Causes of Dog Hair Loss

Hair loss is a common disorder in many dog breeds, which causes partial or complete hair loss. The extent of the disorder can range from gradual to acute hair loss. Alopecia can affect your dog’s skin and its endocrine, lymphatic and immune system.

Identifying Hair Loss

Depending upon the underlying cause, signs of hair loss may be obvious or subtle. In either case, it’s essential to have your pet’s condition evaluated by a vet.

Signs to look for include:

• Excessive shedding
• Inflammation, colour change
• Scaling and itching

Depending on the cause (i.e. heredity or environmental) hair loss may cause secondary skin diseases, such as infection or fluid discharge. An accurate diagnosis requires a physical examination and detailed medical history

What Causes Hair Loss?

Many diseases and conditions lead to canine hair loss, ranging from infection to irritation. Some of the most common reasons include:

• Allergies – Like people, dogs can have an allergic reaction to certain foods, environmental triggers (i.e. pollen) or parasites like fleas and mites.
• Flea Bites – Along with hair loss from biting or licking the infected areas, signs of flea allergies include itching and redness.
• Genetics – Some breeds are more prone to hair loss than others. For instance, bald spots may appear on the outer ear, chest, back, thighs or lower neck of Greyhounds, Dachshunds, Whippets, Chihuahuas and Italian Greyhounds after their first year.

Curing Hair Loss

While it is normal for dogs to experience some hair loss, an abnormal degree of shedding is a sign that the condition is serious and needs to be dealt with. Fortunately, there are several options to treat your pooch’s hair loss from the comfort of your home.

Apple Cider Vinegar

If hair loss is caused by excessive scratching, apple cider vinegar is the natural way to soothe his itchy skin and eliminate hair loss. Simply dab a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and rub it directly into the infected area (if the skin is scratched or broken, mix equal parts vinegar and water to avoid stinging).

Olive Oil

Olive oil has many restorative properties for pets. Rub some oil into your dog’s coat, massage it through the skin and comb his hair gently. The oil will soothe itchy skin and ensure his coat stays soft and shiny.

In the meantime, help your best friend feel better with a dog wash and grooming session at Posh Pooch. Visit our state of the art professional dog grooming salons, located in Perth, Carlisle and Belmont for dog washing, grooming and hydrobath today.