Why is my senior dog's hip fur turning lighter or gray as they age?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I recommend a vet visit for Toby to assess the cause of his hairloss. Hairloss can be from allergies, parasites, endocrine disorders or breed related alopecia. Depending on what the veterinarian finds during Toby's exam they may recommend diagnostic testing to look for a primary skin disorder or bloodwork to check for endocrine (such as thyroid or adrenal gland) abnormalities. I hope this helps.

Minor skin and coat changes can be normal in older dogs, however it is always best to rule out anything underlying such as a metabolic issues, especially if you are seeing any other changes such as weight gain/loss, irritation of the skin, increases in thirst/urination, or changes in eating habits as these can all indicate a metabolic rather than an aging problem. If he checks out healthy, it may just be that he got the genetics for having a thinner coat, whereas some dogs may go gray faster or not at all, etc. Keeping the area groomed and free of mats may help keep any remaining hair from being pulled out, and in some cases a supplement such as fish oil or vitamin E may help with overall skin and coat health.

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! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There is a variety of reasons that can explain alopecia or hair loss. The causes can easily be differentiated by the clinical signs associated with it and the physical exam findings. If Frida is only showing some hair loss without scratching or overgrooming then it could conditions such as alopecia areata that can affect dogs and usually resolves on its own. If there is evidence of scratching and you start noticing some redness or irritation associated with it, then other conditions such as allergies are possible. If you notice her overgrooming herself in that area then it could be something like psychogenic alopecia which is more of a behavioral issue. I think that since she is not having overt clinical signs and it is mostly hair loss, I think it is possibly transient and could resolve on its own. You can monitor this closely and if it does not resolve or it worsens then have her examined by your veterinarian. Good luck!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Bruno. I'm not really sure what is going on with him but hair coats can and do change over time in dogs and cats. I don't think this has to do with any premature aging as you hinted to. I would just continue to monitor this and if it spreads or worsens, have your veterinarian evaluate him. Your vet can gather a history and perform an examination to look for causes of this. But honestly, I think this is just a small area of coat color change. Good luck

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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Rosie! Since Rosie is older I would have her examined by a Vet. There are some endocrine conditions like hypothyroidism (low thyroid) and cushings disease that can change the hair coat. Also underlying metabolic conditions can affect the health of the fur and since you mentioned that she appears thin, I think full blood work (with a thyroid and urine) is what Rosie needs. I hope this helps and I wish Rosie the best!