Hair loss in Shih Tzu – Serious condition that needs to be treated early!

First, pet parents need to differentiate between seasonal hair loss or moults and pathologic hair loss, in dogs, moults occur twice a year, in spring and in autumn, in which dogs lose some of their old hair and grow new hair, this helps dogs adapt to the climate and stay in good shape. In contrast, pathologic hair loss or alopecia is intense, and can affect dogs at any age and it must be checked at the vet, because it has many causes that range from normal to serious.

What are the signs of hair loss in Shih Tzu?

Hair loss is detected first by pet parents, it generally comes as a decrease in the density of the skin in some areas of the skin, it may be in the dog’s face, around the neck, on the back or in the abdomen, hair loss may come in delimited zones, like circles, and it may come diffuse in the skin. In both cases, attentive pet owners notice it early and must take their dog the veterinarian.

What makes hair fall in Shih Tzu?

Causes for hair loss are various, they can be divided into external and internal factors,

External factors:

Some Infections and inflammations of the skin and hair follicles lead to hair loss, as this may inhibit hair growth, bacterial infections are quite common complications of skin irritation due to parasite infestation.

Roundworms are a common fungal infection of the hair, this infection spreads across the skin and gives multiple bald areas,

Internal factors:

Internal factors that result in hair loss are the conditions that interfere with hair growth or inhibit it, these factors generally give symmetrical hair loss pattern, there are several affections that are responsible for hair loss, allergy resulting in permanent itch may result in hair loss in the these areas, another condition where high levels of cortisol are produced is the body, cause hair loss associated with obesity this is known as Cushing disease,

Hair loss can be also noticed in bitch with hyperestrogenism, a condition in which high levels of estrogen are secreted, this has many effects on the organism like weakness, fever, infertility and results in hair loss.

Hair loss has many other causes, that’s why It is important to check your pet at your vet to figure out any underlying conditions and take the appropriate treatment.

How to control Hair loss in Shih Tzu?