Introduction
Alopecia is a term that refers to any type of hair loss. There are over fifty conditions in dogs that are known to cause hair loss, and effective treatments of alopecia rely on discovering the cause of the condition.
How Does Alopecia Affect Dogs?
Alopecia, or hair loss, can occur on any dog breed at any age. In fact, alopecia is one of the more common complaints that veterinarians see in their canine patients. Alopecia can occur anywhere on the body: on the face, around the eyes, on the back, near the base of the tail, in patches all over the body, or a dog can experience hair loss everywhere. The hair loss may seem to occur on its own without any other additional symptoms, or the hair loss may be accompanied by scratching, redness, or skin changes. Alopecia can appear in a symmetrical pattern, or it can have no pattern at all.
Implications of Alopecia in Dogs
Alopecia may or may not be a serious condition. It just depends on why the condition has developed. Many cases of alopecia are caused by hormone imbalances or parasites, while other cases of alopecia are caused by more serious conditions such as Cushing’s disease or diabetes mellitus. If alopecia is accompanied by additional symptoms such as scratching, there is always a risk of secondary bacterial infections if the condition is not addressed.
A dog that is losing its hair may need extensive tests to determine what is causing the hair loss. This can be a time consuming process, but in most cases once the cause of the condition is determined the alopecia can be effectively treated.
Breed Susceptibility to Alopecia
Breeds that are more susceptible to genetic alopecia conditions include: Huskies, Chows, Dachshunds, Whippets, Greyhounds, Pomeranians, Poodles, Boxers, Doberman Pinschers, Water Spaniels, Portuguese Water Dogs, and Great Danes.
Post-Clipping Alopecia
Post-Clipping alopecia is the failure to re-grow hair after its been cut, usually after surgery or being groomed. The cause of this is unknown, but fluffy-breeds tend to be more susceptible: Keeshonds, Elkhounds, Pomeranians, etc.