What Causes Hair Loss in Dogs
- Date: 2010-04-23 - Word Count: 506
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Many people wonder why their dog loses its hair. Many people think it is because they are hot in the summer therefore they lose it, whereas others think that their pet is getting old and experiencing balding. This article will briefly describe why your pet sheds, and what the causes can be.
The technical term for hair loss is alopecia. Alopecia is the more complex way of saying that your pet is experiencing hair loss. When they shed it can be in a thick form or just small amounts at a time. Some can even lose their hair because of a disease or an allergic reaction to medication. Others may experience loss seasonally, this process is called shedding.
First we will discuss shedding. This is described as a natural loss that dogs experience so that they can grow a new coat. The rate they lose their hair is mostly dependent upon what breed they are. Long haired animals are more likely to experience shedding on a regular basis. Short haired animals also loose; however it is much less noticeable. It can be a pain for owners of dogs because it causes hair to become matted into the floor. Some groomers offer a special "dip" for your animal to take and this is supposed to reduce the amount of loss. The dip is not guaranteed to work and it is a very controversial subject because it is a natural thing that all pets go through.
Another way they can experience loss is though disease. They can contract many diseases in which they bald. For example, if your pet is experiencing a hormonal disease, your dog will most likely experience balding. When diseases are caught ahead of time there is a good chance the this type of loss can be prevented, however most people do not take their pet to the veterinarian until they notice it which can be too late. At this point, it can either grow back or stay permanently gone depending on the accuracy of the medication.
The last type of balding in animals to be described is due to allergic reaction. Dogs, much like people, can have allergies. Some have allergies to things like pollen and dander, however this is not common. The most common allergy they experience is to medication. When they are injected with shots of medication they may get an allergic reaction. On occasion this allergic reaction can cause them to shed. Normally it is lost at the site of injection, but sometimes they can begin to lose their hair in patches. In most cases it will grow back; however sometimes the follicles are damaged in turn preventing it from growing back.
Hopefully this article explained all of the unanswered questions about how and why your pet may shed or bald. It is important to remember that it is not only experienced in humans, but any mammal with hair. It can be natural or unnatural. When this happens at an extreme it is important to take your pet to a veterinarian office as soon as possible.
The technical term for hair loss is alopecia. Alopecia is the more complex way of saying that your pet is experiencing hair loss. When they shed it can be in a thick form or just small amounts at a time. Some can even lose their hair because of a disease or an allergic reaction to medication. Others may experience loss seasonally, this process is called shedding.
First we will discuss shedding. This is described as a natural loss that dogs experience so that they can grow a new coat. The rate they lose their hair is mostly dependent upon what breed they are. Long haired animals are more likely to experience shedding on a regular basis. Short haired animals also loose; however it is much less noticeable. It can be a pain for owners of dogs because it causes hair to become matted into the floor. Some groomers offer a special "dip" for your animal to take and this is supposed to reduce the amount of loss. The dip is not guaranteed to work and it is a very controversial subject because it is a natural thing that all pets go through.
Another way they can experience loss is though disease. They can contract many diseases in which they bald. For example, if your pet is experiencing a hormonal disease, your dog will most likely experience balding. When diseases are caught ahead of time there is a good chance the this type of loss can be prevented, however most people do not take their pet to the veterinarian until they notice it which can be too late. At this point, it can either grow back or stay permanently gone depending on the accuracy of the medication.
The last type of balding in animals to be described is due to allergic reaction. Dogs, much like people, can have allergies. Some have allergies to things like pollen and dander, however this is not common. The most common allergy they experience is to medication. When they are injected with shots of medication they may get an allergic reaction. On occasion this allergic reaction can cause them to shed. Normally it is lost at the site of injection, but sometimes they can begin to lose their hair in patches. In most cases it will grow back; however sometimes the follicles are damaged in turn preventing it from growing back.
Hopefully this article explained all of the unanswered questions about how and why your pet may shed or bald. It is important to remember that it is not only experienced in humans, but any mammal with hair. It can be natural or unnatural. When this happens at an extreme it is important to take your pet to a veterinarian office as soon as possible.
Christine Crotts is looking forward to that special day with her one and only. Christine has written a site containing reviews on wedding band set, as well as wedding ring bands.n
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