WHY IS MY PET LOSING HAIR ON HIS/HER.......?

By Virginia Kilmer

Perpetual Care

Is your pet losing hair on their back, face, leg or ears?  Wherever they are losing their hair, it can be a tricky investigation to find the source of the issue.  A pet may lose hair due to allergies, parasites like fleas or mites, skin infections, or hormonal imbalances. Other causes can include stress, poor nutrition, genetics, or friction from things like collars, harnesses and horse tack. 

The first step when investigating an issue with your pet is almost always a trip to the veterinarian to eliminate any medical causes.  The specific reason for hair loss may require a veterinary diagnosis to determine the correct treatment. 

Common causes

• Allergies: 

Reactions to food, environmental triggers (like pollen), or flea bites can cause itching, scratching, and subsequent hair loss. 

• Parasites: 

Fleas, mites (causing mange), and lice are common culprits that can lead to intense itching and hair loss. 

• Infections: 

Bacterial or fungal infections, like ringworm, can create red, inflamed, and itchy patches of hair loss. 

• Hormonal imbalances: 

Conditions like hypothyroidism or Cushing’s Disease can lead to symmetrical hair loss on the body. 

• Stress: 

Just like humans, pets can experience hair loss from stress, anxiety, or compulsive behaviors like over-grooming.  In some cases, the cause may be due to bathing too frequently or the ingredients in shampoos.

• Genetics: 

Some breeds are genetically predisposed to certain types of hair loss. 

• Friction: 

Constant rubbing from a collar, harness, or even a hard surface can cause hair to shorten or fall out in those specific spots. 

• Seasonal alopecia: 

Some horses experience irregular, seasonal hair loss, particularly in warm climates. This may be due to hormonal changes related to the pineal gland. 

What to do

• See a veterinarian: A vet can accurately diagnose the cause through a physical exam and potentially other tests, such as blood work or skin scrapings. 

• Address parasites: The vet will recommend a proper parasite prevention and treatment plan. 

• Adjust diet: A vet may suggest a different food or supplements if a nutritional deficiency is the cause. 

• Manage stress: Provide a calm environment and enrichment to reduce anxiety. 

• Prevent friction: Ensure collars, harnesses and horse tack fit properly and are not too tight. For horses, avoid prolonged exposure to harsh weather without blankets

Skin & Coat Supplements

If you have eliminated a medical cause for hair loss, or once the medical cause has been addressed, but your pet’s hair has not grown back, you may want to add a supplement to your pet’s diet.  I have listed below supplements that we have used and that work and some that we have not used, but they have been recommended. 

I have researched and learned that probiotics can help pets with hair loss by improving the gut-skin axis, which can reduce inflammation and support healthier skin and coat. They may not directly regrow hair but can improve hair quality and reduce thinning caused by underlying issues like allergies or a weakened immune system. 

Dog Supplement:  At Perpetual Care we have used a probiotic called Dinovite.  It is in a powder form which can be used as a food topper. However, we found that dogs don’t really like it on their food so we mix their dry food with Dinovite and a bit of moist food and a touch of water to make a sort of “paste” and they will eat it.  We have had rescue dogs who suffered from open sores and “dead” skin due to mites or fleas and when they are treated for them, we use the Dinovite and have had amazing success with full return of skin and coat health.

Cat Supplement:  We like a supplement for cats called VetriScience which is probiotic soft chew.  It is Duck flavored and it could be included with the dry treats.  As cat owners know, it can be difficult to give cats medications and supplements in any form so you may have to look for alternatives if your cat won’t eat the chews.  The cat that we had here at Perpetual Care would only eat dry food, but if your cat eats moist food, it may work better to buy the probiotic in a powder or food topper form and mix it in with the moist food. 

Horse Supplement:  For horses, treatment involves balanced mineral supplementation (copper, zinc, iron), proper grooming, and monitoring diet quality.  Supplements that can help with horse hair regrowth include biotin, zinc, and copper, along with fatty acids and protein.  We don’t have personal experience with this issue, but we did find that Mad Barn Biotin Hoof & Hair Support Supplement had excellent reviews.

As always, I recommend that you talk about any supplements you want to add to your pet’s diet with your veterinarian.

Pet Wellness Checks

A final note about pet skin and coat issues and really any change in your pet’s health is about the importance of wellness checks for all pets.  Trying to figure out why your pet is not feeling well or has concerning symptoms can be difficult since they can’t tell you what is wrong and when it started.  That is why I suggest that a quick daily or at least weekly wellness check of your pet can tell you at least when symptoms occur and help you and your veterinarian investigate any issues with your pet in order to treat them.