Does your dog scratch a lot and his hair falls out? There are many causes that can cause irritation and hair loss, sometimes in a localized way and in others in a generalized way. If your dog suffers from this problem, you are interested in reading this article on our site in which we will explain the different causes that can cause bald hair in your dog or constant scratching.
Remember that if you have observed your dog scratching and losing hair, it is essential that you go to the vet to obtain the correct diagnosis and receive the appropriate treatment. Find out below what to do if your dog scratches a lot, bites and loses its hair
My dog scratches a lot and has no fleas - Atopic dermatitis
Atopic or allergic dermatitis is a chronic disease of the dermis that causes inflammation and hypersensitivity. It is generally of hereditary origin, although there are breeds with a certain predisposition to suffer from it, such as the West Highland White Terrier, the Boxer, the Shar Pei or the French bulldog, among others. To develop this disease, the presence of environmental allergens is necessary, the most common being pollen, mites, chemicals, fertilizers or some fabrics.
We can see that the dog scratches a lot and injures himself, loses hair, licks himself, constantly rubs different areas of his body with its paws and even bites itself. It is also common to witness fur and skin discoloration, watery eyes or thickened and darkened skin. In this way, when the dog scratches and does not have fleas, the most common cause is usually this type of dermatitis.
Steps to follow in the face of atopic dermatitis
Although atopic dermatitis cannot be cured, it can be controlled by eliminating the presence of allergens in the environment as much as possible, and offering the dog a prescription diet veterinary specially formulated for atopic dermatitis, such as Affinity's Advance Veterinary Diets Atopic Care feed, made from fish and beneficial ingredients for skin he alth, such as aloe vera, that helps regenerate the skin, reduces inflammation and has an antibacterial effect, ideal for preventing infection after excessive scratching. On the other hand, supplements also help protect dogs from atopic dermatitis, as is the case with Affinity's Advance Veterinary Diets DermaForte nutritional supplements, which reinforce the skin barrier.
Using the right shampoo to bathe your dog is another essential step to help keep atopic dermatitis at bay, such as Advance Veterinary Diets Atopic Care shampoo by Affinity, one of the products from preference by specialists due to its scientifically proven formula, based on aloe vera, collagen and olive leaf extract.
In the most serious cases, it may be necessary to use medication prescribed by the veterinarian.
My dog scratches a lot and has dandruff - Seborrheic dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is a very common disease that affects the dog's dermis, causing scales, scabs and excess oil The Discomfort caused by the appearance of seborrhea causes a bad smell and discomfort in the dog, which can start scratching, causing wounds, irritation and hair loss.
The first phase can be defined as dry seborrhea and is identified by the presence of scales on the mantle, which is often confused with dandruff. If it is not treated, it becomes oily seborrhea, in which case we will see dullness of the coat, greasy hairs attached to dry skin, scales and irritation of the dermis. Later this condition can cause infections, alopecia, fever and even depression. Likewise, with this type of dermatitis it is common to observe that the dog scratches a lot and smells bad due to excess fat.
Steps to follow in case of seborrheic dermatitis
Finding the cause that is causing seborrhea is essential to start treatment and prevent the dog from scratching so much, so A veterinary visit is required. However, in general, frequent baths are usually recommended with the use of an anti-seborrheic soap that helps cleanse, protect and reduce skin inflammation, as well as a change in diet or the use of supplements that provide omega 3
My dog scratches and bites himself a lot, is it moist dermatitis?
Acute moist dermatitis is a he alth problem that tends to appear in summer and spring, mainly caused by excess moisture in the dermisOf the dog. Some factors, such as heat, parasites or allergies themselves, can favor the appearance of moist dermatitis. In addition, and due to the sensation of itching, the dog scratches and licks continuously, losing hair and weighing down the remaining fur in the area, which increases humidity levels and worsens the clinical picture.
We should not confuse acute moist dermatitis with acral lick dermatitis, in this case the dog scratches a lot, bites and licks a specific area of the body in a stereotyped way and it is generally due to to a problem related to stress and anxiety.
Steps to follow in case of acute moist dermatitis
The veterinary visit is mandatory, since a scrapingof the skin must be performed to detect the presence of Staphylococcus, an opportunistic bacteria that proliferates rapidly in the face of this pathology. The treatment to apply is based on antibiotics
The veterinarian may also recommend the use of a veterinary prescription shampoo to help soothe the skin, heal wounds, hydrate the dermis and reduce inflammation in the area.
My dog scratches a lot and has red skin - Contact Dermatitis
That the dog scratches a lot and has red or irritated skin, is not an exclusive symptom of contact dermatitis, since it is also present in atopic dermatitis, for example. However, it is true that it is one of the main signs, since contact dermatitis appears when the dog comes into contact with some substance that causes irritation and hypersensitivity on the skin. In addition, this type of dermatitis can be aggravated if the dog already has skin problems.
Generally appears after the dog comes into contact with different types of chemicals, such as paints, dyes, bleach or fuel, and it is common to observe inflammation of the skin, itching, scratching, scabs, redness and hair loss. However, it can also happen that the dog shows the reaction when it comes into contact with its new bed, collar, drinker or any synthetic object, for example. For this reason, it is common to see that the dog scratches his neck a lot if he has just worn a new collar.
Steps to follow in case of contact dermatitis
If we observe that the dog loses its hair in areas, for example if it scratches its neck a lot, we might suspect that the It is your new collar that is causing the problem, in which case we must remove it immediately. Likewise, it is advisable to go to the vet to ensure the diagnosis and receive a temporary treatment to calm the discomfort that the dog may suffer. The use of a specific shampoo, antihistamines or applying a lotion to the affected area can be some examples of the treatment to apply.
My dog scratches his face a lot - Food allergy
Food allergy is an inappropriate and exaggerated response of the immune system to a substance that does not cause damage to the body. It is usually due to a genetic factor, but it can also occur spontaneously.
The most common allergens are corn, wheat, chicken or soy, but each dog can show hypersensitivity to a food concrete. In the event that the dog suffers from a food allergy, we will observe various symptoms such as vomiting, excessive flatulence, diarrhoea, nausea, loss of appetite or frequent belching. But it can also happen that they do not present these symptoms and that we only observe skin reactions, such as irritation, redness and scratching, it being common to see that the dog scratches a lot and has swollen eyes
Steps to follow when faced with a food allergy
To diagnose food allergy, the veterinarian will take into account the symptoms we observe in the dog and will propose an elimination diet, which It consists of offering the dog different foods to detect which of them it is allergic to. The elimination diet is the only sure way to diagnose a food allergy, but it can take five to eight weeks to complete, in some cases even more than eight.
My dog scratches a lot and has bald spots - Fungus
Fungi are organisms that reproduce rapidly in humid and warm environments, so their appearance in summer or in the skin of dogs that have many wrinkles. It is very common to detect them, because the dog shows reddening of the skin, hair loss, scratching and serious injuries, mainly because it is a very annoying condition.
Mushrooms can affect all kinds of dogs and other living beings, regardless of their age or breed, as they are highly contagious and can be transmitted to people, other dogs and even other pets of home.
Steps to follow when fungi appear
Due to the great variety of fungi that exist, a veterinary visit is mandatory. A Wood's lamp will be used, which can detect up to 50% of the parasites, and if this does not work, analyze a sample of tissue, such as from hair, nails, or skin. Microscopic examination or culture is then performed.
The treatment to follow is usually based on corticosteroids and/or antibiotics. It is also recommended to pay special attention to the dog's skin, avoiding humidity, drying thoroughly after each bath and cleaning their blankets frequently.
My dog scratches his whole body a lot, does he have parasites?
The appearance of external parasites, especially if we are talking about an infestation, can cause serious he alth problems in the dog, in addition to the hair loss, since some act as vectors of other diseases. We are talking about fleas, ticks, mites, mosquitoes and lice.
The uncontrolled presence of external parasites causes discomfort and irritation of the dog's skin, which causes constant scratching, and may even bite to relieve itching, which easily leads to wounds, scabs and infections.
Steps to follow against external parasites
The first step will be to check the dog's coat completely, paying attention to the neck area, ears, legs, armpits and groin area. If you observe the presence of parasites, it will be imperative to bathe with the use of a antiparasitic shampoo, manual removal of ticks and the use of a flea comb to remove the remaining.
Two days after the bath we will use a pipette or an antiparasitic collar to repel and avoid a second infestation. In addition, it is advisable to carry out a blood test to rule out any disease (leishmania or babesiosis, for example) and offer the dog a pill for internal deworming, since some of the external parasites may be carriers of heartworm or taeniasis.
It is important to note that mange will require a different treatment than the one mentioned above, which requires a much stricter follow-up by the veterinarian.
Finally, we want to remind you that it is essential to clean and disinfect all the dog's personal belongings, especially fabrics, since parasites They can survive in the environment. We will also deworm all the animals in the home.
My dog scratches a lot and has nothing, is it anxiety and stress?
All dogs experience small spikes in stress during the day. It is an automatic response of the body to a stimulus and it can be positive or negative, which will cause different reactions in the dog's body.
Chronic stress can lead to the appearance of stereotypes, constant repetitive movements with no apparent purpose, which can result in aexcessive scratching or continual biting. In addition, as a result of immunosuppression, we can observe an alarming hair loss
Steps to follow when a dog is stressed
It is not always easy to assess a dog's stress levels, but by reading the 5 freedoms of animal welfare we can roughly determine if we are meeting the dog's needs.
In the most serious cases, it may be indicated to go to a specialist, such as an ethologist, dog educator or trainer, who help us identify the cause of stress and provide us with specific guidelines adapted to our situation. Even so, we ourselves can improve our dog's quality of life and begin to treat stress in the dog with relatively simple tricks: quality walks, use of intelligence toys, compliance with sleep hours, mental stimulation, avoiding exposure to fears, etc.
Why does my dog scratch a lot and his hair falls out?
All of the above causes can justify excessive scratching and shedding, however, when the dog scratches a lot and does not have fleas, wounds, redness, or any other symptom that alerts us to a he alth problem, it is most likely molting. There are many factors that can cause hair loss, such as temperature, he alth or sexual cycles. Shedding is by far one of the most common causes and can easily be mistaken for disease because not all areas of the coat shed at the same time
There are three phases of hair: anagen, catagen and telogen, and they don't always coincide at the same time. The accumulated hair causes discomfort to the dog and it is common to see the dog scratching and losing hair, for that reason, many people can get confused and think that their dog suffers from some pathology.
Shedding is governed by changes in light which, unlike temperature, are much more stable. Thus, we will observe a greater loss of hair during the changes of season. It is also common for dogs to experience unregulated shedding when living indoors or that some breeds tend to lose more hair than others.
Steps to follow during shedding
When we begin to detect the shedding of the dog, which usually begins in autumn and spring, it will be essentialspend more time brushing , which should be done daily to keep the dog comfortable. In addition, we can match the bathroom of the dog after a brushing session, in this way we will be able to remove much more dead hair.
To promote the growth of beautiful and shiny hair, we can consult with the veterinarian about the option of offering some type of supplement, but there are also foods, such as eggs and olive oil, that can improve very much the quality of the coat. Offering one or two homemade recipes a week with these ingredients can be beneficial for the dog.
