Dog Hair Loss on Back

Although dogs lose fur at some point or the other throughout their lives, dog hair loss that’s severe in nature is an indicator of a skin condition or an underlying illness. If your pet is losing hair in patches, you should conduct a vet check as soon as possible to find out the cause. Avoid administering over the counter products that promote hair growth and a shiny coat without first visiting the vet.

Causes of Dog Hair Loss

Some pets suffer from hair loss if they’re undergoing certain treatments like chemotherapy or if their skin reacts to certain drugs that they’re administered. Others suffer from hair loss associated with neurodermatitis, contact allergies, autoimmune disorders, pyoderma and mange. Some dogs also show signs of hair loss when they’re suffering from diabetes mellitus and hormonal disorders.

While some causes of hair loss are hereditary in nature, other causes are related to improper grooming, dietary inadequacies and environmental factors like the presence of allergens.

Hair Loss on the Back

The area of the body where hair loss occurs can help the vet confirm diagnosis. Since certain skin conditions only cause hair loss in specific areas of the body, the vet will be able to rule out other conditions if the hair loss is limited to the back of the body.

If the dog has any accompanying symptoms like nodules, inflammation, thickening of skin and darkening of skin along with the hair loss, a series of tests will be performed to find out the real cause of the problem.

Diagnosis of Underlying Issues of Dog Hair Loss

The vet will perform a thorough physical examination and look for skin inflammation, scaly or crusty skin, and make note of the other symptoms exhibited. It’s best to also inform the vet about the dog’s medical history. In order to rule out conditions like thyroid, diabetes mellitus and hormonal changes, the vet will have to perform a few blood tests.

Some pets start biting and chewing affected areas and this leads to bacterial infections along with pus or other discharge. If this is present, the vet will also take a sample of the fluid that’s discharged and send it for laboratory analysis. Apart from this, the vet will also look for signs of hives or allergic reactions and will ask you if you have been administering any medicines to your pet.

Canine Hair Loss Treatment

The treatment of the hair loss on the back is based on the underlying condition diagnosed. If the pet is suffering from a mange infection or certain hormonal abnormalities, medicines will be prescribed to control these underlying problems. Once the main problem is treated, the dog’s hair will grow back and any bald patches that were initially present will disappear.

If the cause of the hair loss is associated with a behavioral problem, the vet will suggest behavior modification to address the issue. Dogs suffering from anxiety or boredom are known to chew their skin frequently and this brings on the hair loss. Such pets will require adequate behavior training.

Tips for Pet Owners:

  • If the vet prescribes any medication, make sure you administer all medicines on time and in the correct amount. Avoid overdosing the pet.
  • Keep your home and your surroundings clean so that the dog doesn’t contract any skin infections. Vacuum and steam clean your carpets and wash the dog’s bedding at least once a week.
  • Adopt proper grooming procedures so that the pet’s coat is free from external contaminants. Consider brushing the pet daily and bathing him a few times a month.
  • Conduct follow up vet checks to determine the pet’s response to medication. If the medication isn’t healing the condition, the vet will have to alter the treatment option selected.

After you’ve found out the cause of the hair loss you should adopt certain preventive measures to prevent the recurrence of hair loss in the future.

 

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