Why is my 5-month-old puppy shedding fur and getting bald spots?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Zulu is having skin issues. Areas of hair loss can be due to a variety of causes, including skin parasites (mites or fleas), allergies, an infection (bacterial or fungal), or another underlying medical issue. If the spots are worsening or spreading, or if they are itchy/seem uncomfortable, I would recommend Zulu be evaluated by her regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for her hair loss, have any necessary testing done (skin scrape, culture) and start on any treatment (parasiticide, anti-itch medication, antibiotic) that she may need to resolve it. Good luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Tayson! There are many causes for hair loss. With out seeing a picture or examining Tayson I can't be sure of the cause specifically for him. Possible causes are: normal shedding (shouldn't have bare spots of skin), fleas, bacterial or yeast skin infection, demodex mites, scabies mites and ring worm. If Tayson has bare patches on his coat he should see a Vet for a diagnosis. I wish you both the best!

Hello. Hair loss in a puppy can be a concern if it is excessive. The first thing we want to rule out is external parasites like fleas & mange mites ( Demodex & Sarcoptic ). Bacterial & yeast-based infections & allergies are also a possibility. You can bathe Blu in a flea shampoo to eliminate the possibility of fleas, but if she is intensely itchy & continues to lose hair, you will need to see your veterinarian for a diagnosis. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!

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.

I am sorry to hear about Norik! We can see shedding at certain times of year, especially when the seasons are changing, however we would not expect a bald patch of skin as a result of this normal shedding. If Norik has a bald spot we would worry about things such as a hot spot forming (a bacterial infection of the skin), a fungal infection such as ringworm, ectoparasites, or other disorder. I would recommend Norik have an exam by his vet to check the patch of bald skin so we can figure out why he is losing this hair and treat appropriately!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. With Nola being so young it is possible that she has a skin parasite or skin infection that needs treatment. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine her so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. She may need an anti-parasite medication or antibiotic for treatment. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.