CBD as a Dog Hair Loss Remedy
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Any abnormally small amount of fur, whether it's thinner than it should be or has bald patches in it, is dog hair loss. It makes the dog look pitiful, and worse, the cause of it can be frustrating and life-threatening for your pet. Always look into any dog hair loss. In this post, we'll discuss the potential causes of dog hair loss and how CBD is one of the best dog hair loss home remedies.
- Causes of Dog Hair Loss
- How CBD Oil Makes A Great Dog Hair Loss Remedy
- CBD oil helps with dog hair loss in many ways
- CBD Oil is a Safe, Natural Dog Hair Loss Remedy
- Using CBD Oil as a Dog Hair Loss Remedy
- Purchasing CBD oil for your pet
- Start Your Journey for CBD oil as a Dog Hair Loss Remedy Here
Causes of Dog Hair Loss
Parasites
Several kinds of parasites can cause hair loss in dogs.
An allergic reaction to fleas can cause dog hair loss, because the dog weakens the hair with excessive scratching and biting or because the fleas cause skin conditions and infections that make hair fall out. The hair loss will likely be accompanied by excessive itching, crusty skin, and weeping or bleeding areas, particularly around the tail and legs where fleas like to congregate.
Lice could also cause excessive biting and scratching that could lead to hair loss, and sores made from biting and scratching could lead to hair loss or get infected.
Allergies
Allergies to pollen, mold, chemicals, ingredients in food, and more can cause, among other symptoms, dog hair loss.
Some allergies are temporary, causing sneezing, watery eyes, and maybe even biting, licking, and hair loss, but they will right themselves quickly as the allergen goes away and may not require any treatment unless the dog is particularly being tormented.
Chronic allergies, or atopic dermatitis, torment the pet without much noticeable relief and get worse over time. The dog will have suffered so much excessive biting and licking and potential skin conditions that it has hair loss, skin lesions, inflamed skin, infections, and a possible foul odor in affected areas. With chronic allergies, the allergen is usually something that is always present, like dust mites, and the dog's immune system probably has a more pronounced reaction to allergens. Atopic dermatitis will require routine and life-long treatment to manage.
Skin Infections
Skin infections, bacterial or fungal, can cause dog hair loss as the area becomes inhospitable to hair. Redness, inflammation, and a foul odor will usually be present. This may come from a wound that got infected, a complication from a skin condition, or fungal infections from chronic stress or a weakened immune system. Short term treatment may be required for acute infections such as from a wound. Long term, routine treatments may be required for the others and the cause of the infection should be found.
Pressure Sores
Pressure sores come from excessive abrasion or pressure, enough to reduce blood flow to a part of the dog's body or to cause calluses. This can come from walking or laying on hard surfaces or from being sick and laying down too much. Pressure sores are more likely to affect the elbows but will occur anywhere the cause occurs. Heavier dogs are more likely to develop pressure sores than smaller dogs because they have more weight to create more pressure.
Symptoms include hair loss, wrinkling and/or darkening of the skin in a given spot, fluid over a given spot, an abscess or wound, bleeding, licking, or an inability to use the affected limb.
Treatment will include addressing the pressure sore as needed, with antibiotics or draining any fluid, and preventing the situation that caused the pressure sore, such as giving the dog a softer place to lay or moving them more frequently.
Diet
A diet lacking in protein, Omega 3, Omega 6, antioxidants, copper, zinc, and B vitamins can lead to dog hair loss, diminished coat, and dull coat. There should be a wide variety of other symptoms depending on the missing nutrient. Unlike most other reasons for dog hair loss, skin damage may not be present. Such nutritional deficiencies usually come from a homemade diet, poor quality purchased pet food or special diets such as ones to avoid food allergies that have been improperly managed.
Stress
Stress can cause dog hair loss in two ways.
The most direct and common way stress causes hair loss is because the poor pet nervously licks or bites at themselves so excessively that they weaken or pull out their fur. The skin can also become infected under the bitten and licked site and cause the fur to fall out. If you don't already know it because you've seen them and probably tried to get them to stop biting and licking, you can tell this is the cause of their hair loss because the hair isn't missing in places they can't reach.
Dogs can also have Cushing's disease, which is caused by chronic, excessively high cortisol levels from medications, tumors, or stress. Symptoms of Cushing's disease in dogs include hair loss, a rounded abdomen, increased appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, and muscle wasting.
Treatment will include reducing stress, and stopping medication or treating the tumor.
Thyroid
Your dog's thyroid produces a hormone known as thyroxin that impacts many bodily functions, including hair growth. If your dog has an underactive thyroid, known as Hypothyroidism, they can experience hair loss.
Hair loss will usually occur predominantly on the back and will be accompanied by other symptoms of illness.
Treatment will involve addressing the thyroid problem by giving them hormones, and they will have to take it the rest of their lives.
Pet Medicine
Your dog's medications, whether oral, injected, or topical might can cause hair loss. Steroids are likely to cause dog hair loss as it shrinks hair follicles. Topical flea medications can damage hair. Pets may also lose hair around injection sites.
You can distinguish this cause of dog hair loss from others because it has nothing to do with biting or licking and because topical and injected medications will likely only affect the immediate area.
Dog Yeast Infections
Dogs with high stress or a weakened immune system may be susceptible to an abnormal growth of Malassezia yeast on their bodies. It is always present, but it usually causes dogs no problem. When out of control, Malassezia causes flaky, greasy spots on the dog's skin that lead to hair loss. The area may smell. It is worse in humid climates and times of the year when it is hotter and more humid and will be located on the skin as well as in the ears and mucous-y areas.
Poor Circulation
Any condition that can cause poor circulation could lead to dog hair loss as the hair needs blood to grow. This includes heart defects, weak hearts, low blood pressure, and anemia.
The pet should have other symptoms of heart problems or poor circulation and will not
How CBD Oil Makes A Great Dog Hair Loss Remedy
First, let's discuss what CBD oil is. CBD stands for cannabidiol, which does sound like cannabis because it is found in the family of plants that marijuana is included in. There are two types of CBD oil, ones made from marijuana, because it does have a tiny bit of cannabidiol in it, and ones made from hemp. This post will discuss the ones made from hemp, as they are 100% legal and do not contain THC, which causes the "high" associated with marijuana.
CBD oil is important for health. Human and dog bodies contain an endocannabinoid system that makes its own cannabinoids. These cannabinoids impact a wide variety of bodily functions as there are receptors in our brains, digestive systems, and many vital organs. This system must always work in harmony for our bodies to be and feel healthy, but it often doesn't. External
CBD oil helps with dog hair loss in many ways
It can alleviate many of the conditions that cause hair loss. If the dog is itching from flea, mites, or an allergy, it can reduce the itching and calm the skin. If they have an infection causing inflammation, it reduces inflammation. It reduces stress and boosts the immune system.
It also helps with associated symptoms of many of the causes of hair loss like pain and digestive issues such as nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.
If your dog has a food allergy, has been unable to eat, or has a vitamin deficiency, full-spectrum CBD oil provides both Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, protein, antioxidants, vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin E, iron, magnesium, and zinc. CBD also adds
CBD Oil is a Safe, Natural Dog Hair Loss Remedy
People choose CBD oil as an alternative or supplemental treatment for many pet ailments, and vets approve CBD! Depending on the condition to be treated, CBD has been shown to be a viable, safe, and natural alternative for pain, stress, and even cancer. It can also take up the slack left by medications that either can't cover every symptom or cause bad side effects. For instance, many pain medications can't do anything about inflammation. CBD has been shown do that. Also, many medications cause nausea, lack of appetite, or lack of energy and CBD can help reduce these side effects. So, if your dog's medication is doing its job but the side effects bother it or there are still symptoms left unaddressed, CBD oil can come to the rescue in conjunction with the traditional medication.
CBD itself has virtually no side effects. If the dog is given a large enough dose, they may experience changes in appetite, diarrhea, or sedation. That's a far smaller and less
Using CBD Oil as a Dog Hair Loss Remedy
There are many types of CBD oil products to choose from, including:
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oil tinctures
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capsules
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crunchy chews
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soft chews
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topicals
CBD Oil tinctures often come with a dropper so the CBD oil can be administered directly into the dog's mouth or applied to their food. Some manufacturers offer sprays that can be used in the same way. Many oil tinctures are flavored so you can pick which one your dog will most like. CBD Capsules provide a method of delivering CBD oil to your dog if they take pills better than they would a dropper or if they like to do that eating around the medicine trick. Hemp oil also has a distinctive taste that some people and dogs don't like, and capsules make it so the dog doesn't have to taste the oil.
CBD Dog Treats are the most enjoyable way for a dog to take CBD oil as they seem just like their other treats.
CBD Topicals include creams and lotions that can be great for treating localized issues, eliminating itch, pain, and inflammation where it's occurring rather than treating the whole dog if the whole dog doesn't need it.
It is wise to discuss any CBD oil use with your vet. First, they can provide the most accurate dosing instructions for your individual pet. Second, they need to know the
Purchasing CBD oil for your pet
Full-spectrum vs CBD isolate
It is important to know about these two types of CBD oil: Full Spectrum CBD vs CBD Isolate. One may be more beneficial to your pet than the other, so you need to make an informed choice when selecting it.
CBD isolate is just cannabidiol extracted from the hemp plant.
Full-spectrum CBD oil retains more of what is called the "whole plant." The hemp plant contains other cannabinoids and nutrients that provide additional benefits. This is particularly important if you wish to supplement your dog's nutritional needs with CBD oil.
Most people choose full-spectrum CBD oil for themselves and their pets because of the added benefits. For dog hair loss combined with nutritional concerns, definitely start with full-spectrum CBD oil. If this doesn't work for your dog, then try CBD isolate. Some people swear it works better for them, so don't hesitate to give it a try if full-spectrum lets you down.
Third-party lab testing
Not all CBD manufacturers have scruples. It is, sadly, necessary for you to verify you are buying, safe, effective, CBD oil that is really CBD oil, in the amount you think you're getting, by checking that the manufacturer has had their products lab tested by a third-party and that their results are displayed on their website for your viewing.
The Source
Read the website to learn where the manufacturer gets their hemp. Check our FAQ to learn where Innovet gets their hemp. They may grow it themselves, and you need to know where. Or they may get it from someone else, this is fine, as long as you can learn where they are getting it from and determine that it is safe and high-quality hemp.
Ingredients
All products should have as few ingredients in them as possible, and healthy ones. Make sure to read the ingredients list to ensure the product contains a small number of safe ingredients, preferably organic. Checking ingredients is particularly important if your dog's hair loss is caused by a food allergy.
The CO2 extraction method is the safest and purest, so be sure to look for it.
Start Your Journey for CBD oil as a Dog Hair Loss Remedy Here
Innovet offers CBD oil in tincture, capsule, and treat forms and adheres to all the qualifications mentioned above. Skeptical? You can prove it for yourself on our website.
Sources:
CBD Supporting Immune Responses CBD and Allergies
CBD Application Has Therapeutic Potential
CBD Decreases Anxiety And Depression
CBD Helps With Treating Pain
