My older dog's facial hair is thinning. Is this normal? What helps?

Question

I was surprised and alarmed when the "facial" hair on my nine year old Cairn Terrier (Corrie) suddenly started to thin. Corrie's groomer said this condition was common for older dogs. I have another Cairn who is five years older than Corrie who has not lost any hair. Is there anything I can do to help prevent or delay further hair loss for Corrie? Pet's info: Dog | Cairn Terrier | Male | neutered | 15 lbs

Jessica Desrosiers · Accepted Answer

Minor skin and coat changes can be normal in older dogs, however it is always best to rule out anything underlying such as a metabolic issues, especially if you are seeing any other changes such as weight gain/loss, irritation of the skin, increases in thirst/urination, or changes in eating habits as these can all indicate a metabolic rather than an aging problem. If he checks out healthy, it may just be that he got the genetics for having a thinner coat, whereas some dogs may go gray faster or not at all, etc. Keeping the area groomed and free of mats may help keep any remaining hair from being pulled out, and in some cases a supplement such as fish oil or vitamin E may help with overall skin and coat health.

My older dog's facial hair is thinning. Is this normal? What helps?

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