Hair loss is a condition which is mostly seen in many dogs regardless of the age of the dog or the breed of the dog. There are several reasons which cause hair loss in dogs. Some of these conditions include skin infections, allergies and general health disorders in dogs.
This condition in a dog is very disheartening, especially to the dog owner. In most cases, when the dog owner realizes that the dog is starting to shed hair, he or she calls a veterinarian to conduct a checkup to the dog and recommend proper medication.
WHAT ARE SOME NOTABLE SYMPTOMS OF HAIR LOSS IN DOGS?
Now that it is clear that hair loss in dogs is a common condition which can happen to any dog regardless of the age of the dog or the breed of the dog, we shall proceed to look at the common symptoms which indicate that your dog has a hair loss condition.
Below are the symptoms:
- The overall thinning of the dog’s hair.
- Easily identifiable patches of without hair on the dog.
- Itchiness of the dog.
- Bleeding around areas of hair hail loss.
- The scaly skin around the area of hair loss.
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WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF HAIR LOSS IN DOGS?
Several factors cause hair loss in dogs. Some of these causes are:
1. Allergies
There are different types of allergies which can cause your dog to experience the condition of hair loss. These allergies are:
Environmental allergies
This type of allergy originates from the surrounding of the dog. Some of the environmental factors that cause allergies to dogs include dust, pollen from different flowers in the garden, mites, and molds.
Food allergies
Some foods you give to your dog cause allergic conditions like excess scratching in dogs. The excess scratching causes the hair the hair to shed in dogs.
Vaccination allergies
There are different types of vaccinations admitted to dogs. Some dogs are resistant to different vaccinations, and when administered, they cause the cag to shed hairs.
2. Fungal infections
In some cases, bacterial or fungal infection in dogs causes hair loss. Fungal infections can be in the form of ringworms attacks which cause the hair loss and inflammation is also noticeable.
3. Hair loss in dogs caused by genetics
Some genetic factors contribute to hair loss in dogs. For instance, American Hairless Terrier are highly prone to loss of hair. This means that hair loss in dogs is normal.
OTHER CAUSES OF HAIR LOSS IN DOGS
- Sex hormonal imbalances
- Attack by Cushing diseases
- Contact with foreign bodies like thorns
EFFECTIVE METHODS OF REDUCING HAIR LOSS IN DOGS
There are methods you can take to reduce hair loss from your dog successfully. Some of these measures include:
A. BY USING UNIQUE GROOMING BRUSHES
One of the effective ways to maintain the health of your dog is by grooming the dog well. Using the right brush to groom your dog plays a vital role in maintaining the quantity of your dog’s hair. Some of the best grooming brushes include:
- The Furminator
Furminator is a unique type of grooming brush for dogs. The ends of this tool have a sharp jagged edge which allows you to comb through the dog’s hair. This grooming comb does excellent work of reducing hair loss in dogs.
- Wire brush
The wire brush is one of the most demanded dog grooming brush. You can comfortably comb the dog’s hair, and this will help you reduce the hair loss in the dog.
B. BY BATHING YOUR DOG REGULARLY.
There is a saying which indicates that cleanliness is second to Godliness. This saying is not exceptional when it comes to dogs. You also need to keep your dog clean at all times. For this reason, you should use good shampoos when bathing your dog.
Using healthy shampoos ensures that your dog is free from insects’ infestations which can cause shedding of the hair and also those shampoos will enhance the strong growth of your dog’s hair. By doing this, you will reduce hair loss in your dog.
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C. OBSERVING THE DOG’S DIET
You should always pay key attention to the type of foods you give to your dog. Just like human beings, dogs too require to eat healthy diets at all times. As a dog owner, you should ensure that you feed your dog with food which contains minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. A good example of such kinds of diet is foods with fish oil supplements.
Fish oil supplements play a significant role in maintaining the dog’s skin and reduce hair loss in the dog. You should consult your vet on the well-balanced meal you should give to your dog to maintain its health and to also reduce hair loss.
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D. ADDING FOOD SUPPLEMENTS
As a dog owner, you should always ensure that you add healthy food supplements in every meal your dog takes to ensure that its health is boosted and cases of shedding off being unheard.
You can add food supplements like almond oil. Almond oil has vitamins and nutrients which play a huge part in strengthening your dog’s hair.
E. REGULARLY TAKE YOUR DOG TO A VETERINARIAN
Another best way to ensure that your dog is healthy at all times and reduce the hair loss is by regularly taking your dog to a veterinarian for checkups. A vet is a professional who will check your dog’s health condition and give the dog’s health records.
During taking your dog to a vet for checkups, the vet will identify early symptoms of hair loss conditions of your dog and recommend the proper medication to help prevent hair loss in your dog.
In case the hair loss condition has not yet affected your dog and also prescribe curative measures in cases where your dog is already experiencing hair loss condition.
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CONCLUSION
Going through the process of watching your dog shedding its hair is disheartening. For this reason, you should always take good care of your dog starting from grooming it regularly to taking the dog to a professional veterinarian for regular checkups.
This article will help you to know the early symptoms of hair loss in your dog and prepare you well enough to take measures which will reduce the hair loss in your dog. Always remember that dogs play essential roles in our homes by proving security and always giving us company as our favorite pets. For this reason, you should always maintain the health of your dog at high levels.
