Dog hair loss can be troublesome for both the dog and the owner. This situation is not only very irritating to the dog, but is unsightly, and carries with it the worry of spreading disease to the human members of the family.

If you’ve noticed bald patches on your dog, it’s important to diagnose them as soon as possible to prevent the spread of infection and for the relief of your pet. Here are the most common causes of dog hair loss, how to recognize them, and how to treat them.

Dog Mites

Mites cause itchy, patches with hair loss on your dog. Most dogs become susceptible to mites due to poor health which can be caused by poor nutrition, an illness, age, or stress.

There are two types of dog mites: Sarcoptic and Demodectic. Demodectic mites live deep in the skin layers of your pet while the Sarcoptic do not but are contagious to humans.

For a sure diagnoses of mites, take your dog to the vet. Mites can easily be seen under a microscope and your vet can give you medication to treat the condition.

To prevent dog mites, feed your dog a quality dog food that ensures he is getting all of the nutrients he needs. Give him good care, shelter and love.

Dog Fleas

In addition to infesting your entire home, fleas can cause a series of problems for your dog. Dogs can develop allergies to fleas which cause excessive itching in addition to the itching caused by the fleas. This will result in red sores and cause your dog to bite and scratch the sores incessantly causing dog hair loss.

Fleas are easy to identify. Run your hands through your dog’s coat exposing his skin. If he has fleas, you should be able to see them “running” on your dog. Even if you don’t see fleas, look for “flea dirt.” This is the waste of the dog fleas and shows up as black specks on their skin.

Treat your dog year round for fleas with drops and a good flea collar. Get medication that not only kills fleas but also their eggs.

Dog Ringworm

Ringworm is caused by a fungus and appears as an itchy lesion where there is hair loss. Sometimes it is red, scaly and has a raised appearance. Dogs get ringworm when their immune system is weak.

Dog ringworm is very contagious and can live up in the soil for up to six months. Humans can get ringworm from animals so it is very important to treat this condition as soon as possible.

If you suspect your dog has ringworm, wash all of his bedding and clean his living area. Take your dog to the vet for proper medication to be sure he no longer has it.

To prevent all types of dog hair loss, keep your pet in good health. Make sure his immune system is strong with proper nutrition and he’s not under a lot of stress due to abuse or poor living conditions. When you see a bald patch on your dog, check to see if it’s from playing or having been in a fight. Also check for any of the symptoms above and treat them immediately to avoid dog skin problems and dog hair loss.

All dog owners want to be sure their pets are well cared for. To do this they must provide proper exercise and seek the opinion of a veterinarian to keep their dog healthy. This also includes making sure their pet is well fed. Many people think that purchasing the best food available is all that is necessary for their pet to live a long and healthy life. It only makes sense to believe that commercial dog food is better for our pets. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true.

Like all companies, pet food manufacturers want to make money. Because their regulations are not as strict as the ones that producers of human food follow, they often use ingredients that are not very good. These include items that most people would never feed their prized pets. Now that you are aware of the situation, here are some ideas on how to be sure your dog meeting its nutritional requirements.

Though it is more time consuming, a lot of pet owners have started making homemade dog food. It does take longer than purchasing ready made food at the store, but the advantages certainly make it worth while. Paying attention to prices will allow you to spend a similar amount to what you spent previously on commercial dog food. Here are some things to take into account when preparing homemade pet food.

Dogs are perfectly capable of living on a vegetarian diet. Although we grew up believing that it is necessary for dogs to eat meat to get the nutrition that they need, it really isn’t true. If given the right vegetables and if they are prepared properly your dog will have everything that it needs to live a full and happy life. Many times a dog will even live a longer life on home prepared food than it will on manufactured food. Imagine if you ate out at a fast food restaurant every day. You would certainly suffer from malnutrition even though your belly was full. The same is true with your dog. If you feed your dog homemade dog food they certainly will be healthier.

One thing that you will need to be careful of is that there are certain types of food that are not good for your dog to eat. Some of these include chocolate, macadamia nuts, milk and milk-based products, grapes, and raisins. You would also never want to give your dog an alcoholic beverage. Other than some restrictions on what you can feed your dog, you’ll find that you have a wide range of homemade dog foods to choose from. Just make sure that you know your restrictions.

You’ll always be taking care of your dog throughout it’s life. The extra nutrition found in homemade food may actually make your pet live longer. Your dog will love you for it and this will definitely make you happier too.

Knowing that you can give your dog homemade dog food can put you in a financial setback as far as food prices are concerned, but in reality, who can say that they don’t feed their dog human food scraps or care to?

So in the long run although a dog is generally catogorized as having a different diet requirement, it is perfectly fine to have homemade dog food as their body digests the same way that humans do and their is no scientific proof otherwise.