Why do dogs lose their hair? Hair loss is the most annoying problem in humans and pets. Hair loss in dogs, also known as Alopecia, is a common and noticeable problem in pets worldwide.
Usually, in dogs, Hair loss can appear in a single spot and then spread all over the body. Pet owners often want to know about the causes. prevention and treatment of Alopecia in dogs.
Why do dogs lose their hair?
A fair and adequate coat is the first indicator of a healthy and gentle dog. Dogs suffering rom hair fall not only look bad but also make their owners and others annoying.
Below we are mentioning some of the most common causes of hair fall alopecia in dogs.
10 Causes of Hair lose Alopecia in dogs:
1. Normal Seasonal Shedding:
In Normal seasonal shedding, dogs lose old and damaged hair from the fur seasonally. In this condition, hair loss occurs massively, especially when the weather turns warm.
In contrast, some breeds like huskies and Labradors lose hair in the spring. Usually, Seasonal hair falls in healthy dogs occur twice a year – in autumn and spring, due to seasonal molting.
To protect your home from the mess of hair, Grome your dogs regularly if you notice hair loss seasonally.
2. Allergies:
All pet owners often well aware of the allergies in dogs. One of the most common Allergies in canines is skin allergy and hair loss.
There are specific Allergies with are consider the root cause of alopecia in dogs. These allergies include food allergies, Atopy, and flea allergies.
If you notice that your dogs lose the hair and have allergy symptoms, contact your vet to diagnose and treat the Allergy.
3. Presence of Mites and Other Parasites:
Mites cause severe itching and infections called Mange. According to pet experts, Mites and other parasites such as ticks and fleas are among the leading cause of hair loss in dogs.
The parasites usually live on the surface of the skin, hair follicles, or in deep fur. They cause skin irritation, which leads a pup to severe licking, chewing, and alopecia.
If you observe these parasites on your canine coat, Contact your vet or use quick-acting anti parasite medication and Spray and for your home too.
Fleas spread from dogs to the environment, spraying your home will prevent your dogs and other pets and humans from attacking back.
To kill the dog’s parasites, use a special formula shampoo to get rid of the skin parasites and soothe the dog’s coat.
4. Bacterial or Fungal Attack:
The reason why dogs lose their hair is Bacterial or fungal attack. Bacteria and Fungal infection is the leading cause of Alopecia in dogs. The bacteria and yeast are normal inhabitants of pup skin but sometimes lead to skin infection and hair loss.
They also lead to itching, licking, redness, and pimples. Besides yeast, a puppy can also contract with a fungus commonly known as ringworm. The ringworm is also considered the cause of a dog’s hair loss.
5. Hormonal Disorder:
Many hormonal disorders like hypothyroidism, growth hormone disorders, and adrenal gland disorders can lead dogs to hair loss. Due to a decrease in testosterone, the risk of hair fall became high in neutered dogs.
6. Stress and poor nutrition:
Can poor nutrition cause hair loss in dogs? Same as in humans stress and poor nutrition can cause hair fall in pets. If your furry friend is under stress, try to find out the reason and try to relax them.
Make sure a proper healthy diet, and it is best to avoid kibble dog food. It’s possible that a vitamin deficiency is causing the bald spots, so feed a healthy and vitamin-rich diet in moderation.
7. Hot spots:
Hot spots, also called acute moist dermatitis, are among the most irritating skin problems. Why do dogs get hot spots? Hot spots in dogs are mainly caused by scratching or liking any affected area wounds or insect bites.
The continuous scratching or licking leads to hair fall and inflammation.
8. Frequent Bathing and Use of Wrong Shampoo:
Why do dogs lose their hair? Many pet owners don’t consider these small reasons for hair fall in dogs. Using the wrong shampoo or human shampoo Why human shampoo bad for dogs? and bath too frequently can lead to hair fall.
Use of wrong shampoo and soap will cause certain damage to their hair and skin. This also leads to dry skin, itchy skin, and hair loss.
The best way is to bathe your puppy 2-3 times a month with the best dog shampoo instead of washing it every day. In addition, use the best moisturizer to keep your dog’s skin healthy.
9. Genetically Problem:
In some dogs, hair loss occurs in the form of Bald spots like Chinese crested, Mexican hairless, Chihuahuas, dachshunds, and Italian greyhounds.
Bald spots of dogs is the condition of hair loss and considered a Genetics condition. Generally, these Bald spots appear on the belly, chest, neck, and outer ears. These bald spots are also common in horses.
10. Other illnesses:
Many times hair loss indicating an underlying health issue. The reason is that skin is the largest organ of the pet body, which requires proper nutrients to stay fair and healthy.
A puppy suffering from an underlying issue can directly affect the coat, and hair loss will occur. In such illnesses, the body’s immune system shifts the nutrients from the skin and toward the internal organs affected organs that need to be recover and treated.
According to vets, underlying health issues like Liver disease, kidney disease, and cancer might be the cause of hair loss in pets. Liver disease and hair loss in dogs is the most common health issue in dogs.
Treatment of Hair loss in dogs:
How can I treat my dogs hair loss? Dogs with a fair and clean coat with properly groomed hairs provides an aesthetic and beautiful appearance to the pet.
Treatment of hair loss is done when the actual cause of the problem is diagnosed.
Some causes of Alopecia are treated at home by just using home remedies, proper care his or being cleared up with a simple change in food or medication.
While some problems need proper medical attention, if you notice that your dog is shedding more than normal, then contact your veterinarian to find the actual cause of the problem.
The treatment of Alopecia will depend on your puppy’s other health conditions.
Vet experts often suggest that do regular grooming and brushing so that you can notice the earliest signs of a problem.
Signs and symptoms of hair loss in dogs:
- Hair feeling brittle or dry
- Overall thinning of the hair
- Hair loss around eyes and mouth
- Shedding more hair than normal
- Foul odor & appearance of bald patches
- Appearance of bald spots
- Dry and Infected skin
- Itchiness & Skin lesions
- Weird odor & Black or dark grey skin under hair loss
- Swelling and inflammation around area of hair loss
How to prevent dogs from hair loss?
- Keep your dog’s fur clean and properly groomed.
- Make sure that effective treatment of mites, fleas, and thick and their eggs.
- Use a dermatologically approved best dog shampoo.
- Use the best dermatologist suggested skin moisturizer for dogs dry skin.
- Give a healthy and enriched with nutrients diet to your dog and avoid toxic and kibble dogs food.
- Ask your vet for gentle tips, and make sure a vet visits if you notice any excessive hair fall.
Food Allergies responsible for hair loss in dogs:
- Beef Allergy
- Kibble Food Allergy
- Dairy Allergy
- Wheat Allergy
- Chicken Allergy
- Corn Allergy
- Soy Allergy
What vitamin deficiency causes hair loss in dogs?
According to Veterinarians and pet experts, Zinc and Vitamin A deficiency causes hair loss in dogs. Here note that the increase of Vitamin A also causes severe health complications in dogs. So before offering any medication or vitamins supplement, contact your vet for advice.