This article was reviewed by Natalie Punt, DVM. Dr. Natalie Punt is a Veterinarian and the Founder and CEO of mPet- a smart phone app for pet owners to store, manage and transfer their pets medical records and health information. She specializes in small animal emergency and general medicine and veterinary practice economics. Dr. Punt holds a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from The University of California, Davis, an MS in Biochemistry from The University at Buffalo, and a DVM from Western University of Health Sciences.
There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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The best way to regrow your dog's hair is to isolate the cause of hair loss with help from your veterinarian. Follow your vet's directions for treating any medical issues your dog may have, and ask about topical treatments for hair regrowth. Once you've dealt with medical issues, try improving your pet's diet and stress levels to help prevent hair loss.
Steps
Identifying the Cause of Hair Loss
Visit your veterinarian as soon as you see hair loss or bald spots. While it is normal for your dog to shed hair, excessive shedding and bald spots can be a sign of a serious illness. Contact your vet right away to see if your dog has an ailment that requires antibiotics or other treatments. Your vet may run blood tests or do a biopsy to rule out serious conditions such as:[1]- Cushing's disease, a disorder caused by an increase of corticosteroids in the body
- Ringworm, a fungal infection
- Mange, a disease caused by parasitic mites
- Hypothyroidism, a hormonal disease affecting the skin
- Bacterial infections, illnesses brought on by parasitic, allergic, or hormonal conditions
Tell your vet about any other symptoms your dog has shown. Any recent changes in your dog's health and behaviour might provide your vet with clues about your dog's hair loss. Tell your vet if you have noticed any other physical symptoms, such as a rash or skin discoloration. You should also tell your vet if your dog has been acting abnormally, which may indicate a psychological cause for the hair loss.[2]- For instance, if you tell your vet about your dog's recent lethargy, weight gain, and skin discoloration, they will be inclined to test for hypothyroidism.
- Easily bruised skin and increased thirst and urination may be indications of Cushing's disease.
- Also tell your vet about any recent environmental changes your dog has been exposed to, like moving to a new home or going to a new doggy daycare.
Monitor your dog for any excessive scratching or biting. Excessive scratching and biting can contribute to hair loss, so it's important that you keep an eye out for this kind of behavior. There are a variety of reasons that your dog could be scratching or biting itself more than usual, including:[3]- Allergies
- A nutritional deficiency
- Fleas
- A skin infection
- Stress or anxiety
Use a flea comb to check your dog's coat for fleas. Hair loss may be a sign that your dog has fleas. Run a small comb with closely-set teeth through your dog's hair, close to the skin. Tap the comb onto a paper towel or white piece of paper to easily spot fleas.[4]- Note that fleas are a dark reddish-brown color.
- In this case, hair loss is due to excessive scratching or biting of flea bites on your dog's skin.
- Ask your veterinarian for advice on the best way to treat your dog's flea problem.
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Treating Hair Loss
Administer any antibiotics or medications prescribed by your vet. Be sure to give your dog its medicine as recommended by your veterinarian. Depending on the medication, you'll need to administer it orally or topically.- For medications that you administer orally, try giving them to your dog with its food or in a "pill pocket" dog treat.
- Your dog will likely be prescribed trilostane or mitotane if it has Cushing's disease.[5]
- Your vet will prescribe griseofulvin, itraconazole, or terbinafine to treat ringworm.[6]
- Hypothyroidism is usually treated with the drug thyroxine, a replacement hormone compound.
- Bacterial infections will be treated with antibiotics.
Use a hydrocortisone shampoo or spray to calm irritated skin. Ask your veterinarian if it is okay to treat your dog with a hydrocortisone spray or shampoo, an ingredient to help soothe and heal the skin. If you use a spray, concentrate only on the areas where your dog's skin is balding or irritated. Your dog's hair will grow back faster once your dog stops licking, scratching, or biting it due to itchiness.[7]- Only use a shampoo made specifically for dogs, which will have a pH level suited for their skin.
- Use hydrocortisone products twice a week while your dog's skin is healing, or as recommended by your veterinarian.
Ask your vet about melatonin therapy to treat genetic causes of hair loss. Melatonin is used in veterinary medicine as a natural treatment for genetic hair loss in dogs. Ask your veterinarian if this treatment would be appropriate for your dog. Melatonin should be administered orally once or twice a day, every 8-12 hours. [8]- Dogs under 25 pounds (11 kg) should only receive 1.5 mg of melatonin per dose.
- Dogs between 26–99 pounds (12–45 kg) should receive 3 mg per dose.
- Large dogs weighing more than 100 pounds (45 kg) should receive 3-6 mg per dose.
- Watch for possible side effects of melatonin, such as sleepiness and minor gastric upset.
Consult your veterinarian about changing your dog's diet to prevent allergies. Skin irritation in dogs, which can lead to hair loss, is often due to food intolerances or allergies. Ask your vet if removing ingredients such as wheat, corn, soy, and eggs from your dog's diet may help its skin condition. Follow your vet's instructions carefully and eliminate these ingredients gradually over a couple of weeks.[9]- Look for dog food that does not contain preservatives, which may contribute to skin problems.
Reduce your dog's stress level so it doesn't damage its hair. Anxiety can make dogs scratch, bite, or lick their skin excessively, causing hair loss. Reduce your dog's stress level by staying calm around it, being gently assertive, or trying pheromone or herbal treatments. Providing your dog with a crate or other safe place to retreat may also reduce its anxiety.- If you don't succeed at reducing your dog's anxiety, consult an animal behaviorist for help.
- You can use a pheromone spray or diffuser to introduce your dog to pheromone treatments.
Bathe your dog once a month to prevent skin problems. Washing your dog too often may result in skin irritation and itchiness, which can lead to hair loss. Bathe your dog approximately once a month using a shampoo specially formulated for dogs. Lather your dog's coat gently and be sure to rinse out all of the shampoo to prevent any irritation.[10]- If your dog is already suffering from skin irritation or baldness, check with your vet to see the best way to bathe your dog.
- Look for shampoos designed specifically for dogs with sensitive skin, like an oatmeal-based dog shampoo.
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Expert Q&A
References
- ↑ http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2111&aid=421
- ↑ https://www.vetinfo.com/causes-dog-hair-loss.html
- ↑ https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/evr_dg_itch_and_scratch_bite_and_lick
- ↑ https://www.petmd.com/dog/parasites/evr_dg_does_my_dog_have_fleas
- ↑ https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/endocrine/how-treat-cushings-disease-dogs
- ↑ https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ringworm-in-dogs
- ↑ http://dogsaholic.com/care/dog-shampoo-for-allergies.html
- ↑ http://www.akc.org/content/health/articles/melatonin-for-dogs-uses-benefits-and-dosage/
- ↑ https://www.petmd.com/dog/centers/nutrition/evr_dg_best-dog-food-for-dogs-with-food-allergies
About this article
If your dog has lost patches of its fluffy coat, there are things you can do to help it grow back. Before you try anything, take your dog to the vet so they can help identify the cause of its hair loss. Common causes include infections, diseases, allergies, and anxiety. You should also check your dog’s fur for fleas, since its hair loss could be a result of scratching its itchy skin. If your dog has a food intolerance, follow your vet’s instructions for eliminating these ingredients gradually. If your dog has irritated skin, use a hydrocortisone spray or shampoo to soothe it. Make sure your home environment is as calm and quiet as possible in case stress is contributing to your dog’s hair loss. For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, including how to bathe your dog, read on!
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