Labs typically do not have a great deal of skin problems, but are susceptible to hair loss (alopecia). Here is a list of common issues that cause hair loss in Labradors.

Common Labrador Retriever Skin Problems

• Flea Allergy Dermatitis
  I cover flea related issues and treatment my article "Dog Hair Loss (Allopecia) – Reasons Why Dogs Lose Hair and How To Treat Dog Hair Loss"
• Lick granuloma
  Lick Granuloma is a terrible skin problem caused by the constant licking of a sore by your dog. I thought about writing an entire article on this, but there is an article over on The Pet Center that is very complete.
• Hypothyroid related Alopecia
  Better known as Hypothyroidism, symptoms include hair loss, mainly of each flank (the sides between the front and rear leg), dry skin, weight gain, and lethargy. Your vet can test for thyroid problems using simple blood tests, and treatment includes the use of thyroid hormone replacement. The good news is that treatment is very effective, and improvements in health and behavior tend to show up quickly.
• Hot Spots and Dandruff
  There can be many causes for hot spots and dandruff. I typically recommend that people try a good fish oil supplement and a yeast treatment before taking their dog to the vet.

Non-Skin Problem Related Labrador Retriever Health Issues

• Canine Hip Dysplasia
  Hip dysplasia is a skeletal problem in which the head of the femur doesn’t mesh well with the pelvic socket. It is possible for a dog to have hip dysplasia and not show symptoms. However, once the symptoms appear they are very dramatic. The pain causes lameness in one or both of the rear legs. Chronic arthritis typically develops as this disease progresses.
• Cataracts 
  Dogs can get cataracts just like humans, and this is more common in labs. Fortunately, they can be surgically removed with little side effects.
• Elbow Dysplasia
  Like hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia is caused by development problems in the joint. It typically leads to arthritis and sometimes to OCD (see below). There are surgical treatments available for elbow dysplasia, but I recommend you see a specialist in this area rather than your regular vet.
• Gastric Torsion
  Caused by a twisting of the stomach, gastric torsion traps the stomach contents and gases causing a rapid swelling of the abdomen. This results in extreme pain and eventual death if left untreated. If your dog displays extreme pain in the stomach area, this is a 911 emergency. You must take your dog to a 24 hour emergency veterinary clinic for treatment immediately.
• Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD)
  OCD is a degenerative condition occurring in the bone which underlies the cartilage layer of joints. OCD onset is most common when large breed dogs go through a large growth spurt, and typically occurs in the shoulder, ankle, or elbow joints. If your puppy has just gone through a growth spurt and appears to be limping for no good reason, it is possibly caused by OCD. Your veterinarian can recommend the best treatment, but rest and proper nutrition can help.
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
  As the name implies, this is a progressive deteriorating of the retina, leading to night blindness, and eventually complete blindness. Your vet can identify PRA via electroretinogram (ERG), or by using a retinoscopic exam

Dog First Aid

You never know when an emergency may occur, and knowing a bit of first aid and having a first aid kit ready for your dog might just save their life. Here’s a guide I wrote about dog first aid.

More Information

Since there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of reasons why your labrador may experience hair loss, it is well beyond the scope of this article to cover each and every one. I will cover some of the most common reasons here, but if you do not find what you are looking for, please take a moment to sign up for our dog health news letter. I cover many more causes of hair loss, as well as many other health issues your dog may have.

My goal is to teach you when you need to take your dog to the vet, and when you don’t. Of course, I’ll be recommending some products (read – advertising), but I promise to provide you with valuable information such as you will read in this article.

There are literally 100s of reasons your dog might lose hair. Diagnosing the cause of the lost hair can be simple (for instance in the case of parasites), or drawn out and complicated (for instance of Alopecia). Clues can be taken by the location and severity of the loss of hair, as well as by examining the behavior of your dog.

Dog Hair Loss Defined

Dog hair loss is an atypical thinning or complete loss of hair in one or several areas of the dogs body. The medical term for hair loss is Alopecia, of which there are many forms.

There are many things that can cause Dog Hair Loss, including:

The most common are skin parasites and infections (view our dog skin parasites guide). Some other causes would be nutrition, orgran function, allergies, nutrition, hormone imbalances, blood flow, stress, and medication.

Diagnosing Dog Hair Loss

Since there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of reasons why your dog may experience hair loss, it is well beyond the scope of this article to cover each and every one. I will cover some of the most common reasons here, but if you do not find what you are looking for, please take a moment to sign up for our dog health news letter. I cover many more causes of hair loss, as well as many other health issues your dog may have. There is a sign up form at the bottom of this article

Common Reasons For Hair Loss (alopecia)

Fleas

Miracle Coat

Soothes cuts, scratches and
skin irritations due to flea and
tick dermatitis.

By far the most common reason for dog hair loss (alopecia) , is Flea Allergy Dermatitis. Here is a picture of flea allergy dermatitis; it’s somewhat graffic so if you are sensative please be ready.

I have already written an extensive article on fleas and other Dog Skin Parasites which covers the identification of fleas and how to treat them.

Folliculitis, which is usually the result of a staph bacterial infection, is characterized by a red ring of scaled skin with yellow or green crusty centers. Here’s a picture:

Canine Staph Infection Characterized by red rings, and
hair loss around "pustules"

With staph infections, alopecia usually occurs around the lesions, usually in large tufts. If you see pinky width tufts of hair that "stick out" take a look closely and see if you see something similar to what you see above.

The causes of staph infections are are very complicated and difficult to diagnose. The staph bacteria live on the skin of all dogs, but lies there dormant because the dogs immune system is able to fight of infection. This means that if your dog is suffering from a staph infection, its immune system has been comprimised in some way. Things like Inhalant and food allergies, hormonal imbalance, stress, and improper diet can lead to a deficient immune system leading to staph infection.

Treating Folliculitis

Since the cause of staph infections can be difficult to isolate, most veterinarians are forced to treat the symptoms of the infection while actively searching for the underlying cause. Antibiotics such as Cephalaxin are given 2x’s per day until at least 10 days After the infection clears up. Unfortunately, this doesn’t treat the underlying cause of the infection, and it usually returns.

Dermazole Anti-Fungal
Shampoo Works Really Well
 

Non-verterinary treatments include adding a good fish oil supplement to your dogs diet, along with reducing carbohydrate intake, and frequent bathing with medicated shampoos and conditioners.

If you can afford it, your vet wil likely try several different tests to figure out the cause of the staph infection. Here are the 4 most common reasons that I have found for staph infections:

1. Thyroid Disease, which your vet can test for with a blood test. If your dog has a thyroid condition, there are very effective treatments using levothyroxine , levothyroxine and triiodothyronine. Here’s a great article on canine thyroid disease
    
2. Allergies, typically seasonal inhalant (the type they breathe in) allergies. The test for this is very costly, and while it will conclusively identify what your dog is allergic to, it doesn’t mean that allergy is causing your dogs staph problems. The treatment for allergies is also somewhat iffy. Your dogs dermatologist will create an allergy vaccine which must be adminstered in an increasing dosage every couple of days via an under the skin injection. Some dogs respond very well to this treatment, and at the very least, it makes their allergies subside even if it does not solve the staph problem. Your vet might also decide to perform a food allergy test. These test can be very labor intensive as you will have to cook 0 allergen proteins for your dog. This typically means a diet of stricly rabbit, which can be expensive and difficult to find.
    
   Orijen 6 Fresh Fish
   
   The Best Dog Food for treating
   inflammamtory diseases.
3. Diet – A good percentage of dog owners simply don’t know that the food they’re feeding their dog is NOT good for them. In my experience, brands such as Purina, Iams, and other "grocery store" pet foods are absolutely toxic for your animal. A diet in high protein and essential fatty acids (EFA’s), while containing no inflamatory grains is best for reducing inflamation and can help fight against staph infections.  Orijen, made by Champion Pet Foods makes dog food with 0 grains, and high quality fish proteins. The very best food for this purpose is Orijen 6 Fresh Fish With Sea Vegetables. This link contains a review of the ingredients in the food as well as a 10% off coupon.
    
4. Medications – Many of the drugs, including antibiotics, that we give to dogs can impact their immune system and lead to staph infections and folliculitis. In fact, with my English Bulldog, his first bout with a staph infection occured a couple of months after knee surgery, in which he was given antibiotics to prevent infection in the wound. This may have been purely coincidental, but it is also the first time he ever had taking antibiotics. I recommend supplementing your dogs diet with a good probiotic and digestive enzyme formula anytime you have to give him antibiotics.

If I didn’t cover your dogs symptoms in this article, it is highly likely that we cover it in our Doggie Health Newsletter. In the newsletter, I cover things such as breed specific issues like mutant alopecia which is a hereditary condition effecting dogs with blue or fawn colored coats, and hyperestrogenism which is a female specifc alopecia which may be a sign of ovarian cancer.

Of course, I’ll be recommending some products (advertising), but I promise that every email you get will contain useful information presented similarly to what you see in this article.

The term mangy is used to describe a ragged, uneven, unhealthy coat, combined with terrible skin irritation and damage caused by mites digging into a dogs skin and effecting the skin and hair follicles.

There are two types of mange typically found in dogs. Demodectic Mange, and Sarcoptic Mange.

Demodectic Mange is caused by the Demodex mite, and usually only occurrs in puppies and older dogs because of their undeveloped or weak immune systems. In puppies, demodectic mange usually clears up on its own once the dog reaches 12 months of age. Demodex mites are not easilly communicable to other dogs, and rarely effect humans. For more information on Demodectic Mange, click on the link. 

Sarcoptic Mange, also known as scabies, is an skin infection caused by a parasite known as a Sarcoptic mite. This mite, also known as scabies, is highly communicable, and cause much mroe severe irritation and damage to dogs as well as humans. They dig tiny tunnels into the skin where they cause intense itching, leading to irritation, hair loss, and self mutilation.

Diagnosis

Many cases of Sarcoptic Mange are incorrectly diagnosed by veterinarians as allergic dermatitis, when in fact the issue is Sarcoptic Mites. This occurs because a Sarcoptic Mite infestation looks very similar to allergic dermatitis since the skin is reacting to an irritant, exactly like an allergy.

The intense itching typically results in signficant hair loss, self mutilation, and crusty skin lesions. In some dogs, the case can be so severe that they are literally covered with bald spots, crusts, and scabs. As Sarcoptic Mites are easilly communicable by humans, quick diagnosis is vital for the health of your dog as well as all people in your household.

Here is an effective in home test that accurately indentifies (95% accuracy) a Sarcoptic Mite infestation in your dog. It is called the Pedal-Pinna Reflex Test.

Most dogs with Sarcoptic Mites will have them along the ear flap (called the Pinna)  margins. The dog will reflexively use a back leg in a scratching motion if the Pinna is scratched gently by a person testing this reflex.  Simply take the Pinna between your thumb and forefinger and scratch the surface of the underside of the Pinna with the forefinger.  Dogs with no mites seldom work the back leg in a scratching motion.  Dogs with sarcoptic mites almost always will demonstrate an involuntary scratching motion with the back leg while you are scratching the Pinna. Here is a video demonstrating the Pedal-Pinna Reflex Test:

Here are some pictures of what Sarcoptic Mange looks like

An unfortunate side effect of Sarcoptic Mange being diagnosed improperly as allergic dermatitis is the perscription of cortisone based treatments such as Prednisone. Cortisone is not a cure, but rather a strong anti-inflamatory which reduces the symptoms of a Sacroptic Mite infestation; it makes the dog more comfortable at the expense of covering up the actual problem.

This can pose a serious problem for your dog if it indeed does have Sarcoptic mites in its skin. Sacroptic mites reproduce more quckly in the presence of cortisone, and, coritsone reduces your dogs natural ability to fight against the mites.

Further complicating the issue is the ellusiveness of Sarcoptic mites. Unlike other mites such as Demodex, and ear mites which are easilly detectible using simple skin scraping, scabies mites are almost never detected in skin scrapings. Even with repeated deep scraping, scabies mites manage to ellude detection. This is the primary reason for misdiagnosis as allergic dermatitis; since no mites are found in the scrappings, and the skin is red and itchy, it really does look like allergic dermatitis. If your dog is diagnosed with allergic dermatitis after you perform the Pedal-Pinna Reflex Test, ask your vet to perform the Pedal-Pinna Reflex Test. If he / she is unfamiliar with the test, ask them to research it, or reschedule with a vet who does.

Proper Treatment

Once you have determined your dog has a Sacroptic Mite infestation, you will want to change their diet to a high protein / high fat diet, consisting mostly of fish and meat. Also, a fatty acid supplement such as salmon oil, will help your dog’s immune system fight off the mites. I recommend Nutricoat Food Supplement by Eight In One.

Ivermectin

Ivermectin is an amazing substance that has been used for years as a dewormer. There is solid evidence that when used correctly Ivermectin kills scabies mites. There are known risks of using Ivermectin in specific breeds of dogs. Ask your veterinarian if Ivermectic is appropriate for your dog.

Chemical Dips and Sprays

If your dog can not use Ivermectin, the classic treatment approach consists of several chemical dip and spray treatments combined with the use of medicated shampoo. Revolution, by Pfizer, has been found to be a very effective topical solution for treating Sarcoptic Mites.

All sarcoptic mite treatments require a perscription, and your veterinarian will select the treatment most appropriate for your dog. 

Multiple Pets

If you have multiple pets including dogs and cats, it is important to have them checked and treated when a Sarcoptic Mite infestation occurs since there can be asypmtomatic carriers (your pet shows no sign of infestation).

Related Links:

- Dog Skin Parasites – Fleas
- Dog Skin Parasites – Sarcoptic Mites (Scabies)
- Dog Skin Parasites – Demodex Mites

Knowing when to take your dog to the vet and when to let him “self-regulate” is a pretty tricky business – how do you tell when he needs to see a professional? After all, it’s not as if you can rely on your dog to let you know.

Nobody likes forking out $80 for a needless visit to the vet, but then again no conscientious dog-owner can bear to contemplate their dog’s suffering, either! Frankly, it’s a bit of a quandary.

I’ve owned dogs on and off my whole life, and this is still something that I’ve never been 100% comfortable with: of course, I’d always rather be safe than sorry (a viewpoint which has resulted in many, many unnecessary trips to the vet over the years, just to set my mind at rest) … but I’ve also always wished for the kind of solid grounding in canine medical basics which would enable me to confidently decide for myself when my dog needs to see the vet – and when I can save both him and myself the hassle!

Stress-Free Dog Care
You can imagine the relief I felt when I happened across The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health (by Malcolm Fields – dog-care professional) on the Internet. It was uncanny: this guide is exactly what I was looking for. It’s complete and detailed, covering all the common health problems (both serious and not) that dogs suffer from; the overall focus is on being prepared and taking preventative action; it teaches you how to accurately self-diagnose (with the assistance of step-by-step flowcharts which tell you whether he’ll be fine by himself, whether he needs to see the vet, and how urgently the vet should be seen); and, while it’s packed with knowledge and advice from veterinarians and trained dog-care specialists, it’s easy on the eye and reader-friendly … you can actually understand what they’re trying to say!

In a nutshell, it’s detailed (but not dauntingly so), comprehensive (covering all the common ailments and illnesses), knowledgeable (while retaining a conversational, easy-to-understand tone) and it gives you the kind of introduction to canine healthcare that’ll allow you to take good care of your dog – without spending unnecessary time and effort trying to absorb the jargon of a veterinary textbook!

What’s Actually Covered?
The book deals with all the common problems and ailments suffered by dogs. It covers issues like toothache and dental trouble, ear infections, skin rashes and chafing, eye irritations, worming issues, and lameness; chronic problems like vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, asthma, breathing trouble, and liver problems; more severe issues like arthritis and cancer; and symptomatic “alerts” like hair loss, lethargy, and behavioral changes.

On top of that, you also learn how to pick up early warning signs by identifying and accurately interpreting your dog’s body language; how to groom your dog quickly and effectively; how to take good care of his teeth and gums; how to administer medicine safely and easily; and how to recognize the early warning signs of health trouble through behavioral and physical changes.
All this information is fully supplemented by full-color diagrams, photographs, and illustrations.

My Favorite Part
While it’s great to learn about canine anatomy and medical problems, the thing that I wanted to know more than anything else was: How can I tell how serious the problem is, and when do I need to take my dog to the vet?

So I was particularly happy to note the presence of the many and detailed symptom charts, which were designed especially to help owners make solid decisions about their dog’s health-care. Each chart starts from the specific symptoms of a particular ailment (you just follow the “branches” of the flowchart, depending on the symptoms that your dog has) and tells you the recommended path of treatment for each one, as well as advising whether veterinary care should be sought – and if so, how urgently. Pure genius!

Something for Nothing
In addition to the fully-illustrated, 240-page guide itself, you also get a handful of tempting freebies: specifically, four bonus books.
There’s “The Ultimate Guide to Dog First Aid”, which is an incredibly useful resource for those situations requiring an immediate response (including how to perform the canine Heimlich maneuver and doggie CPR); “180 Gourmet Recipes for Your Dog”, which really teaches you how to indulge your pooch’s taste buds; “101 Ways to Spoil Your Dog for Under $10”, detailing all kinds of luxuries-on-a-budget and activities for you and your dog to enjoy together; and “20 Super-Healthy Recipes for Your Dog” – which proves that doggie health-food is as delicious as anything else! These books have a combined value of over $80 – not a bad freebie!

The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health: Summed Up
All in all, I couldn’t be happier with this product. It’s exactly what I was looking for – and even if I hadn’t spent the last decade or so wishing for a book just like it, I think I’d still snap it up in a second: it’s that useful.

This is an information resource that every responsible dog owner should have access to. Not only does it enable you to make good decisions about the more serious health issues commonly suffered by dogs, but you learn a lot about the minor, day-to-day ailments and afflictions that almost every dog will encounter from time to time, as well as a host of useful facts on preventative care.

This comprehensive guide to dog health will help you to spot little problems before they become big ones: truly indispensable.

Get a Copy Today
 

 Back to the Dog Skin Parasites Guide

Skin Mites, or Demodex mites, live naturally on the skin of all dogs. A dog with a fully developed and healthy immune system will not display any symptoms of an active Demodex infection, better known as mange.

Mange outbreaks typically occur in puppies between 3 months and 1 year of age since their immune systems are not yet fully developed. Typically a puppy gets the Demodex mite from their mother. The mite lives in the pores of the puppies’ skin, and resided their benignly. However, for currently unknown reasons, the mite can activate, causing mange.

Demodectic mange can also occur in older dogs, and dogs whose immune systems are not 100% healthy, such as dogs who have cancer and are under going chemo therapy.

In puppies, Demodex mites will typically disappear without medication from a verterinarian once their  immune systems are fully developed. The prognosis for an older dog is taken a bit more seriously, but there are effective treatments.

Symptoms and Treatment

The Demodex mite can cause localized or wide spread loss of hair on your dog. The most commonly effected areas are the head and legs. The skin will appear red, and crusty, with all of the hair in the effected areas competely falling out. Amazingly, Demodectic mange does not cause itching in dogs.

Mange can begin as a localized infection and develop into a more serious case. When your dog’s skin is sore, crusty, the pores become clogged with debris as well as the mites themselves. When mange reaches this severity, specific treatment will be perscribed by your vet. Typically it involved topical ointments, bathing with medicated shampoo, and oral medications as well.

The first treatment is the use of amitraz pour on (Mitaban Rx)  every other week for 6 to 8 applications or until 2 consecutive skin scrapings are negative. This treament is around 80% effective based on averaging results from available studies. This is the only approved treatment for demodex mange.

Get Free Shipping on IverCare

The second treatment is ivermectin given by injection or orally at the rate of 250ug/kg or higher (up to 600ug/kg in resistant cases) daily until two skin scrapings are negative, which probably also works about 80% of the time. This treatment has to be used very carefully in collies and shelties, who are more likely to suffer toxic reactions to ivermectin.

The tertiary treatment that is occasionally used is oral milbemycin (Interceptor Rx) given daily for six to eight weeks and is about as effective as the other therapies. It is probably wise to be cautious about using this therapy in collies and shelties.

Note: Manage is not contagious, and will not spread to humans or other dogs. 

Related Links:

- Dog Skin Parasites – Fleas
- Dog Skin Parasites – Sarcoptic Mites (Scabies)
- Dog Skin Parasites – Demodex Mites

FURTHER READING

For a complete survival guide on stress-free dog care, including detailed information on when your dog needs to see the vet, how to respond to pet emergencies, dog First Aid, and all common health problems, check out The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health. It’s a complete handbook on dog health care, and teaches you how to take a proactive and prepared approach to knowledgeable dog ownership.

You can visit The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health by clicking on the link below:
http://www.kingdomofpets.com/

Or

Read my review of The Ultimate Guide To Dog Health

Back to the Dog Skin Parasites Guide