Why is my senior Schnauzer's hind leg hair frizzy and falling out?

Question

I have a 15 yr. old Schnauzer who has suddenly started losing the hair on her hind legs. The texture of the hair has become cottony/frizzy. What could be causing this? Pet's info: Dog | Miniature Schnauzer | Female | spayed | 15 years and 1 month old

Ricardo Fernandez, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There is a variety of reasons that can explain alopecia or hair loss. The causes can easily be differentiated by the clinical signs associated with it and the physical exam findings. If Frida is only showing some hair loss without scratching or overgrooming then it could conditions such as alopecia areata that can affect dogs and usually resolves on its own. If there is evidence of scratching and you start noticing some redness or irritation associated with it, then other conditions such as allergies are possible. If you notice her overgrooming herself in that area then it could be something like psychogenic alopecia which is more of a behavioral issue. I think that since she is not having overt clinical signs and it is mostly hair loss, I think it is possibly transient and could resolve on its own. You can monitor this closely and if it does not resolve or it worsens then have her examined by your veterinarian. Good luck!

Why is my senior Schnauzer's hind leg hair frizzy and falling out?

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