My dog is going bald! I thought it was bad enough that my husband was losing his hair, but now my little baby is losing all of his fur! What’s going on?
Whoa, there! Someone’s a little too sensitive about the baldness. Calm down – fur loss isn’t necessarily permanent, and it also doesn’t necessarily mean that something is wrong with your dog. There are tons of things that cause baldness, some of which your dog has been inflicting on himself.

Have you noticed him licking a specific spot obsessively? If so, he may also be scratching it when you’re not looking. This is referred to as lick dermatitis and can lead to both hair loss and skin irritation. Treatments for this condition often involve using the funky-looking satellite dishes you see some poor pooches wearing, since it keeps them from licking the area while a vet is treating it. Your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotic creams or pills, both of which fight the infection that may have been caused by the licking. This condition can also result from leaving your dog alone for long periods of time or not giving him enough exercise. He’s bored! Check out the creative exercise methods listed on page 15 for some fun ways to distract him from that nasty hobby.

Perhaps the most recognizable skin/hair condition is ringworm, in which a circular patch of hair is lost and the underlying skin becomes inflamed. Contrary to what the name suggests, ringworm is a fungus, not a parasite, and can create a crust that dogs love to scratch off. Your vet may decide to let your dog’s immune system try to heal the infection itself. If not, he’ll probably recommend an antifungal bath and ointment.

And, unfortunately for your pooch, he can suffer from the same types of baldness as your hubby. Pattern baldness is symmetrical and usually strikes around the ears. And, just like your husband’s baldness, there’s no real treatment. Hey! Get the Rogaine away from the dog, okay? You’ll just have to get used to his new look.