Skin is the biggest organ of the body. It serves as a barrier between the animal and its environment, and regulates the body temperature as well. The skin aids in sensory awareness and vitamin D production. In addition to all these functions, the skin can also reflect abnormalities within other organs of the body. Hence, skin conditions are one of the most common queries of a pet parent.
Hair fall or fur-fall to be specific can be attributed to many causes, but the most important aspect is to learn to differentiate between normal shedding and hair fall due to unnatural causes or disease conditions. All animals, whether dogs or cats, shed their coat at least twice a year during which time there is an increase in the hair fall. This is absolutely normal.
The easiest way to identify unnatural hair shedding is to correlate it to weather patterns, normal shedding occurs during spring and winter. However, it is important to identify the cause of hair shedding through patterns in the hair loss, whether it happens on only one part of the body, or if there are patches of hairloss, etc.
Causes for hair fall in dogs and cats
Hairfall can occur due to one or multiple different factors, leading to a myriad of solutions available for treatment based on the cause.
Some of the common causes are:
- Bacterial skin infection known as pyoderma can be on the surface, superficial or deep
- Fungal diseases like dermatophytosis and malassezia dermatitis
- Parasitic skin diseases like demodicosis, canine scabies, tick & flea infestations
- Allergic conditions like flea allergic dermatitis, adverse food reactions, atopic dermatitis
- Immunological disorders like pemphigus complex which appear like blisters and crusting on the skin
- Metabolic disorders like hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism
- Post-clipping alopecia, which doesn’t cause any damage to the hair follicle
Diagnosis is usually done through a series of tests and a thorough discussion of the history of the signs and symptoms with your veterinarian.
Treatment for hair fall in dogs & cats
While the treatment is always for the cause of the skin condition, there are always chances of secondary infections and conditions that occur at the same time. This is why treatment for hair fall and other skin conditions takes a multi-pronged approach.
The skin takes longer to heal, but the management of the coat is really important when undergoing treatment.
Here are some basic steps that can be taken for dog & cat hair fall treatment at home:
- A balanced diet:
- The diet should be nutrient-rich meeting the protein requirements of the dog & cat
- Consider adding supplements that boost skin health, such as omega fatty acid supplements
- Grooming:
- Brush the hair coat daily
- Bathe once in 15 days
- Regular hair trimming for long-haired breeds
- Regular nail clipping
- Wipe down after walks to keep them clean
If any unnatural hair fall in dogs & cats is observed, speak to your veterinarian and start treatment at the earliest.
