Your dog cannot tell you when he is feeling ill, so it is up to you to monitor his physical health by noticing changes in his appearance that could signal trouble. Loss of teeth, reddened eyes, hair loss and skin lesions are all signs of health problems in dogs.
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Facts
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Your dog's coat and skin often reveal the first signs that he might have a health problem. A healthy dog has a fully shiny coat and smooth skin. Hair loss in concentrated areas is a signal something is wrong. Sores and lesions on the skin are also symptoms of trouble. When hair loss and lesions occur at the same time in dogs, causes include mange, ringworm and allergic reaction.
Mange
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Mange causes hair loss and lesions in dogs. Mange is caused by mites that burrow into your dog's skin or live inside his hair follicles. If your dog has mange, he will develop bald patches around his face, neck and ears. He will also have skin lesions including pustules and other sores. Your veterinarian can treat mange by identifying what kind of mites are causing it and then prescribing a special shampoo, oral medication or an injection to kill the mites.
Ringworm
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If your dog's hair loss happens in well-defined round patches and there are red circular lesions within the bald spots, then she might have ringworm. The lesions caused by this fungal infection can be slightly raised and can itch. Ringworm can be transmitted to humans, so take your dog to the veterinarian for treatment right away. Topical antifungal medication usually clears the infection and oral medicine is available if needed.
Allergies
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Allergies can lead to hair loss and skin lesions in a dog. If your dog has an allergic reaction to a chemical, his skin could become inflamed and wheals may rise up. If part of the allergic reaction involves itching skin your dog will scratch. He can scratch the fur off of his skin, leading to bald patches. Removing the irritant from your dog's environment will help stop the allergic reactions. Antihistamines can give him some relief from allergies.
Other
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Hair loss and lesions in dogs can be the result of boredom and loneliness. Your dog can try to soothe those feelings by licking a particular patch of skin, usually on her leg. Constant licking causes hair loss and an ulcer on the skin. Parasites such as ticks and fleas can irritate your dog's skin with their bites, causing sores and leading to hair loss when your dog tries to scratch them away.
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