Alopecia, or fur loss, is incredibly common amongst dogs, and is something your vet sees on a regular basis. Bothersome to pets and owners alike, alopecia can affect your furry friend in a plethora of ways; varying in size, appearance and accompanying problems such as itchiness. This article will discuss the more common causes of canine alopecia, and the approach your vet will take to investigate them.
Table of contents
- What is alopecia?
- Classifying alopecia
- Where is the alopecia?
- When did you first notice the alopecia?
- Is your dog itchy?
- Has it gotten any worse/better? Or has it stayed the same?
- Has this happened before?
- Have you noticed any other symptoms?
- Is your dog up to date with their flea treatment? If so, what product do you use?
- Do you have any other pets (or humans) at home showing similar symptoms?
- Diagnostics
- What are the causes of alopecia?
- Conclusion
What is alopecia?
Alopecia is the partial or complete loss of hair or fur from an area of the body where it is normally present. With partial alopecia, hair density has been reduced so the fur appears thin, making the skin underneath more noticeable. In comparison, complete alopecia is synonymous with baldness; the complete loss of hair or fur, leaving entirely bare skin. It can occasionally be normal in certain breeds and areas of the body, but often indicates there is an underlying problem.
Classifying alopecia
Alopecia has a myriad of causes so it can present very differently in different patients. First, your vet will ask you several key questions in order to characterise the alopecia. The answers to these questions will allow your vet to narrow down the cause, and subsequently tailor a diagnostic or treatment plan for you.
These are some questions your vet may ask:
Where is the alopecia?
The obvious first question which will give your vet a starting point.
When did you first notice the alopecia?
Is this an ongoing problem which started several years ago as a puppy, or is it something which has just started?
Is your dog itchy?
Signs of itching are not always the obvious scratching of the ears, flank or belly with their claws. Other signs include chewing their feet, scooting their bum or dragging their belly across the ground.
Has it gotten any worse/better? Or has it stayed the same?
Some causes of alopecia will progress, whereas some may stay exactly the same.
Has this happened before?
Some patients may have seasonal alopecia, thus occurring at the same time every year.
Have you noticed any other symptoms?
Sometimes other problems may be present such as vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive drinking or eating, lethargy or weight change.
Is your dog up to date with their flea treatment? If so, what product do you use?
This is arguably the most important question, as will be discussed later.
Do you have any other pets (or humans) at home showing similar symptoms?
Unfortunately, some causes of alopecia are contagious between pets and people.
There are of course lots of other questions your vet may ask, but these are potentially the most important; therefore, it may be worth being sure of these answers before your consultation.
Diagnostics
After your vet has asked you the above questions, and collated a clinical history, they will then go on to perform a physical examination. This involves looking at the skin more closely, identifying where the alopecia exactly is and determining if there are any other problems affecting this skin, such as swelling or the presence of little spots known as pustules and papules. They will also look at your entire pet, listening to their heart, lungs and may even take a temperature. Following this, they may decide further investigation is needed. Such as looking down their ears with an otoscope or at a strand of their hair under the microscope. Or they may have gathered enough information to jump straight to treatment. Each case and situation is different!
What are the causes of alopecia?
As I have alluded to, there are many, many different causes of alopecia, some of which are preventable and reversible. Here are some of the most common ones.
Fleas
Fleas to dogs is what kryptonite is to superman – not an issue when kept at a distance, but a serious, frustrating and ultimately uncomfortable problem when in close proximity! These ectoparasites (parasites which affect the skin) not only cause relentless itching, but can also cause alopecia where you pet scratches. Furthermore, some unfortunate patients have an allergy to flea saliva, manifesting as a condition known as Flea Allergic Dermatitis (FAD). With FAD, areas such as the tail base become notably hairless. The skin may also appear inflamed, thickened and scabby. The easiest way to prevent
Mites
Mites are another ectoparasite which are a relatively common cause of canine alopecia. They are too small to be seen with the naked eye but wreak havoc and inflammation by burrowing into the skin of your pet, causing the condition known as mange. There are three main types of mite: Sarcoptes scabiei, Demodex and ear mites. Sarcoptes mites cause very severe skin inflammation and intense itchiness, and typically affect the ear tips, elbows and hocks. Demodex is commonly not itchy and causes localised or generalised skin inflammation. The third type of mite, those affecting the ears, cause itchiness of the ears only and can lead to hair loss in this area from scratching.
The treatments of these different types of mite vary, but are commonly easily prevented via veterinary prescribed flea prevention products – the ingredients of such products commonly protect against many different types of ectoparasite, not just fleas. It should also be remembered that Sarcoptes is unfortunately transmissible to humans, so strict personal hygiene such as thorough hand washing should be implemented if your pet has sarcoptic mange.
Allergies
Like humans, your pet may have allergies to certain foods or environmental allergens such as pollen, moulds and dust mites. When your dog is exposed to an allergen, whether that be via consumption or physical contact, their body tries to fight it off by triggering inflammation which causes symptoms such as itching and diarrhoea. Inflammation of the skin can occur in specific areas including the feet and ears, which will cause your dog to itch these areas excessively. This in turn may cause alopecia.
Common symptoms of an allergic dog include itchy skin, itchy ears and a brown discolouration of their paws – a sign that your dog has been relentlessly licking or chewing their feet! There are a variety of ways to diagnose and treat canine allergies; your vet will form a specific plan just for your pet.
Ringworm
Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin which causes spherical, alopecic lesions. It typically (although not quite always) causes red, circular blotches on your dog’s skin. There is often only one or two, but there may be many – the exact appearance varies between individuals. It is not always itchy, and can be spread to other animals and humans; so thorough handwashing and strict personal hygiene is required. Treatment often includes a variety of medicines and shampoos.
Bacterial infection
A bacterial skin infection, like ectoparasites, can cause itchiness of the skin and subsequent alopecia. Commonly little spots are present in areas such as the belly, called pustules – these are not unlike the appearance of a zit! However, there are many different presentations of a canine skin infection: some may affect certain areas such as skin folds, some affect traumatised skin and some affect anywhere on the body. Treatment depends on the exact nature of a skin infection which your vet will be able to diagnose.
Cushings
The first of the more common hormonal causes of alopecia is Cushing’s Disease. This condition is caused by the excessive production of the hormone cortisol which then causes a variety of symptoms, one of which being alopecia. Other symptoms of cushings include excessive eating and drinking, lethargy and becoming pot-bellied. It usually occurs in older dogs and is more common in particular breeds. If your vet suspects cushings, they will normally recommend blood and urine tests to start with. Cushings is a lifelong condition and makes your dog more prone to certain problems such as skin infections, so a long term management plan devised by your vet is vital.
Hypothyroidism
The other common hormonal cause of alopecia is an underactive thyroid gland. Like in humans, this condition is caused by low thyroid hormone levels. Thyroid hormone is involved in a variety of normal body processes including metabolism and skin health. When levels are low, these processes are negatively affected; so metabolism is slowed and the skin becomes problematic. Such skin signs include alopecia, but also includes thickened skin, skin infections and failure of hair regrowth following clipping. As this is a hormonal disease, other parts of the body are also affected. Other symptoms include weight gain, an intolerance to cold and exercise intolerance. Like with Cushing’s, your vet will normally recommend blood tests to start with. As this is also a lifelong condition, a long-term management plan devised by your vet is incredibly important.
Conclusion
There are a vast number of causes of alopecia in your dog, some of which are more serious and complicated than others, but all of them deserving of a proper veterinary investigation. Contact your vet as soon as possible if you notice alopecia, or any other abnormal sign, in your pup.
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