I have a 12-year-old border collie mix named Aspen. The hair on top of her head looks like it's thinning in the temple regions, just like a man's. Also, she seems to have more hair growing between her toes. Am I imagining this?
– M.A., via e-mail
Losing hair on top of the head and finding more hair at lower elevations sounds like a problem most men face. But unlike thinning hair in humans, where there is usually a simple explanation (male pattern baldness), canine alopecia (thinning hair) can have many different causes.
To answer your questions, we talked to Dr. Andrea Cannon, a veterinary dermatologist in Modesto.
She noted that it would be important in this situation to rule out parasites. Mites can cause this kind of thinning, for example, and your veterinarian can scrape a little bit of skin in this area and examine it microscopically for their presence. Ringworm, while unlikely, can also cause this kind of thinning.
Cannon advises having your veterinarian perform the appropriate diagnostics, especially a blood panel, to look for hormonal or other dysfunctions. Most notably, thyroid problems can sometimes be a factor in these coat condition issues.
There also might be a more simple solution: Does Aspen rub her head on a couch or another object? You can look at the existing hairs: Are they broken or just gone?
Aspen's other "hairy" issue involves her paws. Cannon notes that dogs with excessive hair on the paws are generally less active, but it sounds as if Aspen might not fall into this category.
Besides hormonal disorders that might be a factor, some drugs can cause this particular side effect. But this seems unlikely, as it would also cause hair growth over her entire body, including that thinning spot on her head.
Hair-loss problems require a methodical approach to establish the correct diagnosis. Your veterinarian should be able to perform the tests that can diagnose Aspen's problem, or you may be referred to a veterinary dermatologist. For more information on these specialists, visit www.acvd.org.
– Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon
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