Hair Loss and Your Dog

By Catherine V. Testaratti

When your dog is experiencing minimal or extensive hair loss, it's best to have him checked for alopecia. This disorder is also known as hair loss and is common in dogs. Left untreated it can cause total hair loss and infection so early diagnosis and treatment is necessary.

Hair loss, or alopecia, can cause severe damage to your pet's lymphatic and immune system so it's best to detect it early. This disorder affects all breeds and size as well as gender so watch for it in all pets. Early detection can prevent extreme hair loss and alopecia can start slowly.

Excessive chewing and symmetrical patches of hair loss are early signs of this condition. The areas can get infected quickly so you need to be diligent in seeking treatment for you dog. Early detection can keep this disorder from spreading.

One of the most common causes of hair loss or alopecia is mange. We have all heard of mange which is caused by the mite Demodex. Regular bathing of your dog and thorough checking can help control this nasty disorder.

The varying types of alopecia can be the cause of a number of things. An inflamed hair follicle can result in many missing patches of hair. If your dog has a lot of hair loss it's important that you get him to the vet for testing. Prevention of this type of condition is not possible so it's best just to keep your dog's coat as clean as possible and watch for breakouts.

Treatments are usually some type of medicated topical shampoo or antibiotic treatment. Sometimes it is important to take a look at the hormone levels of the dog as well. After treatment is prescribed, it very important that you stay up on the medication and monitor the skin.

Reddening on the skin coupled with scaling and patchy hair loss could be a sign of ringworms. These are highly contagious so it's recommended that you wear gloves. A fungus like ringworms and bacterial infections are usually characteristic of this type of hair loss.

Dog's can experience hair loss or alopecia for a number of reasons. The type of loss and can vary from symmetrical to patchy. Many pet stores will have information in the pet dog supplies area if you need more information.

Examination is the best you can do to catch alopecia early and start treatment. Don't let this hair loss issue get out of control by not acting quickly with proper treatment. Your dog will thank you for it in the long run and you will thank yourself. - 31975

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