NEED HELP Fast! in any way dog in possible danger!

Question
My miniature schnauzer is about 8-9 years old and I was giving him a bath the other day his name is Buddy he's my brother's dog but he went to college and left him in my care now I really love this dog and when giving him a bath I noticed he had dandruff and his hair began to come out leaving tons in my bathtub also I've noticed that he's been licking his butt a lot lately... I know ur not a vet but I need to know if I should be worried enough to take him to a vet I need to know as soon as possible in case this is a serious case and by then it will be too late. thank you so much.

Answer
Yes, this dog does need to be seen by a veterinarian for a diagnosis. What he is experiencing is not normal.

This could be a dietary problem (but that would be one really crappy diet for all his hair to fall out!), or he could have a physical condition such as hypothyroidism, Cushings Disease, or even mange.

Be sure you are feeding a good-quality diet such as Eagle, Canidae, Wellness, Solid Gold, or Flint River Ranch. The first ingredient should be a meat protein (or preferably a meat meal), there should be a minimum of grains, and there should be NO by-products in the food.

The licking of his rear could mean that he needs to have his anal glands expressed; that could also be due to diet. This is something that the vet can do, and he can also show you how to do it in case it needs to be done again in the future.