One of the easiest ways to check a dog's health is to look at his skin and coat: A dog with a healthy coat and healthy is probably a healthy dog overall. If your dog is experiencing loss of hair and skin irritation, then it is time to take a closer look for possible health problems.
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The Facts
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Most dogs have a healthy coat of hair that almost completely covers the skin. Loss of hair that goes beyond simple shedding and leads to bald areas is an indication of an underlying health issue. If the revealed skin shows signs of irritation, this is another indication that your dog is not well. Loss of hair and skin irritation in dogs can be caused by hormonal disorders, parasites or fungal infections.
Hormone Disorders
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Hormone disorders in dogs can lead to loss of hair and skin irritation. If your dog is experiencing heavy hair loss on her body and her follicles appear infected and irritated, she could have Cushing's disease, triggered by overproduction of hormones by the adrenal gland. Poor thyroid function in dogs can lead to crusted, irritated skin and hair loss due to excessive scratching.
Parasites
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Parasites living on your dog's skin or in her hair follicles can cause loss of hair and skin irritation. Mange, caused by mites that focus on hair follicles, is characterized by hair loss around the head and ears especially and scabs and pustules on the skin. Other parasites like ticks and fleas also irritate your dog's skin through their bites. As a result of that irritation, your dog may scratch at his skin until he causes hair loss.
Fungal Infection
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If your dog is losing hair in round patches and the skin within the bald spots is covered with red circular lesions, then ringworm could be the cause. This fungal infection leads to hair loss and skin irritation. It is very contagious and can be easily passed to humans. Other fungal infections like dermatophytosis also lead to hair loss and to a lesser degree of skin irritation.
Other
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Your dog's loss of hair and skin irritation could be triggered by an allergic reaction to something in the environment. Your dog could experience inflamed, itchy skin as part of an allergic reaction. If he scratches hard enough, he can cause hair loss and bald patches. Some dogs develop acral lick dermatitis, a nervous habit of obsessively licking or scratching a patch of skin to soothe feelings of boredom or loneliness. This results in bald patches and sores on the skin.
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