Is every single part of your house covered in dog hair? Are you worried that your furry buddy will develop a couple of bold spots very soon? Do you often find yourself asking ” Why is My Dog’s Hair Falling Out Constantly” and wonder if there is a solution to this problem?
If so, then stick around. I am about to answer a couple of your dog hair loss questions and address your concerns. But before we get started, if you’re struggling with getting the hair off your couches, carpets, and clothes, then read my How to Get Rid of Dog Hair from Your Home and How to Remove Dog Hair from Clothes Laundry Routine blog posts.
Table of Contents
Why is My Dog’s Hair Falling Out?
There are many reasons why, but I will share five reasons with you in this blog post.
- Parasite Infestations
- Skin Conditions
- Nutritional Deficiencies
- Genetics
- A Symptom of a Disease
Parasite Infestations
Parasite infestations, like lice and fleas, are a common cause of hair loss in dogs. If you notice that your dog is losing hair around their tail and neck, then the cause is most probably going to be due to fleas.
Despite their tiny size, these parasites are so mighty as they infest and spread in your dog’s hair very rapidly. The parasite’s bites irritate your dog’s skin and make them scratch their bodies intensely, which leads to hair loss.
Skin Conditions
Any skin condition is irritating. If someone gets dandruff, which isn’t life-threatening at all, they’ll feel uncomfortable and scratch their heads a lot.
The more one scratches an area, the more irritated the skin becomes, the more fragile and brittle the hair becomes, and consequently hair begins to fall.
This could also happen to dogs. Whether it is dandruff or eczema, your dog’s skin gets irritated, and the dogs attempt to fight this uncomfortableness by itching, which causes hair loss.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Another cause, which is also common in humans, is having nutritional deficiencies. Many people resort to vitamins and supplement pills to help them with their skin, nails and hair.
Keratin, which is a protein that is the main structural constituent of hair, requires sulfur amino acids to be properly synthesized. If the sulfur amino acids are deficient, the hair grows weak and falls. The lack in that amino acids slows hair growth, so the hair that falls doesn’t get replaced so fast.
Genetics
Genetics play a huge factor in hair loss, and it is hard to fight that. Some dog breeds are more prone to boldness than others. This why some dogs are actually hairless. There is nothing wrong with them; it is just genetics. Other breeds, like the Chihuahua, often suffer from pattern baldness.
A Symptom of a disease
This is probably the most serious of them all. Why? Well, because these diseases, which happen to cause hair loss, are a bit complicated. Diseases that might cause hair loss symptoms include:
- Ovarian tumors
- Testicular tumors
- Cushing’s disease
- Hypothyrodism
Ovarian or testicular tumors
Ovarian and testicular tumors cause localized hair loss. The tumor secrets hormones which don’t only disrupt the natural sexual cycle, but also affect the hair growth.
Cushing’s disease
Many dogs end up suffering from Cushing’s disease, and it is one of the illness that also cause hair loss. The developed or developing tumor makes a dog’s adrenal glands produce a lot of cortisol. This increase in cortisol leads to undesired symptoms such as hair loss, obesity, and even behavioral issues.
Hypothyroidism
This is a condition where hormone production is on an all-time low. Hypothyroidism is the inflammation of the thyroid gland, this means that your dog is producing low amounts of thyroid hormones.
It occurs more commonly in dog breeds that are medium to large in size. One of the symptoms include hair thinning and hair loss.
Why is My Dog’s Hair Falling – What can you do?
As you have seen, some of the reasons stem from serious issues that require vet consultation, but that is nothing to stress and worry about. There are some very effective medications out there, which is what the vet is going to help you with.
That being said, there are some things that you could do at home to help reduce your dog’s hair loss.
- Regular Hair Brushing and Combing
- Regular Baths
- Diet
Regular Hair Brushing and Combing
Frequent grooming is so important, but it differs from one type of dog coat to another, so make sure that you’re not under or overdoing it.
Brushing and combing your dog’s hair help improve the skin circulation, untangle matted-hair, and evenly spread the natural oils throughout their coat
Regular Baths
Bath products also play an essential role, so use dog shampoos and dog conditioners. These products will give your furry friend regular baths. The frequency once again depends on their hair type and how often they go outside the house.
Diet
When they said beauty comes from within, they weren’t lying. No, I am not just talking about the beauty of the soul; I am referring to the insides of the body.
You are what you eat, so feed your dog a good, balanced diet that is rich in antioxidants and vitamins.
I hope you now have a better understanding of why dog’s hair fall out. If you have any other questions concerning dogs’ hair and hygiene, then make sure to leave them in the comments.
