Just like humans, dogs shed hair every day, which is usually replaced by a comparable number of new hairs. However, if the hair loss in the dog gets the upper hand, it can happen that the fur becomes increasingly thin and even bald spots form over time.
In the following you will find out why you should take hair loss in your dog seriously, which causes are possible for the excessive loss of fur and what helps against it.
Key facts at a glance
- Hair loss in dogs that are changing their coat is completely normal and harmless.
- Excessive hair loss in dogs can have numerous health and nutritional causes.
- If the triggers are unclear, a veterinarian should always be consulted so that possible diseases can be treated in good time.
- In most cases, hair loss disappears once its cause is eliminated.
Hair loss in dogs during shedding
Most dog breeds change their coat twice a year. The so-called coat change takes place in spring and autumn and helps the four-legged friend to adapt to the prevailing weather conditions. During the change of coat, dogs lose a lot of hair in a few weeks, whereby the hair loss is usually more pronounced in the spring because the winter coat is much denser.
The hair loss caused by the dog’s coat change may be annoying for you as the owner. However, it cannot be avoided and there is no reason to worry about the health of your four-legged friend.
Other possible reasons for hair loss in dogs
Unfortunately, hair loss in dogs is not always harmless. Because it can also be the case that health problems such as parasites, diseases or a lack of nutrients lead to excessive fur loss.
Hormonal imbalances as a cause of hair loss in dogs
Hormonal imbalances are another possible cause of excessive hair loss. In this case, for example, an underactive thyroid gland or Cushing’s disease come into question. Apart from that, changes in the hormonal balance after pregnancy or castration can sometimes trigger hair loss.
Skin fungus as a cause of hair loss in dogs
Skin fungus is very unpleasant for dogs. It is also highly contagious and often difficult to treat. If a dog suffers from skin fungus, this leads in particular to severe itching and inflammation of the skin. In addition, however, affected dogs can also experience hair loss, which is often circular.
Hair loss in dogs with parasites
In addition to skin fungi, other parasites in dogs can also lead to skin problems and hair loss. This not only applies to ectoparasites such as mites or fleas, but also to intestinal parasites. Because a massive infestation with worms or giardia leads to a nutrient deficiency in affected animals, which can also result in excessive hair loss, among other things.
Hair loss in dogs due to feeding errors
In addition to diseases and parasites, feeding errors can sometimes lead to hair loss in dogs. This is especially true in the case of an unnoticed food allergy. Affected dogs cannot tolerate individual components of their food and suffer from severe itching, which they try to alleviate by scratching excessively. Sooner or later this very often leads to bald areas.
Apart from food allergies, however, a nutrient deficiency, which is not uncommon with improper BARF, can also make itself felt in dogs in the form of hair loss.
Hair loss in dogs can be a case for the vet
If you can rule out the change in coat as the cause, you must assume that your dog’s hair loss indicates a health problem. It is therefore advisable to see a veterinarian as soon as possible.
After all, it may well be that your four-legged friend needs urgent treatment, otherwise far more serious problems can arise. Early diagnosis of the trigger may not only help to counteract hair loss in dogs, but may even prevent permanent damage.
Treating hair loss in dogs
Which treatment measures can be used to counteract hair loss in your dog depends primarily on the exact cause of the hair loss. Because of course it makes a big difference whether your four-legged friend suffers from skin fungus, for example, the functionality of his kidneys is impaired or maybe there is a food allergy.
In order to successfully treat your dog’s hair loss, the veterinarian must first determine the trigger. Depending on the diagnosis, the treatment measures can then include, for example, worming, the use of antimycotics (agents against fungal infections) or a change of feed.
Prognosis for dogs with hair loss
If the trigger of the hair loss is diagnosed and eliminated promptly, it usually does not take long for the hair to grow back normally. In some cases, however, it can also happen that permanently bald spots remain on the dog’s body.