Overview
Dogs can suffer hair loss for many reasons, and you need to pinpoint the cause before you can treat the condition. Determine whether the hair loss is due to Fido scratching an itch, which often happens with allergies, skin infections and mange. If scratching isn't the cause, the hair may be falling out due to hormonal disease such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's Syndrome. These can be serious conditions, so your best bet is to visit your vet for advice.
Step 1
Get ready to treat an allergic condition if your dog is scratching. The skin may itch and get irritated, and the scratching can cause severe hair loss. Flea and food allergies are the most common, and you usually can treat them with a cortisone injection from your vet. (Occasionally, if there is a secondary infection, cortisone may not work and may even worsen the condition.) To prevent the problem, talk to the vet about using a product such as Advantage for fleas, or about switching to a new dog food.
Step 2
Ask your vet whether your dog's itching may be caused by sarcoptic or demodex mites, often known as mange.Your vet may choose to treat them with a mite spray or cream, sometimes containing an antibiotic. Another medication to treat mites is Ivermectin, although it doesn't work well on some breeds such as collies.
Step 3
Go to the vet to check for hormonal diseases that can cause hair to drop out in clumps---and can involve more serious issues. In older dogs, hypothyroidism is a usual suspect in skin problems; so is hyperadrenocorticism, which includes Cushing's Syndrome. Your vet can recommend a thyroid hormone to treat hypothyroidism and one of several drug therapies to treat Cushing's Syndrome.
Step 4
Find out about Alopecia X, a condition that often affects younger dogs and involves unusual levels of sex hormones. Your vet may suggest neutering if your dog is intact, or she may prescribe medication such as melatonin or trilostane.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : Your dog may lose hair following surgery, but the hair loss should stop in a couple of weeks. Consult your vet if you don't see progress.
Resources
