My puppy is shedding a lot of hair in summer. Should I worry?

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!

I don't think this is seasonal shedding. I would be concerned about causes of hair loss and itching in a puppy, including fleas, mange, lice, infections (bacterial or yeast), and ringworm. A vet examination will be able to help you figure out the cause and best treatment. I would also discuss the diarrhea with the vet. Possible causes include food intolerance or allergies, intestinal parasites, dietary indiscretion, bacterial or viral infection, stress colitis, among others. Even though Bear was dewormed, the vet should probably do a fecal floatation test to check for intestinal parasites.

Poor Daisy. The process of hair and dry skin being removed at the same time is called easily epilated hair, and this indicates that the skin itself is infected with either bacteria or a fungal infection. Puppies especially have a weakened and still developing immune system so they are susceptible to infections pretty regularly. Duoxo shampoo may help with this. This is my #1 shampoo line that is available without a veterinary prescription and has antibacterial and/or antifungal properties to it. However if the skin is still not better after 2-3 weeks of regular shampoo baths then it's best to get Daisy evaluated by your vet for stronger prescription medication to treat for the underlying skin infection. I hope your pup gets better soon!

Shedding excessively can have many reasons: 1) change of seasons...your dog sheds his summer hair to get a winter coat (this will depend on your climate) 2) food quality is not adequate 3) ectoparasites such as mange mites, demodex mites, fleas, ticks, etc. itch and the dog scratches excessively and loses a lot of hair 4) some dogs naturally shed more than others. 5) hormonal changes, e.g. your dog comes into heat. Females will shed their hair coat You can do the following: 1) feed a good quality complete commercial puppy food for large dogs 2) Check for ectoparasites and treat for them if present 3) Brush or comb your dog every day This should minimize the shedding.

Ouch! Dixie's skin certainly looks uncomfortable. Some dogs are allergic to fleas, whereby just a bite or two can make them extremely itchy, which can lead to skin infections and irritation. The most commonly affected skin sites are around the head/neck and tail base/back of the hind legs. The thickened appearance of Daisy's skin is likely due to chronic skin irritation and inflammation. Other possible causes of these skin changes include allergies to food or the environment, ringworm, mange or endocrine diseases (such as hypothyroidism). The excessive shedding that you have noticed from both dogs could be a normal seasonal occurrence or due the stress of moving to a new home. At this point, Dixie should be examined by a vet to establish the cause of these issues so that they can be treated with any necessary medications (such as antibiotics, antifungals, medicated shampoo, etc.). The vet will need to perform skin scrapings to look for mites microscopically and will need to perform a Wood's lamp and possible fungal culture to rule out ringworm. Ringworm and sarcoptic mange (scabies) can be transmitted to other animals and humans, so these possibilities should be ruled out with diagnostic tests. In the meantime, discontinue the use of hydrogen peroxide and apple cider vinegar. Both of these can cause additional irritation and the hydrogen peroxide in particular can delay healing of the skin. Assure that both dogs receive a high quality flea preventative (such as Nexgard, Bravecto or Advantix) regularly. I hope that all goes well!

Well, it certainly could just be the temperature change, but here is what I would look for. If she is itchy, any bald spots or scabs, any redness or odor to the skin. Any hair loss around the head. If you see any of these signs then I would definitely recommend an examination by a veterinarian. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Do you have any photos you can post? it is hard to say what may be going on. It may be seasonal alopecia, it could be pemphigus or some other autoimmune disorder. It could be from an endocrine disease (thyroid, cushing's, etc). It could be hormone related. It could just be a severe seasonal allergy. I will not be able to tell you via the internet. If you are very concerned it is best to take him to a veterinary dermatology specialist when he is actually showing symptoms. They may need to do a biopsy or some allergy testing. This dermatologist is far from you but they can maybe recommend a closer one or they say they have telemedicine available but they may want to see him at least once before you can do telemedicine follow-ups. I don't know. You will have to contact them for more information. ( https://vetdermcs.com/ )