respond well to treatment. I hope this helps and please post again with any further questions!