Dog fur and dog skin are good clues that you can use to tell whether your fur nose is healthy or not.
If hair loss occurs here, it is not without reason.
So what to do if you find the following: The dog has bald patches but no itching?
We will tell you the important answers in our following guide.
In a nutshell: Why does my dog have bald spots without itching?
Does your dog have bald patches without itching? there can be different reasons behind it.
These include food intolerance, skin allergies, thyroid disorders and kidney damage.
A skin fungus and bacterial infections can also be the cause. Accompanying itching can occur here, but is usually not the case.
Dog has bald spots without itching – possible causes in detail
The possible causes that can lead to bald patches without itching in dogs, now let’s look at it in detail.
Overactive adrenal gland
This is a hormonal imbalance that causes the dog to lose its coat.
The cause is cortisol, which is released here in excessive quantities. Experts refer to this hormone disease as the so-called Cushing’s syndrome.
Do you suspect that this disease could be the trigger?
Then please pay attention to other symptoms such as increased food and water consumption and increased urination.
underactive thyroid
The thyroid is one of the organs responsible for the production of important hormones that regulate metabolism, among other things.
Dogs can suffer from both underactive and overactive thyroid glands (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, respectively).
In both cases, patchy hair loss can be a consequence. You can recognize such a malfunction by weight loss and an increased appetite, among other things.
Skin fungus & bacteria
If a bacterium is the trigger for the bald patches of skin, this is referred to as pyoderma. If fungi are the cause, these are so-called dermatophytes.
As a rule, these two triggers are associated with severe itching, but it may also be that the dog does not have to scratch itself all the time.
You can find out more about skin fungi in dogs here!
feed intolerance
Feed intolerance is far less dramatic, but still has to be taken very seriously.
In the long term, this has a very negative effect on dog health and, in the worst case, on life expectancy.
Because the consequences include gastrointestinal problems, and the immune system of our furry friends is also located in the intestine.
In addition, food intolerances or allergies are also reflected in bald patches on the dog’s coat.
The reason can be, for example, an intolerance to an animal protein. Diarrhea is usually an additional symptom.
Important
A high-quality feed without artificial additives is a must. You should also make sure that there are no artificially produced vitamins and minerals.
stress
Stress in dogs has been smiled at for many years – after all, what should the fur noses be upset about?
In fact, in many cases stress is the trigger for a whole range of behavioral problems and supposed symptoms of illness.
It is not uncommon for a dog to lose hair or fur as a result – it is no different with us humans.
Do you notice that your dog is also licking itself more often? Then stress can definitely be a trigger for the non-itchy, bald patches of skin.
Should I take the dog to the vet and what can he do?
A visit to the vet never hurts. We recommend you to contact them by phone in advance and tell them your dog’s symptoms to portray.
Of course, he cannot take an anamnesis about this, but he will be able to decide whether it makes sense for you to introduce your furry friend to him.
In fact, all of the above triggers require veterinary attention. Because an organic disease can only be determined by appropriate blood tests.
Ultimately, you can only find out if you have a feed intolerance if your veterinarian is there to help you with advice and action.
In many cases, with a lot of patience and time, you can change the feed yourself if other causes of the disease can be ruled out.
Although previous allergy tests can provide clarity, they usually cost you several hundred euros – and whether they actually help is not 100% clear.
What can I do about bald spots in dogs?
We gave you the first tip: take your dog to the vet.
You can too use the following home and homeopathic remediesto tackle the bald spots:
- Oils rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (salmon oil)
- Zinc, biotin and brewer’s yeast (also helps during the change of coat)
- Schuessler salts & potassium sulfuricum No. 6
Please note, however, that in many cases these home remedies and homeopathy do not replace a visit to the veterinarian.
As effective as they are, they are often just a way to treat the symptoms, not the cause.
How to prevent bald spots without itching?
In order to prevent bald spots without itching, you should pay particular attention to a species-appropriate diet and coat care.
You know that no hormonal diseases, tumors or a skin fungus are the cause of the bald spots in dog fur?
Species-appropriate nutrition
Then you should start with an age and species-appropriate diet for your dog to prevent this non-itchy alopecia.
If the veterinarian cannot help here, many nutritionists who have specialized in species-appropriate dog nutrition can now do so.
In any case, please make sure that the feed has a very high meat content and the right amount of the corresponding vitamins, minerals and trace elements.
grooming
Proper grooming can also help make bald patches a thing of the past.
Appropriate advisors or your vet will tell you how much care your four-legged friend’s fur needs.
vet visits
No dog loves being taken to the vet.
But regular check-ups are a must, even if the furry friend seems to be doing great.
Young dogs should go there once a year, seniors every six months, i.e. twice a year.
Conclusion
Does your dog have bald spots without itching? Then count Infections, organ diseases, feed intolerance and stress among the most common triggers.
In each of these cases, it makes sense to see the vet as soon as possible, as none of the reasons are healthy for the dog in the long term.
You should also pay attention to a species-appropriate diet and regular grooming of your dog, because this is where a healthy coat and healthy skin begin.
Can you tell us more useful & helpful tips? Then we look forward to reading them in our comments soon!