In this video, I’m breaking down dog hair loss (alopecia) and why it’s different from normal shedding. Shedding is your dog naturally losing older, damaged hair, but alopecia is partial or complete hair loss that can show up in noticeable patterns—sporadic patches, symmetrical thinning, or even bald circles. You may also see crusting, inflammation, scaling, irritation, or redness depending on what’s causing the problem. I cover the 5 most common reasons I see behind canine hair loss: allergies (including flea allergy, food, and environmental triggers), Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism), mange (demodectic mites), ringworm (a contagious fungal infection), and rashes/hives from things like insect bites, plants, chemicals, shampoos, or medications. For each one, I walk you through what to watch for and what to do next—like flea prevention and treatment, working with your vet on allergy meds or shots, diagnostic testing for ringworm, and why some cases (like hives) need immediate veterinary care. My biggest takeaway: if your dog is losing more fur than seasonal shedding—especially with itching, bad odor, or irritated skin—talk to your vet. The sooner you identify the cause, the easier it is to treat and prevent future flare-ups.