puppy is losing hair on his foot

by Cat
(Mauriceville Texas)

What could be the cause and what should we do about our little fur ball puppy who is losing hair on one of his feet?

His skin is also flaky and he scratches his ears and body. We have been washing him with suave conditioner because we heard that shampoo is too harsh for his skin.

He has a potbelly which the vet said was from having worms and he is in the middle of treatment for it?

Is he is allergic to the puppy food we got at the vets?



Hi Cat
From what you describe, my first guess would be that your puppy is reacting to the bathing. Human shampoo (and any flea-treatment type shampoos) are too strong for a puppy's skin. BUT using a conditioner meant for humans is also not a good idea.

It is also scented, and will leave residue on his skin. Overbathing and using unsuitable products almost always results in dry skin, itching, hair loss etc.

I'd recommend that you buy a very mild puppy shampoo (or an oatmeal based one) and bathe him once more, being sure to rinse him very well so that none of the product is left on his skin. My Bathing A Puppy page has lots of tips and advice that I think will help you.

It's not necessary to bathe a puppy more than once every couple of months, unless he's rolling in mud or something similar :o) There are products you can buy that help relieve any itching or discomfort your puppy may be feeling. The ones with hydrocortisone are usually effective and are a good short-term solution. You can find out more about these on my Canine Skin Allergies page.

As for his pot belly. Most puppies have worms and are routinely treated for them when they get their vaccinations

Sometimes a puppy will have a reaction to the deworming medications - perhaps some diarrhea, or seem a bit tired. But it's usually short lived.

I doubt that your pup is allergic to his food, it usually takes a bit of time for a sensitivity to build up. Dogs are rarely allergic to something that is new, more often they become sensitized to a food they've been eating for some time. My Dog Food Allergies page has more information on this.

Hope this helps some. Best of luck with your puppy.