My dog is scratching, losing fur, and has bald spots. What's wrong?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
My dog keeps scratching and pulling his hair out. No matter what flea or shampoo we use he doesn't stop. His fur on his back is gone all the way to almost his neck.
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on November 4th, 2018
Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. If your at home treatments have not been effective, then it is time to see his veterinarian. He will likely need skin testing to look for mites or ringworm. If these tests are negative, allergies may be a possibility. He will need prescription medications to control the itchy and allow the hair to grow back. I hope this information helps!
3Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on November 14th, 2016
Stress can cause hair loss as can knots or severe matting. Food allergy symptoms would include excessive itching/licking or inflammation. If Luna is back home, have her groomed to remove knots or mats. Use a pheromone product such as the Adaptil collar or DAP diffuser to decrease any lingering stress or anxiety. Continue feeding only the Orijen and monitor for allergy symptoms (licking, itching, redness, etc.).
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on January 15th, 2020
Ouch, that area does look very irritated/irregular. I would definitely bring Luna back into the vet to have a sample taken of the area to check for issues such as tumors/growths, infections, etc that may be causing it. If your vet still suspects an allergy, getting started on allergy medications or a food trial may be beneficial as well.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
my dog is scratching and he is losing hair! there is no sign of active infection or fleas, no pyoderma or erythema. he is just scratching and losing hair in many spots
Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
A few days ago my dogs hair started shedding easily and down his spine and a spot on his side he is balding. He is always scratching and itching. I notice he shakes a little bit and his breath seems harder than normal.
Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has been scratching a lot lately and is starting to bald in some spots. We've checked for fleas and he doesn't have any. We've read that it could get seasonal allergies and to give them organic honey to help but we aren't to sure if that's tru
This is probably due to a severe allergy, although it could also be fleas or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment (advocate or advantage), then get him to the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try discovering the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollins, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to stop the itch (steroids and antibiotics). There is also a nice topical spray available, it's called Cortavance and you can get it at the vets. Hopefully you will see some results after all this, if not you and your vet should consider starting on a long term allergy treatment.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has patches of no hair/ bald spots. I found a small one on his tail, one needs his arm and 2 on his back near his butt. What is that? Is that normal? How do i get his hair to grow back? Picture attached.
This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be an infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape and similar dermatological tests - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
My dog has spots near the base of his tail and up his spine .. he bites a lot and scratches. . He is also losing his fur on his back legs . What is the problem . Thanks
Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
About a month ago, my dog’s lids were swollen shut. Assuming it was allergies, I gave her some Benadryl. It cleared up but the hair around her eyes hasn’t grown back yet. Since then, she’s began to lose the hair on her mouth as well her armpits and b
Allergies and mange would be at the top of my list. A vet can easily check for intestinal parasites (mange) and then figure out a treatment plan for allergies if you don't have any parasites. There are many many different way to treat allergies, depending on how much you want to spend on medications/testing.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is loosing his hair with itching and left behind are bald white spots all over his body. He is tick free as I use permethrin soap for his bath. Suggest a way out.
Itchy skin and hair loss is often due to the following things: 1) Allergies - this can happen suddenly and is usually due to an environmental (i.e pollen) cause. 2) External parasites - fleas, lice and mites can all cause intense itching. It's good to check him for fleas and get treatment if needed. The permethrin shampoo is only temporary, so it's possible that he is getting re- infested. He may have mites, which are microscopic and require a vet to find. 3) Over-bathing, or using the wrong product for bathing - Bathing too often can cause the skin to get dry and irritated. Dogs should normally be bathed no more than once a month with a shampoo that is labeled for dogs. If you bathe more than that, or use a shampoo or soap that is meant for people, then you could be damaging the normal protective barrier of the skin. One thing you can do for itchy skin, is give a bath with cool water using an oatmeal or aloe shampoo. You can get these shampoos at the pet store. I hope
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has been scratching a lot and his fur on his tail, lower back and hind area has fallen out. He has sores in the area and they bleed sometimes. He has had flea baths and rarely is outside. We keep the house sanitized. At times he will cry if
The symptoms and lesions described are consistent with flea allergy dermatitis. You need to start him on a monthly flea prevention and have your house treated if needed. If he has developed a secondary skin infection as a result of the allergy antibiotics and steroids may be needed. Apply an e-collar to prevent licking and chewing this area.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, my 4 years and 4 months pet labrador is suffering from huge hair loss at the back of her neck and also there is a bald spot. She has been treated with antibiotics and antifungal cream and injections just a week ago. But the ifection is still occu
Skin can be very frustrating. The most common cause of skin irritation is allergies (food, flea or environmental). However skin mites, endocrine and auto immune disease can also cause skin issues. I would recommend applying flea prevention every 30 days year round to make sure the fleas are not an issue. Also if the skin is not resolving Kim might need medications for longer, stronger medications or more testing like a skin scrape for mites or biopsy for auto immune disease. I recommend taking Kim back tot he vet to discuss the skin not resolving and further testing. Hope that helps and thanks for using pet coach
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is losing hair in clumps continuously for a while and has started to get bald spots and sore patches. I've changed his food numerous times and nothing seems to work. Also tried skin ointments and regular brushing but that seems to make it wors
This is probably due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment (advocate or advantage), then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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