my puppy pulling out her hair

Question
My 4 month old puppy is pulling out her hair whenever she is left alone.  I have had her to the vet and there aren't any mites, fleas or other parasites.  Neither vet has ever seen this type of activity.  Could she be allergic to the food?  I use Pro Plan on my vets advice.  I like Nutro Max for my older dog and there have never been any problems with it.  Thanks, Bobbie

Answer

Hi Bobbie,

Food allergies in dogs usually are associated with licking of feet, inflamed ears, itching, redness, and hair loss (from all the licking and scratching) sometimes development of infection or hot spots. If your dog is itching so much that she's having hair loss, and if there is broken skin, medication is needed to suppress the itch, until the cause can be found and addressed.

Nutro Max is a much better quality food than the ProPlan. You can try feeding your puppy a better quality diet, but it should be a hypoallergenic puppy food, with a "novel" source of protein and carbohydrate, meaning a protein and carb source your puppy has never had before. Examples would be Salmon and Sweet Potato, Venison and Potato, or Duck and Oatmeal based diets. You can get a prescription diet from your vet's office, or buy an over the counter brand, to see if there is any improvement. When you start your puppy on the new diet, be mindful of treats you give her. Treats need to also contain hypoallergenic ingredients. Also, gradually transition your puppy to the new diet over 5-7 days, so she doesn't develop an upset stomach or diarrhea from abruptly changing her diet.

The hair pulling can be a neurotic behavior. You didn't say how many hours a day your puppy is left alone, or how much exercise you give her. A bored, restless dog or puppy is more likely to chew or pull his hair out if he is left alone too long or confined to a small space like a crate.

Try increasing the amount of exercise you give your puppy. For dogs, exercise is more than body building, it's mental stimulation. Dogs that aren't receiving enough social interaction with their families, or aren't getting enough mental stimulation will often develop neurotic behaviors to cope with the stress. When you leave your home for the day, you should leave your puppy panting, and utterly exhausted. When you leave your puppy alone, give her a variety of toys to play with or puppy-safe bones to chew on. Alternate the toys to help alleviate boredom.
When you get home, exercise your puppy again. Doing obedience training is another great way to give a puppy mental stimulation.

Some dogs are helped by anti-anxiety medications. If your pet is pulling its hair out due to stress, there are several medications that can be given to relieve your dog's anxiety.

Best of luck,
Patti