If the dog begins to develop bald patches or its coat loses former shine and health, this is an important cause for concern for any dog owner. There are many possible reasons for hair loss, baldness and thinning in dogs, and this can require laborious “detective” work to find out what causes such problems in your own dog.
It is estimated that between 5 and 10% of dogs go through a period of loss or wool irritation at least once in a lifetime, but good news is that there is a lot of information related to baldness and related other diseases in dogs.
What is alopecia?
Alopecia, or baldness is a term that is used to descriptions of hair loss in any animals covered with fur or hair, including people. The term “alopecia” refers to any lack of normal healthy hair or coat, irrespective of the reason, and can indicate both internal problems organism, and external.
What causes baldness and what can be done about it?
There are many possible causes of baldness in dogs, and the key to its successful cure lies in the correct definition of the root causes of the disease. Begin by deciding Does the hair grow at all, or does it fall out on its own, or, bald patches may be associated with dog irritation of its own skin, such as biting, chewing, or scratching.
The most common causes of baldness in dogs, along with tips on how to identify them and what to do with them are listed below.
Baldness for no apparent external reason
This section covers hair loss and baldness, which occur without external irritation.
Endocrine disorders
Hormonal imbalance leading to diseases such as hyperthyroidism or Cushing’s disease in dogs, can lead to alopecia in dogs. Both of these diseases are potentially dangerous and require veterinarian intervention therefore if you do not see others possible causes of baldness, then contact your veterinarian for diagnostics.
Hair loss due to stress
Just like humans, dogs can suffer from stress, so if your dog is anxious or is severely stress over an extended period of time, then she may hair loss begins. Healthy coat usually starts grow again after removing the source of stress and returning the dog to normal normal life.
Pregnancy hair loss
The dog, bearing offspring, as the birth approaches begins to lose hair on his stomach. This is a completely normal process. and should not cause concern. Some time after childbirth, the dog’s hair will grow to its original form.
Hereditary factors
Alopecia in some breeds is significantly more likely than in others, as some dogs with pedigrees are more prone to baldness. Dachshunds and some other famous dog breeds are prone to severe hair loss in old age, however, if the skin dogs are not too dry and look healthy then it’s quite a natural process that does not require real treatment.
External baldness caused by external stimuli
parasites
Fleas, ticks, lice and some other parasitic creatures can quite happily living on your dog, and this, unfortunately, is always leads to only one, namely to a wide range of possible dog problems with skin sensitivity, severe itching, and hair loss. It is important to regularly inspect and show the dog veterinarian, as well as timely conduct, if necessary, antiparasitic treatment. You should also regularly monitor your ears. pet for ear mites, as the dog may not show no signs of infection even by an entire army of these creepy creatures.
Allergic reactions
Like humans, dogs sometimes experience hypersensitivity to certain substances or plants, which can manifest in many ways, including in the form of itching and hair loss. Household substances, shampoos, plants and even others animals can cause an outbreak of an allergic reaction in your dogs.
Allergic reactions can be controlled with antihistamines prescribed by your veterinarian but you also work should be done to address the root causes of the problem. For in order to eliminate the cause of the allergy, you must first find it, however, it is much easier said than done!
Diet and nutrition
A large number of common and popular feeds and additives for dogs contain dyes, preservatives and others foods that can affect and cause your dog allergic reactions. This can manifest itself in skin irritation, hair loss, as well as local alopecia. Try to feed animal more natural diet and consider transition to a special diet designed for dogs with special sensitivity and intolerance, while consulting with by the veterinarian.
Dog baldness usually indicates a specific a problem that should not be left to chance. if you have any concern, talk with your veterinarian – the vast majority of cases of alopecia in dogs can be resolved relatively simple, and as a result, you will get much more happy pet!
