Introduction
The main symptom of alopecia is hair loss on any place on the body. Alopecia may, or may not, be accompanied by additional symptoms.
Symptoms of Alopecia in Dogs
One of the most confusing aspects about alopecia is that the condition can occur with no other symptoms. The dog just simply starts to lose hair on a certain place, or places, on the body. The skin still appears normal and the dog behaves normally. Some of these types of alopecia conditions in dogs will not progress either. The dog simply loses some hair, and the hair never seems to grow back. In other cases the hair loss may progress to include other parts of the body or hair loss patches will expand, but the dog still does not show any additional symptoms.
Symptoms In Addition to Hair Loss
When alopecia is accompanied by symptoms other then hair loss, they generally include itching, scratching, chewing, and changes to the skin itself. The color of the skin may change to a reddish tone, or the skin may just begin to appear darker. In some cases, the skin under a bald patch will become raised, red, crusty and lesions may develop. Sometimes the skin appears oily and greasy, or pustules on the skin begin to drain.
In severe cases, blisters and hot spots can develop and secondary bacterial infections occur. The skin itself may appear thinner, or it can start to thicken.
The wide varieties of symptoms that can accompany the alopecia itself are all dependent on what is causing the condition. If alopecia is accompanied by additional symptoms, these symptoms can serve as clues that may help with diagnosing the cause of the alopecia.