Is your dog losing hair and you are unsure why it is? When anyone loses hair, including their beloved pet, it is concerning. There are several causes for alopecia which is hair loss. If your dog is losing hair for unknown reasons, then that warrants a visit to the vet. There are five reasons that your dog could be losing hair and you can also learn about how to resolve the situation. Though in some cases, it may not be that easy. Let’s go over the five main reasons that Fido is losing fur.

Your Dog Has Allergies

If your dog suffers from allergies then that can cause hair loss, and your dog may be allergic to environmental sources such as mold, pollen, as well as dust, fleas, and mites. That is no different from what humans are allergic to, and you will also see your dog biting themselves to relieve itching. If your dog is losing hair and keeps scratching or biting at itself, then you need to look into allergy treatments which include flea prevention. Flea prevention should be a part of a dog’s regimen anyway.

Infestations Or Infections

If your dog has an infestation of fleas or mites, then that will cause your dog to lose hair and your dog may also have inflammation around the chest, abdomen, ears, and eyes. There will be signs of redness and plenty of itching. Additionally, if your dog has an infection from ringworm which is an example, that can also be a cause for alopecia in canines. There are treatments for infestations and your dog will have to go on antibiotics or antifungals if there are infections. Therefore, that is another time when hair loss in addition to signs of discomfort means that it is time to take Fido to the vet.

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Decubital Ulcers

Decubital ulcers are known as bedsores or pressure sores as they are injuries that you see on the dog’s knees or elbows, as well as hips and hocks if they are in contact with hard surfaces often. If your dog is old or ill and is constantly lying in the same position all of the time, then that can increase your dog ending up with pressure sores which will lead to hair loss in those localized injured areas. It is important to get your dog to move around even for a few minutes. If this behavior just began, then you need to take the dog to the vet to look into the lethargy.

Cushing’s Disease Can Cause Hair Loss In Dogs

One common disease that dogs can get is known as Cushing’s Disease or hyperadrenocorticism. That results from too much exposure to cortisol in the body and that can cause the dog to develop hair loss and a swollen abdomen. The skin may darken too. If you are giving your dog corticosteroid drugs such as Prednisone, you need to watch out for symptoms of Cushing’s Disease.

It Could Simply Be Genetics

Sometimes genetics are the reason that your dog is losing their hair and there is nothing that you can do about that. Some breeds of dogs are more prone to hair loss, and breeds such as the Doberman Pinscher, Chinese Crested, American Hairless Terrier, or the Whippet among others are prone to baldness. Therefore, it is normal that your dog if they are any of the hairless breeds will end up losing hair regardless of their health. Yes, that means the healthiest dogs of these breeds that don’t have allergies will lose their hair.

However, fi your dog is not a hairless breed and is beginning to lose its hair, then you will want to ensure that you find out why they are losing hair. That always means having to take them to the vet.