If you suddenly notice your dog losing hair in patches or found bald spots on them which means that their hair is falling off, you should indeed be worried, but you don’t need to panic.
For most dog breeds, their hair will regrow. However, it can take some time for your dog’s hair to grow back. For breeds that shed regularly like Golden Retrievers, you can expect their hair to regrow in 130 days, but it can take longer for breeds that don’t shed such as poodles – which can take years to regrow a new coat.
But you can speed up this process indeed.
So, how to get dog’s hair to grow back fast?
Try the following home remedies to help your dog’s coat grow back quickly:
- Lemon Juice
- Aloe Vera
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Topical Olive Oil
- Essential Oils
- Flaxseed Oil
- Coconut Oil
Let’s get into it and see what you should do if your dog’s hair is falling down and how you can get your dog’s hair to grow back just a little bit more quickly so they can look as glamorous as they did before.
Why Do Dogs Hair Fall?
Below we are going to discuss how to get your dog’s hair to grow back using normal methods and some home remedies which I have found to be quite effective.
But first things first, before you could get to the treatment part, you will need to find out the cause first.
Before you can actually treat the problem, you will need to figure out what caused your dog’s hair to fall down in the first place. Once you spot the issue, you should head to the veterinarian to find out what caused the problem.
Health Issues
Beware that excessive shedding and bald spots can be the signs of serious health issues, and the earlier you can detect these issues the more likely you can successfully treat the condition.
If your vet suspects that your dog’s hair may be falling due to a serious issue, they will further examine the pup to determine the cause. They will probably run a few blood tests or do a biopsy in order to rule out some more serious conditions.
Some serious conditions that they will need to rule out:
- Mange – A disease that’s caused by mites
- Ringworm – a fungal infection
- Cushing’s disease – a hormonal imbalance
- Bacterial infections
- Hypothyroidism
Of course, you will notice that I’m assuming you need your dog’s hair to regrow because it fell due to a medical condition and not on purpose (ie, you shaved it). I have discussed here why you shouldn’t shave your dog’s hair here, make sure to check it, it’s one of the worst decisions you can make and one that can seriously harm your dog.
The reason for your dog’s hair loss is not always medical. In fact, most of the time it will be caused by something that is not that serious and which you can handle on your own if you can identify it right. Here are some of the reasons:
Fleas and Ticks
Fleas and ticks can trigger an allergic reaction that causes hair loss in dogs. They can also cause much itching that leads the dog to scratch so much that they pull the hair out or it falls out due to the strong and non-ending scratching.
Allergies
Dogs have allergies, and their allergies can cause hair loss. Your dog’s allergies can be triggered by some environment factors such as dust mites and pollen. It can also be triggered by things like the chemicals you use in your backyard or even the chemicals your neighbor uses in theirs and are just so strong that the smells reach your dog while they’re staying in your backyard.
If you have recently switched your dog’s diet and they suddenly start losing hair, you should be worried that the new food they are on is triggering an allergic reaction and causing the hair loss. Simply switching them to a better diet can fix it.
Stress
Dogs can lose hair due to stress. The stress can be triggered by them staying alone for too long or by an unfamiliar environment such as new noises, sounds, lights, and people. Dogs also get stressed out when moving to a new place even if they’re with the same owners.
If you have recently moved into a noisy neighborhood or an unfamiliar place, this could be the reason your dog is stressed out.
Pressure Sores
Pressure sores – also known as bed sores – are localized injuries that can develop when the dog’s elbows or other pressure points are in contact with hard surfaces often.
The constant friction between these points and the hard surfaces will cause hair loss and bleeding in these areas. Pressure sores are more common in senior dogs because their skins are more sensitive.
7 Home Remedies to Get Dog Hair To Grow Back Quickly
The best way to help your dog regrw their coat back to their former glory is to give them a nutritious diet, keep them on good grooming routine, and try to keep the stress away with daily exercise and just spending time with them. Still, it could take time for them to grow it back, and there is no harm in you trying to help them a little.
The 7 home remedies below can help your dog regrow their coat back faster, and they are all using ingredients that you already have in your house, so no need for extra shopping.
Lemon Juice
Lemon Juice is known to have antibacterial properties thanks to the citric acid it contains. This makes lemon juice helpful in fighting bacterial presence in your dog’s coat. By killing the bacteria, you will be helping your dog’s coat regrow in two ways.
First, you will be killing whatever bacteria that’s causing the hair loss in the first place or is preventing or slowing the growth of new hair, and secondly, you will be taking some load off your dog’s immune system, helping their body dedicate more resources to growing their hair.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is known to have a lot of benefits for hair, and this is true for dogs as it is for humans.
It also contains nutrients and enzymes that can help remove the dead skin cells that can block the nutrient uptake healthy hair needs and can help your dog’s scalp and hair become healthier.
You can apply Aloe Vera on the itchy areas on your dog’s skin to soothe it and take the itching down a notch or two, helping your dog scratch less.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar contains acetic acid which has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties that can boost your dog’s immune system.
Try mixing equal parts water with vinegar and apply the mix to the affected areas. You can also dip a cotton swab or a cotton ball into the mix and use it on your dog.
You can also add a drop or two of Apple Cider Vinegar in your dog’s water.
It can also be used to give your dog an anti-fungal bath to relieve the hair loss symptoms and soothe the itching. Add undiluted vinegar to your dog’s bath and rinse your dog with the mix carefully.
Topical Olive Oil
Olive oil is one of your dog’s best friends now. If you notice them losing hair in some spots, simply rub some oilve oil in the palm of your hand and gently massage these areas.
The olive oil can help with the itching and give the hair a shiny look as well.
Flaxseed Oil
Flaxseed oil can be a valuable addition to your dog’s coat to help them regrow their coats more quickly. Flaxseed oil contains high amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids which are beneficial for your dog’s coat and can treat your pup’s dry and itchy skin as well.
The Omega-3s are also helpful for treating inflammation in joints, heart, and skin.
Coconut Oil
Try applying coconut oil to your dog’s skin in the areas where they are losing hair. The lyric acid in the coconut oil can kill harmful pathogens such as yeast and bacteria that build up on your pup’s damaged skin.
It can also soothe your dog’s skin and leave them more comfortable and more relaxed.
Essential Oils
Essential oils can also be useful in treating hair loss in dogs. However, you need to use an essential oil that’s safe on your dog because some of them are not very pet-friendly.
Essential oils can be quite useful in relaxing your dog, relieving the itching and scratching, and fighting stress.
Always use them in a diluted form and start with a very small dose and gradually increase it as long as everything is going alright. Beware that some dogs can develop reactions to essential oils at certain doses, so you need to take your time and take it slowly.
I like to use the Natural Pet Spray Essential Oil (Amazon Link) and it has never caused any reactions in any of my dogs, and I have also recommended it to a couple of my friends who liked it as well.
[su_box title=”Warning” box_color=”#ba2802″ title_color=”#ffed25″ radius=”20″]Never add essential oils to your dog’s food or water, and make sure it doesn’t get in their eyes, nose, or mouth while massaging them[/su_box]
Living with a Retriever: Recommendations and Sources
- Want the best diet for your dog? Check out the best and healthiest foods for golden retrievers at every age here – Dry, Wet, Homemade Recipes, and Treats!
- Looking for new toys? These toys will prove to be fun, engaging, and will stand their heavy chewing.
- Make them look GLAMOROUS with the best shampoos and conditioners and the best brushes here.
- Taking a walk? These are the best leashes, collars, and harnesses for the buck that you can find.
- Find my list of recommendations here.
Related Questions
How long does it take for a dog’s hair to grow back?
It takes about 130 days for a dog’s hair to grow back if they are regular shedders – such as Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, and most other dogs – but it can take years for dogs like Poodles which do not shed often.
