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My senior dog is losing hair, chewing, and won't eat. What's wrong?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Female | spayed | 12 years and 10 months old | 60 lbs

My dog is losing her hair and chewing on herself constantly. She is 13 yrs old, and hardly eats. I'm so worried about her.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Elva Ma DVM

Veterinarian

Published on December 16th, 2017

Hello, and thank you for your question. Possible causes of itching and hair loss in dogs include parasites (fleas, mites), skin infections (bacterial, fungal), or allergies (food, environmental). If she is very uncomfortable due to itching, this may explain her low appetite. I would suggest a vet visit in the morning to help determine the cause of her skin problems. They may perform a skin scraping, skin cytology, or culture. They may be able to provide medication to provide her some relief and comfort from her itching, and treat the source of the problem as well. I hope this helps, and that Sophie is feeling better soon!

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