Italian Greyhound puppy losing hair: What causes it & what to do?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There is a possibility Colt has a skin mite called demodex (mange). These mites are microscopic and don’t cause the pet to scratch. I recommend taking him to a vet where they can scrape his skin and look for the mite with a microscope. They can also look for a secondary bacterial infection from the mite. Once they have a diagnosis they can prescribe him the correct medications to treat his skin. Good luck and kisses to Colt!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on the photo you have provided, it appears that Winston has a rash / irritation on his abdomen. I would recommend using an ointment such as Sentry Wound Ointment, which can be found at PetCo and apply twice daily until resolved. If there is no improvement or it worsens, I would recommend having Winston examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope 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.

Have Minnie examined by your veterinarian to diagnose skin infection (bacterial or yeast). Hypothyroidism should also be ruled out. Greyhounds normally have low thyroid levels so request your vet submit blood for a fT4 and TSH in addition to a "simple" T4. Consider adding an essential fatty acid supplement (usually a fish oil) to her diet to promote healthy skin and coat. Search www.pet360.com for fish oil supplements such as DermCaps or EicosaCaps.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There is a chance that this could be ringworm and that is usually determined based on an examination and culture. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

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!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear the Grench is having these skin issues. He most likely has an infection with fleas and/or other mites such as Demodex, and also likely has a secondary bacterial infection causing his skin to be scaling and red. Topical flea and tick preventatives that are not purchased from a veterinarian are NOT safe or effective in preventing fleas. I recommend bringing Grench to your veterinarian would can do an exam and perform a skin scrape to see what types of infections are present. Grench would likely benefit from a medication such as Bravecto or Nexgard, which help treat and prevent flea and mite infestations. I hope this is helpful!