Learning Some Facts About Dog Hair Loss and Tail Gland Dysplasia

Hair loss can be a common problem for dogs because of skin disorders, such as allergies, hormonal problems and parasites. A veterinarian should diagnose the problem to determine the proper treatment for the dog.

Hair loss, commonly known as alopecia, is a result of a majority of problems and disorders. Allergies are normally the No. 1 cause of skin disorders in dogs, resulting from such things as food, environment, chemical detergents, paints, nickel and other chemical or textile fibers, inhalants, deodorants, room fresheners, pollen, dust mites and drugs.

Other causes can be stress, hormonal changes, parasites, infections and more. Loss of hair on the tail is normally indicative of parasite infestation and tail gland hyperplasia.

Depending on the cause, hair loss can be an overall patchy skin condition or a localized problem, according to VetInfo.com. A loss of hair that is centralized on your dog’s back, affecting the base of the tail can result from flea bite sensitivity, mange or other parasitic infestation. Most parasites prefer the warmth at the base of a dog's tail or ears, causing your dog to irritate the area more, while trying to find relief.

Tail gland hyperplasia is a secondary disease where the enlarged sebaceous gland, which is crucial for supply of sebum for lubricating hair and skin, malfunctions, causing an excess oil condition. This causes the skin to stay moist and allows for secondary bacterial infections and/or hair loss.

The basis for a diagnosis will start with a thorough examination by your veterinarian. He will be looking for patterns of hair loss, sores, parasites and the results of blood work, urinalysis, skin scraping and biopsies to find the definitive problem and treatment.

According to Animal Pet Doctor, if no underlying problems are found, such as parasites, then treatment for tail gland hyperplasia consists of bathing your dog with a degreasing shampoo, plus short term steroids and an antibiotic therapy. In more serious cases, a surgical reduction or removal of the gland is needed. If the hair loss on the tail is a result of parasites, the treatment varies according to the severity, season, allergies and environment. Your veterinarian may prescribe a specific parasitic shampoo (or a dip, if more severe) to begin treatment, followed by a treatment of an ointment or cream, for healing the parasitic sores.

Preventing the onset of a medical problem with your dog, in the long run, is much cheaper than the expense involved in treating that problem. At the onset of the parasite season, your veterinarian can prescribe the optimum preventative for fleas, ticks, heart worm and more. There are collars and topical ointments such as Resolution and Sentinel for flea and tick prevention, as well as monthly pills or a regimen of vaccines for heart worm prevention. To prevent tail gland hyperplasia, frequently groom and comb your dog in between professional baths and grooming. This process can disperse the oils of the sebaceous gland, preventing an accumulation in that area.