Being a common disorder found in dogs, hair loss can be caused by a skin infection, allergic reactions, parasitical infection, and even stress. This disorder can happen to dogs of any age and breed, and it can result in partial or complete hair loss.
In this post, we will be specifically discussing hair loss around the eyes and the causes and solutions for this problem. If possible, discuss this disorder with your veterinarian and seek their advice in handling this situation.
Possible Causes of Hair Loss Around Eyes
1. Environmental Allergies
Very common in humans, allergies have been passed down to domestic dogs due to their frequent interactions with their two-legged owners. Dogs can have allergic reactions to food, dander, pollen, poisonous plants, dust, mold, and even more!
Common symptoms of allergic reactions are hair loss, frequent itching, and red spots. Due to the frequent itching, the affected skin patches will begin to lose hair as your dog continues to scratch that spot over and over again.
Solutions to Allergies
The method to fix this problem can be either simple or complex. You can either use the method of trial-and-error, which I don’t recommend, or go to the vet and get a physical examination of your pet to find the exact cause of that allergen.
If you suspect that the culprit behind the hair loss is due to allergies, then you need to strengthen your pet’s immune system by supplementing your pet’s diet to fight against skin, seasonal, and environmental allergy issues.
For pet owners who are looking for a new way to treat their pet, why not try mixing this liquidy treat that comes with guaranteed health benefits? Formulated for dogs, this treat strengthens skin, coat, hips and joints, heart, and the immune system.
2. Parasitical Infections
If you regularly exercise your dog outdoors and particularly out in the woods, you need to regularly check your pet’s coat for any parasites. Potential insects that can cause parasitical infections are mites, ticks, fleas, worms, and lice.
Common symptoms of parasitical infections are hair loss, frequent itching, and red rashes. The hair loss could happen around the eyes for some pets, but it is not necessarily always going to be around the eyes all the time.
Solutions to Parasites
The best way to solve this problem is to check your dog’s coat and hidden spots (skin folds, armpits, and ears) for parasites. If you can’t find any, then check their bedding and their favorite spots around the house.
If you suspect that parasites are the main culprit behind your dog’s hair loss around the eyes, then you need to get the right product to treat it. This product by K9 Advantix has been proven to work against fleas and ticks, so try it out if you are interested.
For mites and lice, this shampoo by Veterinary Formula Clinical Care will do the trick by removing the parasitical infestation. In addition to the complete removal, it also helps with the healing process as well through its medicated ingredients.
For parasitical worms, the Excel De-wormer will do the work by removing tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, and even whipworms. Make sure to read the customer review section before making your final choice.
3. Bacterial / Fungal Infections
In addition to allergies and parasites, hair loss might be caused by skin infections initiated by bacteria. For most of my readers, you have probably heard of an athlete’s foot sometime in your life, and that is the skin infection in your foot that is caused by fungal growth.
If you leave your dog’s scars or wounds untreated, bacteria can set in, which can lead to worsened skin conditions and possible hair loss. If you perceive fungal growth on your dog’s skin, it happened because that skin spot was permanently wet and did not have access to sunlight (such as skinfolds that overlapped each other).
In fact, there is a particular fungal infection called ringworm that results in hair loss around the eyes. Even though this skin disease is called ringworm, this doesn’t mean that worms are involved since they are not. It was probably named because this fungal infection causes hairless rings around your dog’s eyes to grow larger.
Solutions to Bacterial / Fungal Infections
For bacterial infections, you probably have all the medical products that you need right at your own house. Medical treatments using antiseptics and antibiotics are generally preferred when treating bacterial infections in dogs, but please make sure that your dog doesn’t actually lick up the medication after you are done.
For fungal infections, there are medical products in place that can take care of this skin condition for you. If you want to buy antifungal medicated products for your pet, you can either buy them as a spray or as a shampoo. Depending on your personal preferences, choose the one which will be the best fit for you and your pet!
4. Intrusion of Foreign Objects
Since dogs really love playing outdoors and also with toys, little tiny pieces such as dirt, grass seeds, and tree bits can accidentally get into your dog’s eye. If this happens, your dog will be scratching its eyes frequently, and he will probably shed tears to get rid of this foreign object.
If that is the case, the best possible scenario is for that foreign object to come out on its own, but sometimes, it can get stuck in your dog’s eye, which can cause further irritation and pain on your dog’s part.
Solutions to Foreign Bodies
If you suspect that something entered into your dog’s eye without you knowing, then the first thing that you need to do is closely inspect your dog’s eye for any debris. If you do spot it and think that you can safely do it without hurting your dog’s eye, try to take it out by either flushing it gently with tap water or using tweezers to take it carefully.
If you want to make sure that you did the job right, you can use the eyewash for dogs that is often used by dog owners for major eye infections. Also, if you think that you can’t take it out without damaging your dog’s eye, then ask for professional help from a veterinarian since they will have the right tools to accomplish the goal that you are trying to achieve!
5. Inner Eye Problems
If it is not the problem with the skin, then the hair loss around the eyes could mean that there is a problem with the eye itself. Eye problems such as glaucoma (build-up of fluids inside the eye) or conjunctivitis (eye inflammation) would lead to irritation of the eye, which can result in constant scratching of the eye area.
If prolonged over long periods of time, constant scratching can lead to hair loss around the eyes, and if left untreated, the eye condition can get even worse and turn into a full-scale infection. If it does turn into an eye infection, it can further lead to eye damage and permanent vision loss.
Conclusion: Similar Symptoms
As you might have noticed earlier, the factors that cause hair loss around the eyes have similar symptoms, which can be hard to differentiate. If you can’t figure them out on your own, be sure to contact your vet to prevent further repercussions.
I hope this helped, and thank you so much for reading this post for dogs losing hair around the eyes. As always, be free to visit our homepage for regular updates, and you are welcome to come back for more!
