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What causes hair loss on my dog's nose and how can I treat it?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed

My dog has a very small spot of hair loss near her nose. What may be the problem and what are the possible treatments?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on June 23rd, 2016

This may be from a scratch or rubbing. I would ignore it. Usually the hair regrows within a few weeks. However, if the hair loss increases, you should have it examined by your vet as this may be fungal or bacterial and may need specific treatment. (an antifungal, if caused by a fungus, an antibiotic if caused by bacteria.).

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14Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

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    Answered By Debi Matlack

    Veterinary Technician

    Published on

    Skin problems can have a variety of causes, sometimes more than one. Allergies, bacterial or fungal infections, even contact with some surfaces or substances will cause itching, rash and/or hair loss. It is important to have the problem checked by your vet to determine if there is a medical cause for your pet’s skin issues and treat accordingly. In pets of all ages, fleas, food allergies and exposure to chemical irritants such as cleaners and soaps can be a cause. Any one of these may not be enough to trigger the breakouts, depending on how sensitive your pet is, but a combination can be enough to start the itch-scratch cycle. Finding out the cause and eliminating it is the best course of action. With flea allergies, if your pet is sensitive enough, a single bite can cause them to break out scratch enough to tear their skin. If you use plastic bowls, this is a possible cause for hair loss, though this tends to be on the chin, where their skin touches the bowl while they eat. If you suspect this to be the culprit, try changing the bowls to glass, metal or ceramic. Food allergies are often caused by sensitivity to a protein in the food. Hill's Science Diet offers some non-prescription options for sensitive skin as well as prescription hypoallergenic foods for more severe cases. Royal Canin carries limited protein diets that may also offer some relief. Your vet can recommend a specific diet that will help. If there is no relief or not enough, consider getting your pet checked by a veterinary dermatologist and having allergy testing done.

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    There are many causes to hair loss in your dog. She could have rubbed it against something repeatedly, causing the hair loss. She could have allergies, mange, or ringworm. The possible treatments depend on the cause. Ringworm would require an anti-fungal treatment, mange would require dips of ivermectin, and there are a variety of treatment for allergies depending on the cause of the allergies. The only way to know for sure what is causing the hair loss is to have your vet examine it. Your vet will be best to diagnose the problem and prescribe the correct treatment.

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