Common Causes of Hair Loss in Dogs: Should You Be Concerned?

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 Knowing how to spot excessive hair loss

Alopecia is the scientific term for "hair loss" and is used when the loss is localized. When it is diffuse, it is called hypotrichosis. These symptoms may result from a pathological phenomenon. While it is indeed normal for your dog to lose its hair throughout the year, it is nevertheless important to know when it becomes excessive.

So, as soon as you notice hair loss on certain areas of the body, excessive scratching or licking, for example, with the possible presence of redness, scabs, scales, etc., make an appointment with your treating veterinarian or a veterinarian specializing in dermatology to find the cause of the alopecia and put in place the most appropriate treatment.

In fact, we can classify different major causes of hair loss into different categories:

  • Infectious causes.
  • Self-inflicted hair loss due to pruritus (during atopic dermatitis or during parasitism).
  • Dysimmune diseases (rare diseases, such as sebaceous adenitis, dermatomyositis, and alopecia areata).
  • Non-inflammatory alopecia secondary to a defect in follicular growth or an arrest of the hair cycle. The hair falls out normally but does not grow back.

Here we will detail some common causes of alopecia.

Atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is the same disease that causes eczema flareups in children. It is an inflammation of the skin that is polygenic in origin and is associated with abnormalities in the skin barrier, sometimes aggravated by environmental factors.

Alopecia is distributed in a symmetrical pattern on the animal and is concentrated in the areas of folds: fingers, forearms, peri-vulvar, peri-scrotal, lips, ears, and axillary region. The affected areas also present redness and superinfections because the skin barrier is weakened.

Atopic dermatitis is a condition that has no cure. However, with appropriate and regular care, your dog will have a good quality of life, and repeated care will help limit attacks.

Bacterial folliculitis

Bacterial folliculitis is an infection of the hair follicles by bacteria. When the skin microbiota is disrupted, certain bacteria can multiply more significantly in the lumen of the follicle, which leads to poor hair growth and therefore alopecia. The latter often takes the form of small circles on your dog's skin, without any symmetry.

Hair loss is not the only lesion found in this condition; pustules and small scabs are also frequently observed. If some of these clinical signs are present in your dog, consider consulting a veterinarian. The latter will be able to determine, using a microscope observation, whether your dog is suffering from a bacterial skin infection, which is essential for setting up appropriate treatment.

Sarcoptic mange

Sarcoptic mange is a condition caused by a mite that multiplies and lives in the thickness of the skin of dogs. It is transmitted by direct contact between dogs and can also be transmitted to humans, although the mite responsible for canine mange is not the same as that responsible for human mange.

Mange causes severe itching, which explains the alopecia lesions. The dog scratches itself a lot and then inflicts hair loss on itself. The most characteristic areas are the ear flap, elbows, limbs, and flanks. There are few signs on the back. Treatment is simple but requires a visit to a veterinarian to make a diagnosis and obtain a prescription for appropriate medication. In addition, treatment may need to evolve depending on the progression of the clinical signs.

Demodectic mange

Demodicosis is also a parasitic disease caused by a mite that develops in the hair follicles. It mainly affects young dogs and those with compromised immune systems. It is a disease that is transmitted from mother to child, with very rare cases of contagion through contact.

Hair loss is mainly concentrated on the face and front limbs, but the entire body can be affected. The treatment is long and relapses are possible, but it is essential to stick to it rigorously if you hope for a cure.

Endocrine diseases

Some endocrine diseases can impact the quality of your dog's skin. For example, Cushing's syndrome (also called hypercorticism) is caused by excess cortisol in the blood. This syndrome causes a wide variety of clinical signs, such as increased drinking and urination, lethargy, weight gain, and dermatological signs including thinning of the skin and bilateral alopecia on the flanks.

Another example is hypothyroidism in dogs, an endocrine disease caused by low levels of thyroid hormones in the blood. This disease is also accompanied by general clinical signs such as lethargy, cardiovascular signs, weight gain, and dermatological signs including symmetrical bilateral alopecia with a dry, dull coat.

Thus, excessive hair loss can be due to many conditions. A consultation with the veterinarian is necessary in order to determine the exact cause based on the appearance of the lesions, their shape, their location, and other associated clinical signs. The veterinarian may also carry out additional examinations to ensure the origin before implementing an appropriate treatment.

Changes in coat quality can be indicative of underlying conditions, so it is essential to observe any changes in your dog's coat quality to ensure early treatment.

Bibliography

  • Dermatology and endocrinology courses at the National Veterinary School of Alfort.
  • BOURDOISEAU G, CHERMETTE R, FRANC M. (1996). External parasitism of domestic carnivores. Technical Dispatch.
  • BEUGNET F, BOURDOISEAU G, DANG H. (2004). Summary of Clinical Parasitology of Domestic Carnivores.
  • MARSELLA R. Managing dogs with chronic atopic dermatitis. Compend. Cont. Educ. Pract. Vet., 2001.
  • Olivry T. New drugs in veterinary dermatology: cyclosporine: frequently-asked questions. In: 18th ESVD-ECVD Annual Congress, Nice.
  • ROSYCHUK RA. Cutaneous manifestations of endocrine disease in dogs. Compend. Cont. Educ. Pract. Vet.
  • ZUR G, IHRKE PJ, WHITE SD, KASS PH. Canine atopic dermatitis: a retrospective study of 266 cases examined at the University of California, Vet. Derm.

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