Why Is My Boxer's Hair Falling Out on Her Sides?

A boxer with patches of hair loss and oddly-colored or irritated skin where the hair was lost is most likely suffering from seasonal flank alopecia (alopecia means hair loss).

  1. Seasonal flank alopecia description

    • Seasonal flank alopecia is characterized by loss of hair, usually on both sides of the animal, and a darkening of the skin where the hair has fallen out.

    Painless

    • SFA is not a serious medical condition and is painless for the animal.

    Occurrence

    • SFA is most common in spayed female boxers.

    Treatment

    • Oral melatonin can be used to treat SFA.

    Mange

    • Mange, also called scabies, is characterized by hair loss with scaly, reddened skin, possibly accompanied by small lesions and severe itching. It is caused by mites.

    Check with your vet

    • The dog's condition should be checked by a vet because other, more serious conditions, such as allergies, Cushing's disease and hypothyroidism, can cause hair loss in boxers.