Dog Hair

" Dog Hair care requires grooming and proper nutrition to maintain its texture and look. There are many diseases that can cause your dog to loose its' hair. Canine hair that has a bad odor and is accompanied by itching or scaly skin needs to examined by a veterinarian. "

If you are having a canine health hair problem, then proper grooming and understanding why your dog may be shedding or losing hair can be helpful. Reasons for your dog hair problems can be breed specific, temporary, or require removal of the underlying cause.

Grooming Dog Hair

Regular brushing and combing will keep your dog's coat clean and avoid matting. Start grooming your dog's at a young age in short sessions to get them used to it. If your dog resists when brushing legs, try doing it without holding onto the leg or keeping it from moving, it is the lack of motion control that makes most dogs object.

Before brushing consider something that takes away the static electricity from the coat such as an anti static conditioner. The hair should not stretch when combed. The best brush is for all types of dogs is a pin brush.

Long Hair Dogs: Strokes should be short, never pull, and brush in short strokes against the direction or lay of the hair pushing it up and then push the sections down.

Short Hair Dogs: Brush in the direction of the lay of the hair. Start at the head and work back.

Dog Losing Hair

There are many medical and unknown reasons for your dog losing hair or shedding an unusual amount of hair. Reasons include:

Hormones: Dog hormonal problems such as (hyperadrenocorticism), hypothyroidism either require hormone therapy or surgical removal of the problem gland. Problems include hypothyroidism or Cushing's Disease. Symptoms of this problem include loss of hair on your dog's body. You may also see irritation, skin bumps, blackheads and flaking.

Tumors: Tumors on the testicles or ovaries can cause hair loss. The prognosis is excellent if the ovaries or testicles are removed. These issues cause hormone problems which lead to hair loss.

Dyspalsia (abnormal hair development, also called alopecia x): This happens when your dog loses hair on the sides of the body and then regrows it months later. Symptoms include the skin appearing black in color. If your dog has been neutered or spayed and other illnesses such as those mentioned above have been ruled out, then you can try therapy with Vitamin A and oral Melatonin which is a synthetic hormone.

You can buy Melatonin at any health food store in 3mg tablets or online by following the link.. The dose is daily over 2 to 3 months with results seen in 6 to 8 weeks. Over time reduce to 1x per week. Melatonin helps approximately 50% of dogs. One side effect may be sleepiness. Be sure to check with your veterinarian first.

Alopecia Areata: This is an immune mediated skin disease. Your veterinarian may take a small skin sample for analysis. Symptoms include the loss of hair in one or patchy areas. Treatment is either to wait for hair regrowth or to try corticosteroid injections.

Breed and Color Specific Hair Loss: Some breeds such as Greyhounds can lose hair on their thighs which later grow back. After 3 years of age some Dobermans (blue Doberman) and Irish Setters (fawn color) can lose hair. Symptoms may include some irritation on the skin. You can help the skin with a medicated bath.

Pattern Baldness or Unexplained Baldness: Focus is on proper nutrition, natural supplements and fish oil supplements. It is possible for dog's to become bald, particularly around the ears.

Sudden Hair Loss: Usually this is caused by a short term problem or stress. Once the reason is identified and eliminated then the problem goes away. In some cases such as plush coated dogs, hair will regrow in 6 to 12 months.

Infection: Ringworm (fungal infection) can cause hair loss. Hairless patches are up to 2 inches in diameter.

Dog Bald Patches Around Eyes

If your dog is losing hair around the eyes then your pet is suffering from demodex mites, a condition otherwise known as dog mange. To treat mange consider a treatment such as Dermisil for Pet Mange. The same company makes Benzarid which is an all natural way to rid your home of the mites.

Dog Hair Odor and Smell

Dog smell is not caused by just one odor, but is a combination of odors. The odor become strong and combine when a wet dog's hair is brushed. The odor is caused by a chemical reaction between the hair and the water, causing a range of odors. Smells that develop include sulfur, medicinal or feces, mushroom, fruity, floral, earthy and branched or complex aldehydes. It is this last category that increases the most when the hair is wet.

If your dog suddenly has an itch, is losing hair and smells then your should bring her to the veterinarian to check for infection (bacterial, fungal etc.).

Dog Hair and Diet

Dog hair is made up of 90% protein. It is essential that your dog's diet contain enough protein to help the skin and hair stay healthy. The other important component are amino acids.

If you suspect diet is the problem, then consider gradually changing your dog's food to another product. If your dog's skin appears dry consider a food like Hill's® Science Diet® Adult Sensitive Skin dog food. Also consider supplementation with an omega-3 fish oil supplement and a herbal remedy designed to support the skin such as PetAlive Skin and Coat Tonic for Healthy Skin and a Glossy Coat in Pets.

Dog Shedding Hair

All dogs shed hair. The difference is the amount of hair being shed and the frequency. On all dogs as new hair grows it will push out old hair causing shedding. Shedding will increase as the days get shorter and then slow down as it gets light longer.

If you dog's hair appears unhealthy, dull or brittle then consider some of the products mentioned above and see if the problem of dog shedding hair improves over time.

References:

Compounds Responsible for the Odor of Dog Hair Coat
*Linda Young, Phillipe Pollien, Deborah Roberts, Jill Cline
*Nestle Purina PTC
St. Joseph, Missouri, US
linda.young@rdmo.nestle.com

Nutrition, Skin Care and Coat
Fabienne Dethioux, DVM, MRCVS

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