For your dog, shedding is normal and healthy. It’s how your dog makes way for new fur growth and lightens up his load so he doesn’t overheat in the summer. But, excessive hair loss, bald spots, an area that appears far more sparse than the rest of your dog could be cause for concern. Here’s what you need to know about hair loss and your dog.
Common Dog Fur Issues
While every dog is different, there are a handful of dog hair loss health issues that affect many pets. Not every dog will experience them to the same severity, in the same place on their body or for the same amount of time as another pet, but these are some of the most common dog fur issues:
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Bald Spots: If your dog has spots on his body where there’s little to no hair, don’t fret. This is a common issue for dogs that can be caused by a host of things. It could be cause for concern, though, if it stems from an underlying health issue, so it’s best to discuss your dog’s hair loss with your Vet as soon as your notice it.
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Excessive Shedding: If you’re finding more and more fur around the house and you’re not sure why your dog might be excessively losing hair. It’s a common condition that’s brought on by all kinds of things including allergies, hormonal changes, and more. Thinning fur, to the point that it’s noticeable is common, but it’s not normal, so discuss your dog’s coat with your Vet if you notice he’s shedding hair at a fast rate that’s atypical.
- Thinning Fur: If you notice some areas on your dog’s body where his fur appears sparse, take note. It’s a common condition, that’s most often seen in areas that are prone to friction, heat, and moisture--this includes in your dog’s ‘armpits’ under his ears and on his rear end under his tail. While some hair thinning in these areas is totally normal, it’s a good idea to bring it up with your Vet if you’ve noticed changes to your dog’s coat in those areas.
What’s Causing Your Dog’s Bald Spots?
There are a host of things that could be causing changes to your dog’s appearance and his coat health. From poor nutrition to stress and allergies to fleas and everything in between, there are many things that could be causing dog hair loss for your pet. If your dog’s hair condition seems to be getting worse or his hairless areas appear to agitate him and itch, discuss it with your Vet. Your pet’s provider will be able to let you know whether or not you should be concerned and can help you determine what’s causing the hair loss.
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Stress And Anxiety Can Cause Your Dog To Lose Hair: If your pet is stressed, has separation anxiety, or is often on edge, it can cause baldness and hair loss. Just like us humans, pets need a strong immune system to keep them healthy. If they’re always worried, their immune system is working overtime and might compromise the health of their skin or coat.
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Allergies Often Lead To Bald Spots And Hair Loss: If your pet experiences occasional allergies or has food sensitivities, it will likely affect his skin and coat. Your pup’s immune system is busy fighting off allergen when your pup is having a reaction to something in his environment or in his dog bowl. It’s so busy that it often can’t properly care for the rest of his body and that’s when it can affect the health of his skin and hair. If you notice bald spots or thinning areas, allergies could be the culprit.
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Genetics Can Cause Baldness And Hair Loss: There are many dog breeds that are ‘hairless.’ Others are simply more prone to having hair loss issues. So, if your dog is excessively shedding or appears to have sparse areas of hair, his breed could be behind the balding!
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Underlying Health Issues: If your pup has worsening hair loss, an underlying health issue could be to blame. Discomfort can stress out your pet and lead to bald spots and hair loss. And this is exactly why it’s so important to discuss any changes to your dog’s skin or coat with your et. They can help you get to the bottom of the cause and pinpoint and underlying health issues that could be causing discomfort for your dog.
- Alopecia Causes Dog Baldness: If your pup has a patch of skin that’s fur-free or an entire area of his body without any coat, Alopecia could be the cause. It’s an autoimmune disorder that affects your pet and his ability to grow new fur. Discuss this with your Vet if you suspect Alopecia is causing your dog to have bald spots.
This is not a comprehensive list of everything that can cause your dog to go bald! But, it does cover some of the most common causes of dog hair loss.
How To Help Your Pet With Dog Hair Loss
If your pup has been losing his hair at a fast rate and you want to help promote healthy coat growth, there are plenty of things you can do at home to help your pet. From changing his diet to making sure he gets plenty of exercise, here are some ideas to help you support your dog and a healthy coat.
Stop Grooming Your Dog So Often
Did you know that overgrooming your dog can cause skin and coat issues? Your let’s body is designed to keep itself pretty clean, so you need to bathe your dog less than you’d expect. Of course, there are exceptions—like a muddy trip to the dog park—which require a rinse straight away. But, if your dog isn’t dirty and won’t be tracking mud or a mess into your house, resist the urge to bath him too often.
Excessive bathing, shampooing, and even brushing can actually cause dogs to lose their fur. Instead, discuss a grooming routine with your Vet. They’ll be able to let you know how often you should be bathing your dog based on his health needs and his unique coat.
Address Your Dogs Diet To Help With Hairloss
If you want to help your pet improve his hair health, start by addressing his diet. Hair loss could be a sign that your dog is not getting all the nutrients he needs from his current diet. But, more than that, upgrading to food that’s complete and balanced, and formulated with coat-supportive ingredients can help improve your dog’s hair loss condition.
To best support your dog and healthy hair growth, feed a diet that’s rich in animal protein. The amino acids and fatty acids present in animal protein play an important role in hair growth and can be extremely beneficial if you want to help you rest regrow his coat. Plus, look for a blend that’s full of antioxidants. They help support his immune system and even protect his skin and coat from age-related health issues.
Get Plenty Of Exercise To Address Balding
Your dog needs to stay active to be his happiest and healthiest. Getting frequent exercise is key for his physical fitness, but it also helps improve his mental health. Walks, playtime, and a day at the dog park are all great options that support your dog, his mental health, and a healthy coat.
Exercise promotes emotional balance and helps calm down a stressed dog. And, since stress can play a major role in dog balding, exercise can definitely help your dog stop losing hair
Supplemental Support Offers Nutrients Designed To Help With Hair Loss
In addition to a balanced diet, exercise, and a new grooming routine, consider supplemental help to address your dog’s hair loss. Choosing a skin support supplement is a great way to prompt coat health, as well. Look for a formula that contains Omega-3 Fatty Acids to help nourish your dog’s coat from within and provide it with plenty of nutrients to help hair grow strong. Also, choose a skin and coat supplement that contains antioxidants to support a healthy immune system, and soothing ingredients to help irritated or agitated flesh.
Pet Honesty Products That Can Help With Dog Hair Loss
Pet Honesty carries several skin-focused supplements that are beneficial for a healthy coat and can help with hair loss in dogs. Try adding Salmon Oil with Hemp to your dog’s bowl if you’ve noticed he’s excessively shedding or has bald spots. It’s chock-full of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, plus hemp to help soothe your dog if he’s stress. Or, pick up some Omega SkinHealth, which contains the ultimate blend of Omega-3-rich ingredients like Salmon Oil, Chia Seeds, Krill, and more.
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