What causes a senior dog's coat to change from soft to wiry?

Question

My mixed breed dog (10 yo) coat went from long and silky to short and wiry. Any idea why. She doesn't shed as much, but isn't as nice to pet either. I'm wondering if it could be health related or just an age change due to mixed breed (best guess Jack Russell and Chiauaua. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Female | spayed | 13 lbs

Daniel Fonza, DVM · Accepted Answer

This could be a sign of disease when the hair coat changes. You can use things like Krillex Shed Free chews to see if the coat improves. These chews can be found online quite easily. If the hair coat continues to worsen or does not improve, I would recommend having her blood tested and see if there are any abnormalities. Thyroid level can oftentimes affect how the hair coat appears. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

What causes a senior dog's coat to change from soft to wiry?

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