French Bulldog Hair Loss
It’s not uncommon for dogs to shed a little hair, and we certainly know what a hassle it can become when it’s shedding season! But while that may not be an issue, severe French bulldog hair loss can be! If you see your French bulldog losing hair patches, then that may be a cause for concern!
French bulldogs are usually expected to shed twice a year, during spring and fall. Other than that, your Frenchie might be experiencing some heavy hair loss, and there are several different reasons for that.
So, make sure to read this article to the very end in order to be completely informed about any potential affliction your dog might be going through, so you can deal with it in the best way possible!
Symptoms of hair loss
Be sure to look out for the following symptoms, which are surefire indicators of hair loss in your pup!
You might notice that the overall coat of your pet is thinning, and hair loss or bald patches around the pet’s eyes, mouth, behind ears, or stomach area. Your dog might also be scratching itself constantly and seem constantly irritated.
More hair loss symptoms include:
- Dry, scaly skin.
- Dried blood on the skin.
- Slight bleeding from excessive scratching.
- Reddish inflamed skin.
Dogs might also emanate a strong smell due to some infection that might be causing them hair loss, so be sure to be on the lookout for these telltale signs of hair loss! In some cases, it might be easily curable. However, some situations might require more serious measures!
Possible reasons for hair loss
There are several reasons why your Frenchie might suffer from hair loss, and we’ll discuss each reason in great detail.
Allergies
Dermatitis occurs when your Frenchie’s body has an allergic reaction to something in its diet or the environment.
This can occur from something they ate and if they come into contact with any sort of chemical or material that they might be allergic to.
Common symptoms of an allergic reaction to food might include:
While several of the symptoms that we mentioned are related to the pup’s digestive system, it’s the last one that can directly contribute to hair loss. Severe itching can cause your Frenchie to constantly scratch and bite at their skin, leading to bloody skin and hair loss.
This can further lead to the development of small patches of inflamed skin, which might even start bleeding if not treated.
Dermatitis
Dermatitis is another type of allergic reaction that can be caused by reaction-causing materials in the environment. Symptoms of dermatitis can be anything from:
- Itching
- Infected skin
- Flaky skin
- Cuts on the skin
- Constant biting and scratching
Like other allergic reactions, these can lead to hives and spots developing on the skin and can further lead to your French bulldog losing hair patches if not treated.
Mange
Mange is a highly contagious disease that is caused by mites that bury deep into the skin, causing severe irritation and itching. Your dog might experience constant irritation, causing it to constantly scratch and bite its skin in an attempt to subdue the itch. This is one of the main reasons behind French Bulldog hair loss.
Mange is usually transmitted from other diseased dogs and can also be transferred to humans. It is generally advised to get mange treated as soon as possible and to quarantine your dog for the duration of the procedure.
The symptoms of mange include:
- Rashes on skin
- Redness on skin
- Moderate to severe hair loss
- Lesions on skin
- Scaly skin
These are not restricted to one part of the body, and you might notice your French bulldog losing hair behind ears, neck, and legs as well.
Hormonal issues
Mites and allergies are not the only reasons your Frenchie suffers from hair loss! Your Frenchie can be suffering from some hormonal issues as well.
Hormonal imbalances can cause an over or under-production of testosterone, thyroxine, as well as other hormones.
One of the well-known hormonal imbalances is hypothyroidism, which is a deficiency of the thyroid hormone. This can cause excessive weight gain, hair loss, and change in hair coat.
Cushing’s disease is also a condition that can happen to dogs and occurs when a dog’s body produces excessive cortisol. The main cause behind this disease is usually because of a tumor in the pituitary gland and the adrenal glands in some rare cases.
Symptoms of Cushing’s disease include:
- Thinning of skin
- Severe hair loss
- Increased urination
- Lethargy
- Increased appetite
- Weakness
- Enlarged abdomen
Vets are your best bet when it comes to hormonal issues with your dog, and they will conduct some exams and tests to figure out whether your dog suffers from any of these. Although some cases might require surgery, both hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease can be treated with medication.
Parasites
Aside from mange, other types of parasites can also contribute to French bulldog hair loss. These include fleas, ticks, lice, and other varieties of mites which can cause severe itching and hair loss.
One example of such a parasites is ringworm. If you see your Frenchie losing hair in circular patches, take them to the vet immediately. Such infections not only cause severe hair loss but affect your dog’s digestive and intestinal tracts as well. Your pup might get very weak or sick and lose its fur coat health as well.
Sick organs
In some cases where your dog is suffering some sort of ailment, any issues related to their organs will also affect hair health. Issues related to the kidney, bowels, and liver can cause your pup’s hair coat to thin out and become dull.
Treating French bulldog hair loss
Now that we’ve discussed the different reasons behind your Frenchie losing its precious hair let’s talk about solutions to some of these problems.
Changing your Frenchie’s diet
For food-related allergies, changing your Frenchie’s diet should be the first step in order to cure them of their hair loss. Your vet will provide you with a diet that is free from any food that can cause an allergic reaction.
You will need to feed this diet to your pet and test out different foods one by one in order to see which create an allergic reaction in your dog and which are safe to consume. This way, you can create a list of foods your dog can easily eat without having to suffer allergies and hair loss.
Medication
Try some home remedies in order to reduce any itching your dog may be suffering from. Some sources cite lemon juice and apple cider vinegar as good deterrents which will kill parasites and also improve the pup’s health.
These may reduce your pup’s need to constantly lick and scratch at their skin, reducing hair loss.
For more serious situations, you will need to consult your vet, and they will provide different creams and ointments for your dog’s ailment. These are especially important if your Frenchie is suffering from any parasitic diseases, where home remedies don’t work as well as medicine.
Regular checking
It would be best if you made sure that your Frenchie doesn’t develop any symptoms without you knowing about them. Most of the issues we outlined above can easily be treated if they are detected in the early stages. So, make sure to regularly check your dog for any rashes, skin infections, scaly skin, or hair loss behind ears, paws, or other parts of the body.
Exercise
Healthy dogs are less likely to develop health-related issues, so make sure your Frenchie gets a little bit of exercise each day. You can take them for walks or get them to move around the house a lot in order to keep them healthy.
Brushing
It is important to brush your dog’s hair regularly to evenly spread out their body’s natural oils along the hair. This way, the dog’s hair will remain healthy, and you can make sure to keep a check on how much they’re shedding and notify your vet if you notice an increase.
Feeding hair growth supplements
Different dog foods and dog health supplements help hair growth and improve coat shine on your dog, and you should check out different brands that you can feed your Frenchie in order to reduce hair loss.
Protective clothing
When taking your pup out for a walk, get them some sort of protective clothing that reduce their chances of coming into contact with any materials that may cause a reaction. Cotton shirts or pajamas can help protect against unwanted scratches, exposure to chemical sprays, or anything else that might cause a reaction.
Final thoughts
We hope that this article was helpful and you were able to understand the different reasons why your Frenchie might be suffering from hair loss.
If you think your dog is suffering from hair loss, try to compare the different symptoms we’ve listed and try figuring out which issue could be why your dog lost its hair. Once you’ve identified the issue, you can either consult your vet or begin initial remedies yourself to help your pup feel better.
The different remedies we’ve outlined will definitely help, but always remember to consult your vet since they will be able to properly diagnose and treat any issues your dog might be facing.
We hope that your pup is just shedding and that there isn’t any cause for concern. Hopefully, you’ll be able to figure out why, and we wish your pup the best of health!
2 Comments