COMMON CAUSES OF FRENCH BULLDOG HAIR LOSS

The Frenchie just like every other dog breed looks better with his hair, the hair is one of the best features of any fur baby, generally, regardless of whether its hair is long or short, silky or wiry, curly or thick. So, why would your dear friend suddenly begin to lose his hair? We addressed this question in this article.

Because of the charm and appeal that the French Bulldog's hair brings out, most Frenchie owners try to do whatever it takes to ensure that the hair of their best friend remains in a healthy condition. Brittleness and hair loss are some of the indications that your Frenchie hair is not in good health, if you notice this, hurry to the nearest vet to avoid any further damage.

Why Do French Bulldogs Lose Their Hair?

To a large extent, hair loss is part of the normal body process for Frenchies, which may be happening seasonally, with that your French bulldog is able to grow a new set of hair for another season. But if the hair loss becomes excessive, it may be due to a disease or a particular health condition. There are several such factors.

List of Causes of French Bulldog Hair Loss:

1. Dermatitis
2. Acral Lick Dermatitis
3. Allergies
4. Mange
5. Hormone Problems
6. Abnormal organ function
7. Poor blood circulation
8. parasite-induced Alopecia
9. Poor nutrition
10. Treatment-induced hair loss
11. Genetic predisposition

We will attempt an explanation of some of these causes of hair loss for French Bulldogs.

CAUSES OF FRENCH BULLDOG HAIR LOSS

1. DERMATITIS:
If your Frenchie is allergic to any of the following, he is more prone to having either, Allergic dermatitis, Contact dermatitis, or Atopic dermatitis:
i. Certain types of Antibiotics
ii. Poisonous Plants, such as poison Ivy
iii. Plastic materials
iv. Dyeing agents
v. Household cleaning agents
vi. Latex
vii. Deodorizers
viii. Flea

2. ACRAL LICK DERMATITIS:
Acral lick dermatitis is a special kind of dermatitis that is caused by some psychological factors in a dog. Physiologically, a major contributor is excessive licking. Frenchie tends to resort to this when they are bored, stressed or anxious.

When you allow your Frenchie to engage in this, the enzymes from the saliva they release can cause an irritation, which gives rise to a localized dermatitis and may become generalized over time.

3. ALLERGIES:
Allergies in humans manifest a little differently than French Bulldogs. While a human being who is allergic may exhibit such symptoms as watering of the eyes, a runny nose or even itchy skin, Frenchies that are allergic show signs on their skin and ears. Basically, by excessive scratching due to the itchy skin or chewing of the hair in an effort to relieve themselves.

Watch out for the following things that your Frenchie can be allergic to:
i. Foods
ii. Inhaled Allergens
iii. Other materials

One of the most common allergies in dogs, not particular to Frenchies is Flea allergy. So, check to see that your French bulldog is free of this.

4. MANGE:
Mange is caused by mites, often buried in the hair follicles of dogs. There are different species of mites what cause mange to Frenchie; it is the Demodex species which cause the Demodectic mange, or the Sarcoptes species which cause the Sarcoptic mange.

Demodectic mange is usually localized on one spot of an infected Frenchie while the Sarcoptic mange is much more general on the body of the infected dog, it is also contagious to humans, unlike the demodectic mange.

5. HORMONE PROBLEMS:
Several hormones influence the growth of the French bulldog hair, such as; estrogen, melatonin, testosterone, growth hormone, cortisol, and thyroxin.

If these hormones get to a certain level, high or low, either by over-production or by under-production, it is considered to be abnormal and therefore can cause hair loss in French Bulldogs.

One of the most common hormonal problems that can cause hair loss in French Bulldogs is called Hypothyroidism, which occurs when the canine thyroid gland is not functioning properly and thus produces hormones below the normal level. This hormonal problem can rapidly increase the rate of hair loss and cause the hair to become brittle and dry.

6. ABNORMAL ORGAN FUNCTION:
Because organs like the kidney, intestines, and the liver regulate the nutrients in the blood, diseases and medications affecting these organs may lead to hair loss.

For example, dogs with inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, or who are undergoing regular chemotherapy, often have dull and thinning hair. Frenchie that have kidney failure can be observed to have unkempt, dull coats and may have a musty smell coming from their skin. For dogs with liver failure, they may have orange-yellow skin and nails that grow but are flaky and brittle.


These are some common causes of Hair Loss for French Bulldog. Do you know more and you'll like to add to advance this knowledge? Please, leave us a comment below. Thanks for reading.