If there’s anything to know about your dog’s health is that hair/fur loss or poor condition of hair/fur is an indicator of something else going on with your dog. It’s normal for our dogs to shed, but when mass amounts are shedding and causing bald spots, there are two things to consider: type of breed and causes that can affect health and lifestyle. 

Some breeds are more susceptible to excessive fur loss, but in our blog post, we’re going to go over the other causes contributing to your dog’s fur loss. So...the big question is…

Why is Your Dog Losing Hair?

There are 6 primary reasons that could be causing this fur loss:

• Allergies
• Cushing’s Disease
• Genetics
• Infection or Infestation
• Pressure Sores
• Rashes + Hives

Allergies

This is a common trigger for hair loss with dogs and could take as much as a single flea bite to activate your dog’s allergies, depending on their sensitivities. Allergic reactions can stick around for days and days, and is best treated with prescribed dog medications, adjustments to their diet, and allergy shots. The best possible solution is to identify what’s causing the allergic reaction to steer your dog clear of it or take future preventative measures.

Cushing’s Disease

This disease is commonly seen when dogs are 6-years-old or older. It’s a condition where hormone cortisol is overactive or overproduced with medications to treat it, or at other times, surgery. 

Pets WebMD shares, “Other signs of Cushing's disease include eating, drinking, and urinating more, panting, as well as having a pot-bellied appearance. Take your dog to the vet if you notice any of these signs.”

Genetics

As mentioned before, some dog breeds are more susceptible to hair/fur loss but not all experience the same rate or intensity of hair/fur loss. Another thing to note is that sometimes dog parents won’t be made aware of this until time goes own and their dog grows.

Infection or Infestation

Fleas, mites, ringworm, etc. and bacteria can lead to infections, and with the irritations that come with infections, it can lead to fur loss. If your dog is losing fur on their face or have extremely oily fur, that is an indication of mites. If your dog is experiencing irregular, spotty hair loss, it can be caused by ringworm. These infections and infestations can be treated with medications and it’s recommended to consult with a veterinarian for help.

Pressure Sores 

This occurs with elderly dogs when they apply pressure to the same parts of their body repeatedly on top of hard surfaces, like their elbows. If these sores were to take any damage or harm, it could lead to an infection.

Rashes + Hives

This is kind of in conjunction with allergies based on dog sensitivities. Chemicals we are used to may trigger a different reaction from dogs by rashes and hives or your dog might come across a plant or bug that triggers rashes and hives.

According to Pets WebMD, “Allergic rashes usually appear within minutes to hours of exposure, and other symptoms can include listlessness, fever, lack of appetite, and vomiting. Always talk to your vet immediately if your dog develops hives as emergency treatment may be needed.”

This is just a sampling of tips and informational posts we offer at Joyride Harness. You can find more content including tips and tricks and how-tos for caring for your dog on our blog at this section. Feel free to leave a comment with tips you’re looking for!