Hair loss in dogs can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
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Allergies: Dogs can experience hair loss due to allergic reactions to specific substances, such as food, pollen, or flea bites.
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Parasites: Mites and lice can cause hair loss in dogs. The type of lice found on dogs is not the same species found on humans, and they are spread from infected dogs, overcrowded housing, infected grooming tools, and poor sanitation.
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Skin conditions or infections: Dogs can get dry, cracked skin or skin infections, which can cause extreme itchiness. Dogs will often lick, scratch, or itch themselves to relieve the discomfort, and over time this can lead to hair loss. Bacterial or fungal skin infections usually have an underlying allergy component as well.
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Post-grooming alopecia: Some dogs may experience hair loss after grooming, which can be due to a variety of factors, including the use of harsh grooming products or excessive brushing.
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Underlying health concerns: Hair loss in dogs may also be caused by hyperadrenocorticism, or Cushings disease, a condition caused by the overproduction of the hormone. Reactions from rabies vaccines and steroid injections, cancer, chemical exposure, burns, and normal aging can also produce alopecia.
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Infection or infestation: Hair loss can be a sign of bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections. Some signs of infection or infestation include hair loss around the ears, eyes, and mouth, oily skin, thickened skin, itching, inflammation, circular or irregular hair loss, and infected crusts.
It can be difficult to identify the cause of a dog's hair loss, but there are some common causes and symptoms to look out for. If you're concerned about your dog's hair loss, it's important to take them to a veterinarian as soon as possible to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.
