Why does my dog have red, dry spots and hair loss on her joints?

Question

My chihuahua mix has spots on her legs at the joints that are red and the hair has fallen out. She licks the spots at night but they are dry spots generally. She doesn’t have fleas and is about 4 yrs old. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Female | spayed | 11 lbs

Ricardo Fernandez, DVM · Accepted Answer

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly allergies. The alopecic lesions are calluses which occur due to pressure on the bone ends. This can improve by adding more padding where she normally rests on. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Why does my dog have red, dry spots and hair loss on her joints?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?

My degu has a white bump in its fur. Should I take my pet to the vet?

My pet's ear mite treatment isn't working. What else could it be?

My rat is losing weight and has breathing issues. What should I do?

My pet has worsening sores and scratches. Could it be an infection?

My dog's matted fur bled after cutting. Should I take him to the vet?

Share