If your dog sheds a lot of its hair it does not necessarily mean ill health. Dogs that are in doors a lot of the time are exposed to electric lights and central heating and air that can throw off their normal shedding schedule. But if your dogs sheding leads to bald spots your need to seek your veterinarian addvice. All severe shedding is either parasitic or non- parasitic. Parasitic means that it is caused by parasites such a mites or fleas. Non-parasitic means conditions created b a hormonal imbalance or poor diet. This can be treated with vitamins and more controlled diet.

Eczema is a symptom of an more underling disorder, usually dietary rather than a disease. In the more older animal it may be caused by a hormonal imbalance due to a change of body chemistry. The skin becomes scaly and the hair falls out in patches. You must correct the cause by a change in diet or hormone injections, this is by adding fat supplements of Vitaimin A and E.

Eczema can also be caused by fleabite allergy or a parasitic condition. But these bald spots usually appear suddenly and resemble lesions, or burns. To treat the veterinarians diagnosis is you must eliminate the fleas and use a local application of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory medicines.

The other resson for bald spots is mange, there are two types of mange, ot mange and Sarcopic mange or “Scabies” which has a musty odor. Mange often starts on the head and spreads to the ears, tail, the abdomen, chest and under the front legs. Your vet can provide medicated baths; generally sulfur preparations and anti-itch topicals.

The second type of mange is Follicular or Demondectic mange or “Red Mange” this is caused by a different famil of mites that burrows into the hair follicles and most often attacks young puppies. It is more serious and persistent than the other variety, in the most serious cases, pustules dot the skin where the hair has fallen out.

Veterinary treatment will include oral medications and external treatments to kill the mites, but this type of mange takes a long time to cure. Lastly he may have contracted ringworm a contagious fungal infection, this grows on hair follicles rather like athletes foot. It is characterized by ring shaped red patches covered with scales and may be dry or moist usually starting on the head, neck and legs.

The vet will advise strict ant contagion measures as it is communicable to humans. Treatment includes oral medications, ant-fungal shampoos or dips, and frequent application of iodine. Shedding is a symptom of an underlying condition a diagnosed by your veterinarian is best and done by microscopic analysis of the skin scrapings or blood teats.

While bald spots may not be life threatening the animal is sugaring and the conditions usually only get worse over time. Please ask your veterinarian for their opinion.

 Back to FAQ