Treatment And Home Remedies
The best treatment for your dog will depend on what is causing their alopecia so its always best to have them checked by your vet before trying any home remedies. However, once you have had a diagnosis from your vet, you may find some of the advice below useful:
- Protect any exposed skin against sun damage by avoiding the heat of the day and using pet safe sun cream.
- If your dog has contact alopecia, give them soft surfaces to lie on such as beds, blankets or mattresses. If its around their neck, its important to wash their collar regularly, check it fits them comfortably and keep the skin underneath it clean, especially during warm weather.
Consider insuring your dog as soon as you get them, before any signs of illness start. This will ensure you have all the support you need to care for them.
Pain Relief For Dogs: Final Thoughts
No loving pet parent ever wants to see their four-legged friend in pain.
As tempting as it may be, however, to forage through your medicine cabinet for a quick fix, traditional over the counter medications developed specifically for humans isnt ideal when it comes to pain management in dogs, as the potential side effects can ultimately do more harm than good. The same can be said for many of the stronger pain medications traditionally prescribed by animal hospitals.
Fortunately, there are more holistic options on the market today than ever, many of which are ideal for easing pain, discomfort, and arthritis-related issues such as joint stiffness. Integrating these options into your dogs healthcare regimen in conjunction with the care plan developed by your holistic veterinarian is a sure way to promote your dogs health and happiness and put them well on their way to recovery.
Is It Normal For A Dog To Have Bald Patches
If your dogs coat is nice and shiny and no hair loss or bald patches are present, it is a good indication that your dog is healthy and is getting the right amount of nutrition from its daily food. You may notice one or more of these symptoms developing, either along with, or before dog hair loss begins: What can cause dog hair loss?
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Use A Baking Soda Soak
This is an easy remedy thats excellent for dogs with itchy or dry skin. It is a very helpful solution for allergic reactions. Baking soda helps to calm the irritation, thus reducing the temptation for paw licking. It works so well because its naturally anti-inflammatory and pH balancing. This means that if your dog comes into contact with an acidic irritant, the baking soda will neutralize it.
Put half a cup of baking soda into a bucket of warm water. Try to soak your dogs paws for at least 10 minutes for the best results. You can repeat this process two to three times a day to reduce swelling and irritation quickly.
It might be difficult to get your dog to stay in the soak for the full 10 minutes try rewarding them with treats as an incentive. Youll also want to wait for a moment when theyre feeling relaxed to coax them into the bath.
External Parasites And Superficial Infections
Primary causes of hair loss include external parasite infestation and infections. Most external parasites are contagious, and an infested dog can easily transfer the parasite to other individuals. The presence of ticks, fleas, and lice can cause inflammation and subsequent hair loss in dogs. Sarcoptic mites invade and live under the superficial layer of the skin causing alopecia in dogs and cats. Demodectic mange is one of the most common causes of hair loss in younger dogs.
Superficial infection with bacteria and fungal spores infiltrates hair follicles and hair roots causing an inflammatory response and alopecia. These infestations and infections often cause severe itching which worsens hair loss.
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Are There Any Natural Remedies For Dog Hair Loss
Olive oil helps smother mites and control mange, two common causes of hair loss in dogs. The vitamin E in olive oil also moisturizes the dogs skin as well as soothes any irritation caused by severe itching.
Vitamins can either nourish the hair itself or support the functions that lead to healthy hair growth, according to Paw Rescue. Vitamin C is proven to help in the regenerative functions of a dog, including hair growth.
Try A New Dog Shampoo
Most dog shampoos are designed to be very gentle, so its unlikely that they would cause any irritation. However, you may be able to use your dog shampoo to treat dry or irritated skin. There are many formulas that are designed specifically for irritation and sensitivity.
Look at the ingredients before making a purchase. Ideally, they should contain moisturizing properties, and they should also be natural so as not to further irritate your dogs skin. You should also limit baths to once a week at most. If youre bathing too often, it could actually make the irritation worse.
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What Are The Signs Of Seasonal Flank Alopecia
Affected dogs lose hair in well-demarcated areas, typically on the flanks . In most cases, this hair loss is symmetrical each side of the body is equally affected. Hair loss can also occur in other areas, such as along the sides of the chest, at the tail base, or even across the bridge of the nose. When the hair falls out, the visible skin is often hyperpigmented .
“In most cases, hair loss begins in the fall and hair begins to regrow in the spring.”
Typically, hair loss begins in the fall and hair begins to regrow in the spring. Less commonly, dogs may exhibit hair loss in the spring with regrowth in the fall. Regardless, the cycle of hair loss/regrowth typically follows a seasonal pattern, occurring repeatedly throughout the dogs life.
My Dog Has Asymmetrical/random Hair Loss
And now, those diseases where there are patches of hair loss in various sites across the body:
Flea Allergic Dermatitis
This is probably the commonest cause of all! Dogs with a flea allergy scratch and scratch, and wear the hair away. FAD is usually straightforward to diagnose , although in extreme cases, a single flea bite can set it off, which is harder to detect. Prevention is simple avoid and kill fleas although it can be hard in severe cases to keep the flea population low enough, and anti-allergy medication may be required.
Sarcoptic Mange
Mange mites burrow into the skin, creating a very itchy patch covered in little bumps. The dog scratches away at it, wearing the hair away, creating a bald patch. The most common site is on the ear fortunately, there are some spot-on treatments available from your vet that will kill the mites and stop the itching. Learn more about this here What is mange in dogs?
Demodectic Mange
This is a different variety of mite, and unlike the sarcoptic mite, it doesnt itch at all. Most dogs have a few, and they dont cause any problems, living harmlessly deep inside the hair follicles. However, sometimes they can start to multiply, and the sheer numbers start to result in hair loss.
Primary Pyoderma
Ringworm
Allergic Reactions
. Usually, there is reddening and inflammation of the skin, and itching, before the hair comes out, but occasionally hair loss is noticed first.
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Mites Ringworm And Bacteria: Identifying Specific Skin Infections
Experts believe that dogs with a weakened immune system are more prone to mange, a broad term used to describe a variety of skin infections specific to dogs. In addition, other genetic factors may lead to a predisposition for different types of infections. Here are a few common causes of mange in dogs:
What Can I Give My Rottweiler For Hair Loss
Just make sure you make an Omega-3 supplement part of your rottweilers daily diet. Theyre lives are short enough, we think they deserve the best we can give! Learn More about Project Paws Omega-3 Select Soft Chews. Each bottle provides up to 21 meals for shelter dogs!
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Hair Loss Caused By Genetics
Sometimes genetics can also be a factor behind hair loss in dogs. For example, the American Hairless Terrier, Whippet, and Grey Hound are dogs that are prone to localized baldness, mainly on the back of the hind legs, armpits, around the ear bases, and very top of the head .
Coat color genetics also can play a role in hair loss. The dilute coat colors have a genetic mutation in the D gene locus for hair growth and produce large clumps of pigment . These clumps can prematurely cause breakage of the hair shafts resulting in alopecia and a thin hair coat.
How Can I Treat My Dog’s Hair Loss Naturally
One of the most common treatments for losing hair in dogs is medicated shampoos, but some natural remedies can also work.
Apple cider vinegar can be helpful, but you should always dilute it.
Other potential options include aloe vera, vitamin E, and coconut oil. Ideally, you will consult your dog’s vet before treating any skin conditions.
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Veterinarians And Pet Owners Alike Are Experiencing Success Using Melatonin Therapy For Alopecia In Dogs
The most common form of alopecia for dogs is seasonal alopecia, also called cyclic follicular dysplasia. This condition is denoted by hair loss on a dogs flanks and back. Hair loss can also occur on the base of the tail, nose, and ears. Usually, the skin becomes darker in the areas where the hair loss has occurred, and the dogs hair will become dry and coarse.
Some breeds of dogs are more likely to be affected by seasonal alopecia than others. Bulldogs, boxers, schnauzers, Airedales, labradors, Scottish terriers, Akitas and Doberman pinschers are more susceptible than many other breeds.
Canine seasonal alopecia usually starts in early spring or late fall and lasts for up to six months, with the dogs hair typically grows back in afterward. Sometimes the condition recurs year after year, and sometimes it only occurs once in the dogs lifetime. Because many dogs become affected with seasonal alopecia in the spring, researchers have concluded that lack of sunlight may be a cause.
Melatonin also helps dogs grow hair back more quickly after surgery. Its also an amazing supplement for helping dogs suffering from Cushings disease grow their hair back.
Symptoms Of Hair Loss In Dogs
Dog hair loss is typically an obvious condition and can occur at any age, in any breed, and anywhere on the body. A variety of patterns and symptoms may develop depending on the underlying cause:
- Overall thinning of the hair
- Hair loss around eyes and mouth
- Patches of complete hair loss
- Symmetrical patterns of hair loss in the same place on both sides of the body
- Foul odor
- Black or dark grey skin under hair loss
- Dry, scaly skin around area of hair loss
- Red, inflamed skin around area of hair loss
- Oozing moisture or bleeding around area of hair loss
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Allergic Hair Loss In Dogs
There are three types of allergies that are most common, according to Reeder, environmental or what they atopy meaning something theyre allergic to in the environment and then flea allergy and food allergy.
Any of those can create traumatic hair loss, meaning the dogs itchy, scratchy, theyre going to have symptoms of being allergic, other than hair loss, he says. scratching, in some of these cases you may or may not see fleas. Theyll be really itchy.
Allergic hair loss is not typically symmetrical, he adds.
Treatment: For environmental allergies there are many types of treatment options.
Theres medications theres supplements, he says. What we do in our practice, we do allergy testing and we provide custom allergy serum or shots for dogs. Theres also a liquid oral formulation. Just like for people, same test, same stuff.
Getting to the bottom of food allergies isnt easy and involves working with your veterinarian to determine what foods your dog is allergic to and getting on the right diet that doesnt contain the offending ingredient, he says. The treatment for a flea allergy is flea control some of those are over the counter, some are prescribed.
The Last Word In Healthy Coats: Zinc
Many Dog Supplements For A Healthy Coat include zinc. You might be aware that many diaper-rash creams are zinc-based for their protection and healing of skin problems. You can use this type of cream on your pooch, but talk to your vet to determine the right kind. Adding zinc to the diet is essential, as it boosts immunity, helps with enzyme production, and creates a beautiful coat. Zinc can be found in beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and salmon. Dog foods that are plentiful in zinc include:
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Give Your Dog A More Natural Diet
Food can play a significant role in the health of the haircoat of your dog. First things first, replace the name brand store-bought dog food with a more natural brand food.
Try to introduce some homemade options to the dog. For example, you can offer some cooked chicken breast to your dog. You may also provide fully cooked vegetables or fully cooked rice to the dog.
To ensure a properly balanced homemade pet diet, you should discuss homemade diets with your veterinarian. Another useful resource for balanced homemade diets is BalanceIT , which can provide a range of options for homemade foods while ensuring balanced nutrition.
What Can I Do For My Dogs Bald Spots
Holistic treatment options can also be considered. They include dietary supplements such as probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, green tea, aloe vera and witch hazel. However, it is highly recommended that if your dog is suffering from hair loss spots due to folliculitis, have it seen and treated by a vet.
If your dogs coat is nice and shiny and no hair loss or bald patches are present, it is a good indication that your dog is healthy and is getting the right amount of nutrition from its daily food. You may notice one or more of these symptoms developing, either along with, or before dog hair loss begins: What can cause dog hair loss?
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Can Vitamin Deficiency Cause Hair Loss In Dogs
Yes, some vitamin deficiencies can cause your dog to develop hair loss. A zinc deficiency, for example, can lead to hair loss.
It can also cause cracking and skin thickening on footpads and joints. It can also lead to skin ulcers.
If your dog’s skin condition is due to vitamin deficiencies, the good news is that this is easy to fix.
With the proper diagnosis, you can change your dog’s diet and have his fur back to normal in no time.