Dog hair loss: causes and solutions
it can have several meanings, some of which are quite natural, such as periods of hair change, but others worry guardians, such as canine dermatitis, external parasites and hormonal problems.
- To know how to differentiate these situations and give the necessary care to your best friend.
- It is essential to know the main causes of canine alopecia and the most common symptoms.
- In this new Animal Expert article.
- We will explain the conditions and risk factors that can lead to excessive hair loss in dogs.
- Read!.
Excretion is a natural process to which dogs are subjected at least once a year (usually twice) and allows them to adapt their fur to the different climatic conditions of their surroundings. In this context, the hair of the falling dog is the normal result of the different growth cycles that the dog’s hair has, alternating phases of faster and slower growth with rest periods. You may also notice defects in the dog’s fur, which is normal in dogs that have a fur formed by two layers of hair (one inside and one on the outside).
The amount of hair a dog loses during moulting can vary depending on several biological, genetic and environmental factors. Dogs that lose little hair tend to fall very lightly. A balanced diet and a good exercise routine are also key factors in preventing excessive falls. In addition, climatic and environmental conditions influence hair change. In general, breeds in tropical or temperate countries tend to experience much less intense hair changes than northern breeds, for example.
To prevent the dog’s hair from falling too much and spreading around the house during moulting, we recommend brushing the hair every day during this time. Check out this Animal Expert article with some tips for brushing your dog’s fur!
Dog hairs that fall symmetrically, usually with a bilateral pattern, and without itching, are usually a symptom of hormonal problems, such as canine hypothyroidism and Cushing syndrome in dogs. If you notice that your dog is losing excess hair but does not itch, do not hesitate to take it quickly to the veterinarian to do the necessary tests and see if alopecia is caused by hormonal imbalances.
If this diagnosis is confirmed, treatment will depend primarily on the type of problem and its specific causes. Hormonal disorders usually require chronic drug treatment, meaning dogs should take certain medications throughout their lives to prevent symptoms from developing and have a negative impact on health.
As mentioned above, the hair loss of the itchy dog may also be associated with a genetic tendency to alopecia. Breeds that lose a lot of hair, such as the labrador, the German shepherd, the pug and the chihuahua, can lose hair throughout the year asymptomatically.
Dog that falls and scratches a lot? Another cause is tick and/or flea bites, which are one of the most common skin problems in dogs, which can cause everything from mild inflammation to severe allergies. In addition, mites can cause different types of scabies in dogs, which can cause excessive excretion, severe burns and itching, rashes and scabs on the skin and weight loss. If your dog has these symptoms, you should examine it carefully for external parasites or signs of bites.
If you find traces of ticks, fleas or mites, you should go to a pet store to buy a suitable product to remove these parasites. But if you are not used to applying this type of product or if your dog’s situation is serious, it is best to contact your trusted veterinarian and request an appointment, notifying you that your dog has an infestation of external parasites. The professional will arrange a special schedule to prevent your fur from coming into contact with other patients and infecting them with fleas and ticks.
Once treatment is complete, it will be essential to maintain a deworming plan to prevent these problems from happening again in the future. To do this, you can combine the pest control products available on the market, such as pipettes, shampoos, soaps or pest control collars, with natural remedies to keep your best friend safe from fleas and ticks, such as baths and vinegar application. front row at home.
Dog falling and wounded? The animal may suffer from an allergy or allergic dermatitis, which often also causes dryness and the sudden appearance of red or pink spots on the skin. In such cases, sores are usually the result of an intense itching that constantly causes the dog to scratch.
Allergic processes are caused by an exaggerated immune response that can be “triggered.” contact with different elements, stimuli, products or substances. Like us, dogs can be allergic to pollen, certain foods (such as eggs, chicken, soy, wheat), mold, certain plants, powder, etc. Fortunately, there are already allergy tests for dogs that allow the identification of allergens and facilitate the prevention and treatment of this type of exaggerated response.
In most cases, dogs have food allergies associated with certain ingredients in their food. Therefore, the first solution proposed by veterinarians is usually a controlled modification of the dog’s diet, usually opting for a hypoallergenic diet.
However, there are other types of canine dermatitis that can also cause hair loss, spots or sores on the skin, but are not related to an allergic process. In fact, atopic dermatitis is usually the most diagnosed in dogs and has a genetic basis, mainly affecting young individuals. Therefore, when you see these symptoms in your fur, quickly take it to the veterinarian to confirm the cause of the dog’s hair loss and establish the most appropriate treatment to recover the well-being of your best friend.
In addition to the reasons already mentioned, there are other risk factors and common causes that can cause or intensify the dog’s hair loss. Look at some of them:
Given the wide variety of causes and risk factors associated with dog hair loss, we recommend that you always take your best friend to the vet before applying a treatment or home remedy. Your professional will help you recognize the specific cause of alopecia, give you the most appropriate treatment and give you several tips to prevent these symptoms from reproducing and damage the well-being of your fur.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
If you would like to read articles similar to Dog Hair Fall: Causes and Solutions, we recommend that you visit our Skin Problems section.