Have you noticed your dog’s tail seems to be losing fur? Have you seen him biting his tail? If so, then you’ve come to the right place!
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We’ve done the research and found information on the possible causes and treatment of this condition in dogs.
What Causes a Dog’s Tail to Lose Hair?
There are several conditions that can lead to hair loss on a dog’s tail. These can include:
Allergies: this is one of the most common causes of hair loss on a dog’s tail. Many dogs, just like their pet parents, have developed allergies to certain food ingredients, grooming products, and more. Or it can also be caused by something new being added to your dog’s environment. This could be a new dog food, shampoo, or other product.
Flea bites: this is another common cause of hair loss on a dog’s tail. Flea bites are extremely irritating, to say nothing of the fleas themselves. If your dog has fleas biting his tail, then he’s probably biting his tail to bring relief from these pets.
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Hypothyroidism: can also lead to tail baldness or even loss of hair on the hips and hind legs. This condition is caused by the dog’s immune system attacking his thyroid gland. This can result in a drop in thyroid hormones, which causes other health issues.
Sarcoptic and demodectic mange: mange is caused by a parasitic skin disease, which causes itchy, irritated skin. Sarcoptic mange is caused by burrowing mites (known as canine scabies). After they’ve mated, the females burrow into the dog’s skin to lay their eggs. You can imagine how that must feel. Demodectic mange is caused by another type of mite that attacks dogs when their immune systems are down. This can lead to bald spots, sores, and more.
Cushing’s disease: this is another cause of baldness on a dog’s tail. Cushing’s disease is an endocrine disorder that develops when a dog produces too much cortisol (the stress hormone). This condition can lead to hair loss, obesity, and more.
If the hair loss on your dog’s tail is accompanied by itchiness, irritated & red skin, then it’s a good idea to get an appointment with the vet. The sooner your dog is treated, the sooner he’ll be able to feel better if there’s a medical condition causing the tail baldness.
Treatment will depend on the vet’s diagnosis. With prompt treatment, your dog should go on to a full recovery.
Julie
Julie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she studied Animal science. Though contrary to the opinion of her parents she was meant to study pharmacy, but she was in love with animals especially cats. Julie currently works in an animal research institute (NGO) in California and loves spending quality time with her little cat. She has the passion for making research about animals, how they survive, their way of life among others and publishes it. Julie is also happily married with two kids.
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