Jealous Canine Losing Hair

by Jen
(New York, NY)

Reader Question: What Is Causing My Canine's Hair To Thin?

We have just gotten two cats that my dog is jealous of; they stay outside she stays inside. Now she acts like she won’t go outside and pee she has even peed on the rug which she has never done. We got her hair cut about three months ago. Her hair is thinning on both sides of her and nowhere else she has a longer patch down her back bone and everywhere else. We assume it’s the two kittens that she's so jealous over that's causing this. She is about 10 years old, has been fixed, we have also been having a few storms and she is terrified of a storm.

Veterinarian Answers Reader Question Regarding Hair Loss

Hello,

It is possible that the stress of having two new kittens around is playing a role in your dog’s condition, but her symptoms also fit well with some potentially serious diseases. Two that come to mind are hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease, both of which can cause hair loss and urinary issues. I strongly recommend you make an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out medical problems before simply assuming that her changes are behavioral in origin. Even if the doctor gives her a clean bill of health, the visit will still be worthwhile because the doctor will then be able to make recommendations and prescribe medications that will help your dog be better able to deal with the stress of her new living arrangements.

Regards,

Jennifer Coates, DVM