Bringing a furry miracle to the house, the owners become attached to it, and this miracle, over time, becomes a beloved member of the family. A shiny and beautiful coat in a dog is a sign of health. If the coat begins to fall out much, one should be wary. Perhaps the dog develops alopecia.
What is alopecia
A pathology in which a pet's hair partially or completely falls out. Not to be confused with ordinary molting. Hair loss or impaired hair growth are alarming symptoms in the canine body. These can be internal or external deviations from the norm.
Owners of such dog breeds should be especially attentive to their pets:
- Staffordshire Terrier;
- bulldog;
- Doberman
- poodle;
- Spitz
- Chow Chow
- dwarf pinscher.
A clear cause of the occurrence of baldness in animals is not named. The process is unpredictable and sometimes fast. A clear regimen and treatment methods do not exist, so the disease is called "alopecia X".
Alopecia X in dogs is not a specific disease, it is a complex of symptoms and a combination of several diseases, which interferes with the treatment and diagnosis of pathology. The dog itself does not feel much discomfort, the absence of itching and pain does not prevent the pet from enjoying life. But the owner is unpleasant in shreds to gather wool around the house and watch the pet go bald.
The cause of hair loss remains unknown, but some studies indicate hormonal failure of sex hormones. This is usually a hereditary factor.
Large-scale baldness begins with some parts of the body, but alopecia in the Spitz dog spreads further. The tail, body, and hips are deprived of the coat, while the legs and head remain fluffy.
The disease is expressed in different ways, it all depends on the reasons. This can be partial hair loss or total.
Seasonal molt
A common cause of hair loss. With a normal lifestyle, the animal molts twice a year. Most often these breeds of dogs molt:
- Like
- Spitz
- Husky
- saint bernard;
- Dalmatian.
Seasonal molting (spring – fall) is found in other breeds:
- Alabai
- pug;
- Newfoundland;
- German Shepherd;
- sheltie.
Almost do not fade:
- Basenji
- poodle;
- Giant Schnauzer;
- Airedale;
- Yorkshire Terrier.
If the dog lives in a hot climate for him, then he will lose his hair more often.
Signs of normal molting in a pet:
- Hair loss does not create bald patches.
- The animal feels great.
- When combing the dog, a more shiny and fluffy coat is visible, not a receding hairline.
- The dog itches a little.
To speed up the process of molting, you have to comb out your pet two or three times a day.
Dog baldness can be caused by other causes.
Unbalanced diet
Often the owners feed the dog a natural meal. Of course, this is useful if the diet contains enough vitamins B and C, as well as biotin vitamins. Do not forget that the dog gladly eats fruits and vegetables, but the owners often miss this moment.
Alopecia in dogs develops as a result of a lack of minerals, trace elements and vitamins in the body. The coat will begin to fade and fall out much more strongly. There are bald patches, which is very frustrating for the owners.
Dogs that eat industrial food receive a balanced diet, and the risk of getting this kind of illness is much lower, almost nullified.
Hormonal problems
Hormones are very responsible for all metabolic processes in the animal’s body, including hair growth. Hormonal changes are rare. But when they occur, it is they who become the source of the development of alopecia in dogs.
Causes of pathology:
- Hypotheriosis - a lack of thyroid hormones.
- Hyperandrenocorticism is an increased indicator of cortisol in the blood.
- Alopecia X is a combination of several diseases.
Endocrine alopecia is more likely to affect adults or older pets. Especially males. Dry skin appears throughout the body, hair begins to fall out, irritations and scratches occur.
Sometimes you can notice how the pet's hair falls symmetrically. This is not complete baldness, but diffuse. The amount of hair is reduced with clearly defined borders or without them, between the affected and healthy areas of the skin.
Symmetric alopecia in dogs is also endocrine in nature. The problem manifests itself most often:
- on the inner surface of the abdomen and hind legs;
- on the side of the chest and abdomen;
- in the area of the anus and genitals;
- on the inner surface of the neck;
- in the armpit.
Itching is absent with such baldness, but it causes anxiety in pet owners. Unfortunately, this problem is very common.
After groomer services
The initial stage of hormonal failure is considered baldness in dogs after shearing. Most often this happens when the dog needs surgery. Then the animal’s hair is shaved with a machine.
The risk zone for such baldness includes pets with a dense undercoat (Malamutes, Husky, Chow Chow). After the haircut, some dogs have to wait a long time for their coat to grow back.
This is a sign of health complications and the onset of alopecia in dogs. The photo above shows a shorn pet, happy and contented, but sometimes the hair does not grow back several weeks, and sometimes even years.
Allergy
Allergic people are not only people, but also dogs. This is usually an allergy to food. The pet has loose stools and watery eyes.
If the dog itches and whines, it is most likely an allergy to the shampoo with which the animal is washed. Such baldness is more often focal.
Alopecia in dogs due to allergies causes them to refuse walking and eating. The general condition worsens. Particular attention should be paid to places where alopecia can intensify:
- behind the ears;
- on the neck;
- on the stomach;
- under the paws.
In these areas, scratches, dry skin and sores appear. The dog itself worsens its condition by constant combing and infection of ulcers. In such cases, a component that provides inconvenience should be identified, eliminated from use and treated.
Parasites
The cause of alopecia in dogs is often the defeat of the body with round or flat helminths. To avoid the disease, it is recommended that the dog every three months to give drugs for worms.
Parasites can nest both on the skin and on the internal organs. External parasites cause severe itching, biting the animal. The dog begins to itch, tearing out the coat.
Stress state
In such cases, the pet refuses to play, walk and eat. Stress can occur due to loss of the owner, moving, loss of another animal to which the dog has become attached. In such cases, the dog loses hair evenly throughout the body, and feces and blood tests - without deviations.
Good communication with your pet will come to the rescue. It should be given more attention than usual. Create a quiet and warm atmosphere. Giving vitamins and junk food.
Pregnancy
The appearance in a pregnant female of baldness is often caused by a deficiency of vitamins, experiences and hormonal failure.
The expectant mother should always be able to eat well and quench her thirst. A pregnant dog needs peace and does not like increased attention.
Diagnosis of alopecia
To begin the treatment of alopecia in dogs, you need to make the correct diagnosis, which is not easy. They will try to help the pet save and restore its beauty.
The main diagnostic methods include:
- phototrichogram;
- biopsy
- microscopic examination of fallen wool and scraping of the skin;
- Wood glow;
- biochemical analysis of skin scraping;
- bacteriological and mycological cultures of skin scraping.
When there is a suspicion of hormonal imbalance, a blood sampling is performed on the balance of hormones. The activity of B- and T-lymphocytes, the content of the protein involved in the synthesis of iron, the presence of antigens are established.
To be sure that the animal does not have an allergic reaction to parasites, they examine feces - they do an analysis for the content of helminth eggs and a coprogram.
Differential diagnostics - expensive tests are performed, which not everyone can afford. But you cannot do without them. It will be impossible to establish the cause of the pathology and provide assistance.
Treatment
It all depends on the cause of the ailment, measures and actions will depend on this - that is, the purpose of how to treat alopecia in dogs. With an imbalance of hormones, hormone therapy is prescribed:
- with hypothyroidism - Levothyroxine;
- with Cushing's disease, "Mitotan", "Trilostan" are suitable;
- with hypoestrogenism, after castration - "Melatonin".
If the cause is parasites, Ivermicin injections are prescribed. Against subcutaneous pests, special shampoos are suitable, which include:
- selenium sulfide;
- chlorhexidine;
- miconazole.
Losses of wool are lubricated with a solution of "Fosmet". When lesions of large areas are introduced:
- Melarzomin
- "Dihydrochloride";
- Prednisone.
To restore the coat after treatment of the source of the disease, the doctor prescribes such drugs:
- Melatonin
- Mitotan
- Methyltestosterone;
- Trilostan;
- Lizodren.
During the treatment of idiopathic alopecia, complex therapy is used with the help of drugs:
- Anipril;
- Prednisolone
- "Ketoconazole";
- Leuprolide
- Cimetidine.
The combination occurs clearly according to the scheme prescribed by the doctor.
After the time has passed, a positive result should appear. If this is not, then the treatment regimen is changing.