Dog Hair Care and Treatment

Overview

If you are having a canine health hair problem, then proper grooming and understanding why your dog may be shedding or losing hair can be helpful. Reasons for your dog hair problems can be breed specific, temporary, or require removal of the underlying cause.

Grooming Dog Hair

Regular brushing and combing will keep your dog's coat clean and avoid matting. Start grooming your dog's at a young age in short sessions to get them used to it. If your dog resists when brushing legs, try doing it without holding onto the leg or keeping it from moving, it is the lack of motion control that makes most dogs object.

Before brushing consider something that takes away the static electricity from the coat such as an anti static conditioner. The hair should not stretch when combed. The best brush is for all types of dogs is a pin brush.  An alternative would be a slicker brush with soft to medium bristles.

• Long Hair Dogs: Strokes should be short, never pull, and brush in short strokes against the direction or lay of the hair pushing it up and then push the sections down.
• Short Hair Dogs: Brush in the direction of the lay of the hair. Start at the head and work back.

Grooming will help with dog shedding that appears to be excessive.

Bathing Frequency and Dog Shampoo Selection

Do not use human shampoo on dog hair as it is too harsh. A good choice for everyday care is Kiehls For Your Dog shampoo and conditioner or Manage Mites Shampoo. Most dogs only need to be bathed once every 2 months in the winter, and 1x to 2x in the summer. Ideally a shampoo should be formulated for your dog's skin and hair. In term so conditioners, use the type that is rinsed out after shampooing. Use a type that stays on your dog for an indefinite time in between baths during brushing to prevent any hair tangling. Opt for products that are all-natural and fragrance free. Also, one should take care in using a medicated shampoo for too long or often. 

Reasons for a Dog Losing Hair

There are many medical and unknown reasons for your dog losing hair or shedding an unusual amount of hair. Reasons include:

Alopecia Areata

This is an immune mediated skin disease. It is termed an infrequent condition in dogs and arises as a result of immune dysregulation. Your veterinarian may take a small skin sample for analysis. Symptoms include the loss of hair in one or patchy areas. Treatment is either to wait for hair regrowth or to try corticosteroid injections. It is important that a veterinarian should prescribe these injections.

Dyspalsia (abnormal hair development, also called alopecia x)

This happens when your dog loses hair on the sides of the body and then regrows it months later. Alopecia X is also featured as non-inflammatory hair loss. Symptoms include the skin appearing black in color. If your dog has been neutered or spayed and other illnesses such as those mentioned above have been ruled out, then you can try therapy with Vitamin A and oral Melatonin which is a synthetic hormone.

You can buy Melatonin at any health food store in 3mg tablets or online by following the link.. The dose is daily over 2 to 3 months with results seen in 6 to 8 weeks. Over time reduce to 1x per week. Melatonin helps approximately 50% of dogs. One side effect may be sleepiness. Be sure to check with your veterinarian first.

Dog Ear Hair Loss (canine pinnal alopecia)

The reason for a dog losing ear hair (see breed specific information below) may be caused by a thyroid problem or a parasitic infestation such as mange.

Hormones

Dog hormonal problems such as (hyperadrenocorticism), hypothyroidism either require hormone therapy or surgical removal of the problem gland may result in thinning or loss of hair. The common problems include hypothyroidism or Cushing's Disease. Symptoms of this problem include loss of hair on your dog's body. You may also see irritation, skin bumps, blackheads and flaking. These conditions may also pave way to secondary inflammatory reactions, and infections over skin.

Infection

Ringworm (fungal infection) and bacterial infection (pyoderma) can cause hair loss. Hairless patches are up to 2 inches in diameter.

Licking

A canine lick granuloma (acral lick dermatitis, ALD), causes raised skin ulcers on the front or hind legs, which means that such wounds can't heal at their own. Hence, the dog would lick the wounds a lot. The licking causes more lesions, hair loss and possibly skin infection. Treatment often involves the use of corticosteroids and antibiotics for infection. Dog skin allergy should also be suspected as it is a common cause of dog paw licking. Other possible causes are a bone tumor, skin infection, ringworm, a foreign body in the skin, mange or an endocrine disorder (hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism). Shampoo therapy with a benzoyl peroxide based product such as DermaPet may be helpful. Prescription medications such as a topical ointment may also be needed, although the problem is that dogs might lick it off.

Pattern Baldness or Unexplained Baldness

In cases where a the loss of hair can't be explained, focus is usually on proper nutrition, natural supplements and fish oil supplements. It is possible for dog's to become bald, particularly around the ears. (see information below by breed).

Psychogenic Dermatosis

The mind can have an effect on health and dog hair loss. Some problems such as excessive licking can have a psychogenic or mental component. Other problems can include mutilation disorders, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).  For these, therapy can include behavioral medications or a homeopathic that calms such as Pet Calm. Dogs may self mutilate in reaction to attention seeking behavior, boredom and separation anxiety. Here other homeopathic solutions, such as Epic Spray is a natural remedy for pets that is formulated to relieve separation anxiety, depression, loneliness and sadness. Along with psychogenic dermatosis, other signs such as acral lick dermatitis, foot biting, anal licking, tail biting, foot licking, biting, and tail biting and sucking should also be observed. Such observations are helpful in determining the psychogenic dermatosis and acral lick dermatitis in dogs.

Scarring Alopecia

Refers to a condition where there is permanent damage to the hair follicles. Possible causes include chemical exposure, physical problems, heat, bacterial skin infections, skin tumors and auto-immune diseases (allergy).

Sudden Hair Loss

Usually this is caused by a short term problem or stress. Once the reason is identified and eliminated then the problem goes away. In some cases such as plush coated dogs, hair will regrow in 6 to 12 months. However, in such cases it is common that the hair grows thinner over time, thus supportive natural remedies can be used to strengthen the health status, particularly the immune system.

Telogen Effluvium

Refers to hair loss all over the body due to stress, illness (canine cancer medications can cause hair loss), high temperatures, pregnancy or lactation. Hair loss is sudden followed by re-growth 2 to 3 months later during the next hair growth cycle.

Tumors

Tumors on the testicles or ovaries can cause hair loss. The prognosis is excellent if the ovaries or testicles are removed. These issues cause hormone problems which lead to hair loss.

Dog Hair Loss by Breed

Certain breeds have a higher incidence of dogs losing hair. The following table lists breeds that have this problem, and the reason for the problem. Some breeds such as Greyhounds can lose hair on their thighs which later grow back. After 3 years of age some Dobermans (blue Doberman) and Irish Setters (fawn color) can lose hair. Symptoms may include some irritation on the skin. You can help the skin with a medicated bath.

Dog Bald Patches Around Eyes

If your dog is losing hair around the eyes then your pet is suffering from demodex mites, a condition otherwise known as dog mange. To treat mange consider a treatment such as Naturasil for Pet Mange. The same company makes Benzarid which is an all natural way to rid your home of the mites.

Dog Hair Odor and Smell

Dog smell is not caused by just one odor, but is a combination of odors. The odor become strong and combine when a wet dog's hair is brushed. The odor is caused by a chemical reaction between the hair and the water, causing a range of odors. Smells that develop include sulfur, medicinal or feces, mushroom, fruity, floral, earthy and branched or complex aldehydes. It is this last category that increases the most when the hair is wet.

If your dog suddenly has an itch, is losing hair and smells then your should bring her to the veterinarian to check for infection (bacterial, fungal etc.). The microbial activity at the base of hair follicles can cause dog odor and smell.

Dog Hair and Diet

Dog hair is made up of 90% protein. It is essential that your dog's diet contain enough protein to help the skin and hair stay healthy. The other important component are amino acids.

If you suspect diet is the problem, then consider gradually changing your dog's food to another product. If your dog's skin appears dry consider a food like Hill's® Science Diet® Adult Sensitive Skin dog food. Also consider supplementation with an omega-3 fish oil supplement and a herbal remedy designed to support the skin such as PetAlive Skin and Coat Tonic for Healthy Skin and a Glossy Coat in Pets.

Dog Shedding Hair

All dogs shed hair. The difference is the amount of hair being shed and the frequency. On all dogs, as new hair grows it will push out old hair causing shedding. Shedding will increase as the days get shorter and then slow down as it gets light longer. Of help might be our guide to the best dog hair vacuums.

If your dog's hair appears unhealthy, dull or brittle then consider some of the products mentioned above and see if the problem of dog shedding hair improves over time.

Ask a Question or Share Your Story

References

Compounds Responsible for the Odor of Dog Hair Coat
*Linda Young, Phillipe Pollien, Deborah Roberts, Jill Cline
*Nestle Purina PTC
St. Joseph, Missouri, US
linda.young@rdmo.nestle.com

Washington State University

Nutrition, Skin Care and Coat
Fabienne Dethioux, DVM, MRCVS

Oh My Dog
Beth Ostrosky Sterm