My dog is shedding excessively. Is stress causing his hair loss?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Pit Bull Terrier | Male | neutered | 70 lbs
Hi! My pit bull is shedding excessively, which is unusual for him. I’m thinking it May be due to stress.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on February 3rd, 2020
Hello. Yes, stress can do this, as well as, external parasites ( fleas & mites ), endocrine problems ( hypothyroidism ), skin infections ( bacterial & yeast ) & allergies. You can try & relieve stress with calming products such as Zylkene or use a dog appeasing pheromone product in the home called Adaptil. Both of these are available at Petco. If there seems to be no relief from the hair loss, please see your veterinarian about additional diagnostics & treatments. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on May 3rd, 2019
Yes, stress can cause hair loss in dogs. This looks like it could also be an infection or allergy related. I recommend getting her in to see your vet for an exam. She may need antibiotics, medicated baths, and/or some other medications to help her heal and be more comfortable.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
Can stress lead to skin issues
Yes, stress can cause hair loss in dogs. This looks like it could also be an infection or allergy related. I recommend getting her in to see your vet for an exam. She may need antibiotics, medicated baths, and/or some other medications to help her heal and be more comfortable.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
We have a rescued yorki-poo. Age unknown, but looks like older dog. We left her with parents for 9 day vacation. Came home to find balding on both sides front half of body. Would stress cause this rapid balding?
Poor Suzy Q. Yes stress can potentially cause excessive licking in pets leading to balding areas on the skin. However so can other disease processes such as hypothyroidism and Cushing's disease. It is best to watch for any other clinical signs of disease (i.e. vomiting, lack of appetite, lethargy) and get her seen for further examination if seen. However if she is otherwise acting normal then it is warranted to monitor her for now to see if the hair regrows. You can brush her daily in the bald areas to help stimulate hair regrowth and offer her daily fish oils to help promote a healthy haircoat and skin. It can take the hair several weeks to months to fully regrow following stress licking. Calming collars (DAP collars) can also be used if she still continues to lick excessively.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I'm fed up doing everything but my dog hair is falling excessively non stop even if I touch them hairs are falling. When I comb her a pouch of hair collects everyday. What is the reason behind this. Treated her for flea and ticks, good diet, deworme
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Aller
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have recently noticed my 9 yr old overweight tabby (who has always had beautiful, shiny, thick soft coat) has large dandruff flakes, losing hair and the hair is dull at the base of his tail. We are also in the process of moving residences. Cou
Stress can definitely cause skin and coat issues but so too can pain and discomfort from arthritis or illness due to reduced grooming ability. I recommend starting her on a natural stress reliever such as kalm aid or royal canin calm food and consider a full physical exam by your vet to rule out physical causes or parasites
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I rescued my dog as a stray. He is estimated to be 3-5 years old. He has had thin hair along his belly which we didn’t think anything of until we went on vacation last week & when we got back we noticed the hair on his neck was thinning as well. Ther
Sometimes the hair growth and loss cycles can become synchronized. As long as the skin looks normal and he does not appear itchy, you may monitor this for now. If the hair loss continues or does not regrow an underlying thyroid issue may be to blame. When in doubt, have him examined by his veterinarian. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Left w others for 2wks. Switched to orijen a week before. Upon return, noticed bald spots. Is it due to stress, orijen or knots cz she was ungroomed?
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.).
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
Hi I have a 6 month old Shar Pei/Sheperd mix named Behr. He has a heart shaped patch of missing hair on his right side. It's not completely bald but you can see the undercoat clearly. He has been scratching a lot and he even bites at his hind/knee ar
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for envir
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
My 7 yr old pit mix has been healthy but has been scratching alot and has some hair loss near his back legs on his side where he can scratch and also on back of legs, what could cause this and what could I try to help him ? He is otherwise normal, ex
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewardi
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has been losing hair like crazy, never before have I seen him like this. Right now I am brushing but even with my had a lot comes out. Could this be because of the heat or something else?He recently had fleas and tapeworms but both gone alread
I am sorry to hear about your pup! We can see dogs shed excessively with seasonal changes, but there can be other reasons for hair loss such as allergies and endocrine disease https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/alopecia/ . If there are bald areas or he seem itchy or lethargic then a vet exam is warranted. You can try adding a fatty acid supplement to his food which can help improve the health of his skin and coat, such as Welactin, and this will sometimes decrease the shedding in mild cases.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
My fuzzy buddy Chaos, Has been experiencing hair loss at a slow but what seems to be steady rate for the past 2 years ever since we moved here from the bay area...Nothing's changed with his diet and he's not scratching or itching and he's walked, and
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. I have found fish oil to be helpful in restoring the coat. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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