puppy Hair Loss
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Guest
puppy Hair Loss
We have 2 Lab Puppies (sisters) that are 12 weeks of age. We noticed yesterday that the hair on the chest of one of the puppies is getting very thin. She is up to date on her shots, was wormed at 6 and 9 weeks, and seems to have the same energy levels as her sister. Any ideas what might be causing this?
Is there any sign of redness or sores at the area? Is the pup scratching? If so, could be a ringworm or other fungal infection. Any fleas?
If the skin appears normal and you are sure there are no fleas, it could be a normal shedding that occurs as the dog matures, replacing the puppy fluff with the adult hair. Usually, these occur simultaneously so you don't see thinning, but I have seen a couple of puppies whose hair did get noticibly thin before the adult coat had grown in. Another possibility is that the pup is doing something that is 'rubbing off' the hair. Watch her and see if she is scooting her chest across the floor when she plays or sleeping against something that could cause the hair to come out. Also, look to see if her sister is playing with her and pulling out the hair on her chest (yes, they can do that - my shelties like to pull each other's fur!)
If the area is red or itchy, or keeps getting larger without any evidence of new hair growth, it's probably best to see the vet. If this is a ringworm or flea problem, it can spread not only to the other pup, but to the whole house full of animals and people. Hair problems can also be diet related. It might be a good idea to discuss what and how much you are feeding with your vet.
If the skin appears normal and you are sure there are no fleas, it could be a normal shedding that occurs as the dog matures, replacing the puppy fluff with the adult hair. Usually, these occur simultaneously so you don't see thinning, but I have seen a couple of puppies whose hair did get noticibly thin before the adult coat had grown in. Another possibility is that the pup is doing something that is 'rubbing off' the hair. Watch her and see if she is scooting her chest across the floor when she plays or sleeping against something that could cause the hair to come out. Also, look to see if her sister is playing with her and pulling out the hair on her chest (yes, they can do that - my shelties like to pull each other's fur!)
If the area is red or itchy, or keeps getting larger without any evidence of new hair growth, it's probably best to see the vet. If this is a ringworm or flea problem, it can spread not only to the other pup, but to the whole house full of animals and people. Hair problems can also be diet related. It might be a good idea to discuss what and how much you are feeding with your vet.
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." ~ Josh Billings.