Hair Loss and Your Dog

November 20th, 2009 | Categories: Medicine | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Hair loss, usually referred to as alopecia, is a widespread ailment commonly found in dogs that results in minimal to total hair loss. At times it can be caused by trauma, inflamed hair follicle or an immune disorder. An early diagnosis can make the difference in the amount of hair loss so immediate treatment is necessary.

Hair loss, or alopecia, can cause severe hurt 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.

It is a very noticeable condition and usually starts with symmetrical or varied hair loss. If you dog’s loosing patches of hair and chewing or scratching it’s best to seek treatment. Be sure that you watch out for infected patches in the skin as well.

Mange is the most common cause of alopecia. Mange is caused by the mite Demodex. Regular washing of your dog and constant checking for this condition can help to ward off any outbreaks. And remember, after checking your dog or applying treatment, proper hand washing is vital.

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 vital 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 vital to take a look at the hormone levels of the dog as well. After treatment is prescribed, it very vital that you stay up on the medication and monitor the skin.

Dogs are also prone to ringworms, which cause patchy hair loss and reddening of the skin with chaffing. If you suspect that your dog has ringworms, get him to the vet for treatment. Additionally, ringworms are extremely contagious so wash your hands after touching your dog’s affected area.

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.

Our pets can’t tell us when something is incorrect. Let’ be conscientious of our pet’s health and watch for early signs of alopecia. Early detection can eliminate the unnecessary discomfort our dogs may experience with this disorder.

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