My older dog's facial hair is thinning. Is this normal? What helps?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to us concerning your pets hair loss. Yes, hypothyroidism can be a cause of an older dogs hair loss. The clinical signs of hypothyroidism are no itchy hair loss, panting, constantly seeking out vents or shady places because the heat bothers them, etc. but this condition usually begins between the ages of two and five but there are some situations in which happens at an older age. There are many other diseases that can also cause hair loss so it is in your best interest To take him to a veterinarian to have a full physical examination performed. The vet will be able to run tests such as blood work up, thyroid testing, skin scraping, etc. to be able to make a diagnosis and put him on the correct treatment. I hope this information has helped. Have a great day.

Hair thinning can happen sometimes with age, however if you are seeing any other symptoms such as sores appearing, redness, pawing at the areas, or metabolic symptoms such as increased drinking or urination, weight changes, etc, it could indicate the thinning is part of something else such as an allergy, parasite, or metabolic illness. I would continue to monitor the area and keep them clean and dry, and if you notice any of the above symptoms schedule a vet visit to rule out any issues.

Thinning hair in a young dog like Pocholo may be due to environment allergies, seasonal changes, nutritional deficiencies (namely vitamins and minerals) or less commonly for a young dog, an endocrine condition like Cushing's disease. I would assess Pocholo's diet carefully, make sure that he isn't being exposed to anything out of the ordinary, and if not, consider having him looked at by your vet for any other problems. Hope this makes sense.

Hi there and thanks for posting your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Older dogs sometimes have hair coloration changes just like people do when they get older. Lighter colored hair- sometimes grey or white can occur on parts of the dog as they get older. Sometimes the entire coat color may change, other times only parts of the dog's body changes hair color. If you are referring to hair thinning around the hips, then there can be a few medical causes to this such as hair mites, fungal infection, or an endocrine disorder such as cushing's disease or hypothyroidism. If the later is happening, I would recommend Laney sees her veterinarian to help rule out the above possibilities. I hope this help and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello, thank you for your question. I would not be concerned about it, as dogs age they may develop thinning hair and hair loss. If she is not bothering at the area by scratching it, then you may continue to monitor her. If you note any additional hair loss, scratching, or redness then you should have her evaluated by a veterinarian. Hope this helps and best of luck.

There are many nutrients required for healthy skin and coat color and any one of these can result in dulling and fading of the coat. Ensure he is receiving a well balanced, complete diet and consider converting to a skin support range in order to exclude this if he has no other signs of poor digestion/food absorption (chronic diarrhea or weight loss). Certain hormonal conditions such as cushings and thyroid disease can also affect coat condition and color, a full vet check and blood panel would be recommended to investigate this

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Judging from the pictures, age and breed of Tommy, this is a change commonly seen in this breed and can become more pronounced at an older age. I would monitor for now and if the hair loss progresses to other areas of the body, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine her. Otherwise, the thinning of the hair will likely continue in this area.