vet well-visits for your petsvet well-visits for your pets

If you're like most people, your dog is a member of your family. You offer the best food you can afford, take them for regular checkups at the vet and pay attention to any changes in behavior or appearance that might manifest. If you've noticed that your dog is losing some of his or her hair, the first thing you might do is panic and think that they have mange. However, you may not have a reason to worry, because some hair loss in dogs is caused by less severe problems, which you can read about below.

Allergies

Dogs are prone to allergies just like humans are. Unlike humans though, an allergy in a dog can lead to hair loss, so it's best to have your dog checked by a vet to get to the root of what's causing the allergy. Some of the things that dogs can be allergic to include:

• food
• pollen
• parasites
• fleas

A flea allergy is the most common cause of hair loss in a dog. If they scratch a lot in one specific area where the fleas are biting, you may notice that the hair in that spot begins to thin. However, keeping your dog on a flea and tick prevention regimen can prevent most flea allergies from occurring.

Genetics

Some dogs can have certain conditions passed down to them through their ancestors just as humans can. Canine alopecia is one cause of hair loss that is genetic and not caused from food or environmental aggregates.

Take your dog to the vet if you notice patches of hair loss that seem to spread over time. However, the sooner you seek medical attention for your furry friend, the faster they can prescribe the proper treatment or medications to help stop the spread of hair loss.

Ulcers

Take your dog to the vet if you notice any bumps on their skin from constant licking. Eventually, these bumps can turn into ulcers and if left untreated, your dog can lose their hair around the area of the ulcers. Many other types of ulcers exist as well that occur not just from licking, but also from other factors such as infection, parasites or allergies.

Additionally, severe ulcers can ooze and may need to be drained by your vet. The majority of the time, these ulcers present on the legs of dogs, typically on the hind legs.

All of these conditions are treatable, and it is likely that your dog's hair will grow back, or cease falling out. Check for balding areas on your dog when you're at play or when you give them a bath. Take your pooch to the vet as soon as possible to minimize further hair loss and to obtain the proper treatment needed.

For more information, contact Animal Medical Center of Deer Valley or a similar location.