Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Help Man's Best Friend with Hair Loss
Human hair loss can happen for many reasons, but did you know that hair loss also occurs
in animals? Of course, if you have pets, you probably know by now that dogs, cats, rabbits,
and rodents all lose their hair to some degree. It is important to learn what is normal for
you animal. Hair loss in humans is often due to medication, medical procedures, or illness,
and it can be caused by the same things in pets. Overall, if you pet is losing hair unnaturally,
it is important to find out why.
When you first get a pet, it is important to understand how to care for your new addition
to the family before you bring him or her home. This includes learning about hair loss.
Pets do not lose hair in the same way humans do. For us, every hair is at a different point
in the growth cycle, and we lose an average of 25 to 100 hairs every day, regardless of
the time of year. It's natural. A pet loses and grows hair according to the seasons in
many cases. Even if your new puppy stays indoors most of the time, he or she will still grow
and lose hair on a pattern. This is inherited and usually comes from a breed's need to stay
warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. If your pet loses lots of hair during the
spring, you probably have nothing to worry about as long as this is normal for you animal
and the breed. Before you bring a pet home, learn what is typical.
However, if you pet loses lost of hair suddenly or at the wrong time of the year, you may
have a cause for concern. Losing hair in patches is also not typical for most animals. Be very
worried if your animal is physically using his or her teeth to pull out their hair. In
any of these cases, take your pet to the vet, just as you would go to the doctor if your
hair were abnormally falling out. Because your pet cannot talk, hair loss and other
signs are the only way to indicate to you that there is a medical problem. Look for
other signs that your pet may be ill as well.
Follow your vet's instructions to help your pet heal. If you do this, you'll most likely
find that your pet will regrow the lost hair and get back into a regular hair-loss pattern.
However, this is not always the case. If you pet has permanently lost hair, make sure he
or she is warm enough, which may include purchasing clothing during the colder months or providing
a space heater for your pet.