Hair Loss and Your Dog
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 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.
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.
A common cause of hair loss in dogs is something we have all probably heard of; mange. Mange is caused by a mite called Demodex. Be sure that you bathe your dog regularly and check for missing patches of hair. Always wash your hand thoroughly after checking your dog or cat.
If there are multiple missing patches of hair, it could be associated with an inflammation of the hair follicle. A loss over a larger area may be a sign something more specific and further testing might be required. There is not much that can be done in order to prevent alopecia.
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.
Ringworms could be another reason for hair loss. If you notice some patchy loss with reddening and scaling, seek treatment. And remember, ringworms are very contagious so wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly.
Literature on these and other problems can be found in most pet stores in the pet dog supplies section. Why not be as informed as possible to help your dog or cat. If you notice symmetrical or patchy hair loss on your dog, seek help immediately to keep your pet healthy.
Our pets can’t tell us when something is wrong. 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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