Dog Hair Loss:

Pets lose hair due to many causes ranging from systemic diseases and diseases of the hair/skin to self trauma secondary to still more causes. Sometimes the cause of the hair loss noticeably bothers the pet, yet other times the pet is unaware any trouble. Your veterinarian may have to perform a variety of tests to determine the cause of the hair loss.

Dog Hair Loss Causes:

The main causes of hair loss are self trauma due to fleas; allergies and endocrine disease (Cushing’s syndrome and hypothyroidism).

Dog Hair Loss Treatment:

Depends on the cause. Fleas can be removed via pyrethrin based shampoos or medication (nitenpyram). Monthly flea prevention will also help (eg. fipronil, imidacloprid).

Dog Hair Loss Prevention:

Use monthly flea prevention year round. Place mothballs or flea collars in your vacuum cleaner to kill fleas that are sucked up. Vacuum all rugs as well as cracks in the floor and between furnature cushions on a weekly basis. DO NOT put flea collars on pets since they do not work on the pet.