Anyone who has ever had a dog suffering from hair loss and itching on the entire tail knows it is a condition that is both painful and exasperating. The appearance of the pet suffers and there is seldom relief to be found until the cause is located, then treated. This condition, known as alopecia, is one of the most difficult to treat, because there are so many potential causes.
-
Causes
-
Among the number of possible causes that can lead to this condition are flea bite dermatitis through food allergies and environmental factors. In flea bite dermatitis, a single flea bite can cause the pet to be in such agony that it will literally bite itself raw. In some cases, a dog with flea bite dermatitis has been known to completely strip the hair off its body and its entire tail. In other cases, dust mites found in carpets can be the cause.
Symptoms
-
The symptoms are fairly obvious--the dog seems to be losing hair and is scratching its entire tail. These symptoms are in keeping with problems with a sebaceous gland, one of which is located at the base of the tail. The symptoms might abate sometimes after the dog has been washed, but they quickly return.
Diagnosis
-
In order for an accurate diagnosis to be made, your dog should be seen by a qualified veterinarian. If the doctor suspects that it is an allergen, skin scrapings will be done to determine which allergens seem to trigger the itching.
Treatment
-
In most cases, the treatment for any of the symptoms will probably entail steroid shots or tablets. When a dog is given steroids, it tends to cause them to have less irritation, making them less likely to itch. Also, there are medicated shampoos that can be used that will soothe and treat some of the other problems associated with dog hair loss and itching on the entire tail. Some of these medicated shampoos will contain an antibiotic that will keep the dog from getting infected through any open wounds or sores it might cause when it's scratching. In addition, placing the dog on a high quality dog food that does not contain any grains (soy, corn, wheat) should slow down the hair loss problem.
Prevention
-
The basic rule for prevention is to keep the dog away from whatever is causing the irritation. If environment factors are suspected, try to change the environment to make it more hypoallergenic. If a carpet cleaner is used, make sure that all chemical residue has been removed. If a dog appears to be allergic to its bedding, wash the material in a hypoallergenic detergent. Until the actual cause is determined, however, prevention is difficult.
-