Why is my dog losing hair at base of tail?

My dog is losing hair on his tail. Is this normal? Do I need to take him to vet right away?

A.

Hair loss on the tail can be a tell-tale sign of Cushing’s disease, a hormonal disease caused by overproduction of cortisol (a steroid) by the adrenal gland. Other signs of Cushing’s disease include drinking more water, increase in appetite, and a pot-bellied appearance.

Left untreated, other more serious signs will develop, including vomiting, diarrhea, weakness and loss of appetite. Cushing’s disease is diagnosed by a blood test that is quite accurate. Several treatment options involve different medications.

Hair loss anywhere on your dog’s body could also be from parasites (mites, lice, fleas), an infection (pyoderma), allergies (atopy), or an overactive immune system (lupus). Get it checked out by a vet as soon as you can so it does not develop into anything more serious.

Posted by: Chewy Editorial

Featured Image: TaTae THAILAND/Shutterstock

Hair loss may need to be treated more than once, depending on your pet’s predisposition to skin infections. Always administer treatment according to the veterinarian’s instructions. Follow up appointments may be necessary to ensure the problem is resolving and any infection is clearing. Monitor your pet’s skin and hair regrowth and communicate any changes or concerns to the veterinarian so they can adjust treatment accordingly.

Hair loss can be expensive to treat. If you suspect your dog has hair loss or is at risk, start searching for pet insurance today. Brought to you by Pet Insurer, Wag! Wellness lets pet parents compare insurance plans from leading companies like PetPlan and Trupanion. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks!

Curious about which health plan is right for your dog? Head over to our breakdown of the best pet insurance plans.

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Hair loss may need to be treated more than once, depending on your pet’s predisposition to skin infections. Always administer treatment according to the veterinarian’s instructions. Follow up appointments may be necessary to ensure the problem is resolving and any infection is clearing. Monitor your pet’s skin and hair regrowth and communicate any changes or concerns to the veterinarian so they can adjust treatment accordingly.

Hair loss can be expensive to treat. If you suspect your dog has hair loss or is at risk, start searching for pet insurance today. Brought to you by Pet Insurer, Wag! Wellness lets pet parents compare insurance plans from leading companies like PetPlan and Trupanion. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks!

Curious about which health plan is right for your dog? Head over to our breakdown of the best pet insurance plans.

Top

Page 3

Hair loss may need to be treated more than once, depending on your pet’s predisposition to skin infections. Always administer treatment according to the veterinarian’s instructions. Follow up appointments may be necessary to ensure the problem is resolving and any infection is clearing. Monitor your pet’s skin and hair regrowth and communicate any changes or concerns to the veterinarian so they can adjust treatment accordingly.

Hair loss can be expensive to treat. If you suspect your dog has hair loss or is at risk, start searching for pet insurance today. Brought to you by Pet Insurer, Wag! Wellness lets pet parents compare insurance plans from leading companies like PetPlan and Trupanion. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks!

Curious about which health plan is right for your dog? Head over to our breakdown of the best pet insurance plans.

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Dr. Michele K. DVM

1 Recommendations

Merri, thank you for contacting us about Hannah. I'm sorry that she isn't feeling well. I think I understand from your question that she is still losing hair, and has a few mole-looking spots, and also seems to be more lethargic than normal. It sounds like her appetite is still the same, which is good. It is possible that she is grieving the loss of her companion, especially if they were close and lived together for a long time. I also worry, though that the hair loss and the lethargy might be related, and that she may have some other disease process happening that needs attention. It would be a good idea to have her examined by your veterinarian, and get some routine blood work done, to check her organ function, Your veterinarian can check those moles at the same time and see if they appear to be normal aging moles, or something that needs to be investigated. I hope that she improves and feels better.

Dec. 16, 2017

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Hair loss may need to be treated more than once, depending on your pet’s predisposition to skin infections. Always administer treatment according to the veterinarian’s instructions. Follow up appointments may be necessary to ensure the problem is resolving and any infection is clearing. Monitor your pet’s skin and hair regrowth and communicate any changes or concerns to the veterinarian so they can adjust treatment accordingly.

Hair loss can be expensive to treat. If you suspect your dog has hair loss or is at risk, start searching for pet insurance today. Brought to you by Pet Insurer, Wag! Wellness lets pet parents compare insurance plans from leading companies like PetPlan and Trupanion. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks!

Curious about which health plan is right for your dog? Head over to our breakdown of the best pet insurance plans.

Top

Page 6

Hair loss may need to be treated more than once, depending on your pet’s predisposition to skin infections. Always administer treatment according to the veterinarian’s instructions. Follow up appointments may be necessary to ensure the problem is resolving and any infection is clearing. Monitor your pet’s skin and hair regrowth and communicate any changes or concerns to the veterinarian so they can adjust treatment accordingly.

Hair loss can be expensive to treat. If you suspect your dog has hair loss or is at risk, start searching for pet insurance today. Brought to you by Pet Insurer, Wag! Wellness lets pet parents compare insurance plans from leading companies like PetPlan and Trupanion. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks!

Curious about which health plan is right for your dog? Head over to our breakdown of the best pet insurance plans.

Top

Page 7

Hair loss may need to be treated more than once, depending on your pet’s predisposition to skin infections. Always administer treatment according to the veterinarian’s instructions. Follow up appointments may be necessary to ensure the problem is resolving and any infection is clearing. Monitor your pet’s skin and hair regrowth and communicate any changes or concerns to the veterinarian so they can adjust treatment accordingly.

Hair loss can be expensive to treat. If you suspect your dog has hair loss or is at risk, start searching for pet insurance today. Brought to you by Pet Insurer, Wag! Wellness lets pet parents compare insurance plans from leading companies like PetPlan and Trupanion. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks!

Curious about which health plan is right for your dog? Head over to our breakdown of the best pet insurance plans.

Top