TLDR Most dogs with alopecia had higher than normal levels of certain hormones, but hair loss might not always be linked to these hormone changes.
The study retrospectively analyzed 783 samples from dogs with alopecia over 7.5 years, with 276 dogs meeting the inclusion criteria. It found that 73% of these dogs had at least one steroid hormone intermediate above the normal range, with progesterone being the most frequently elevated hormone (57.6% of samples). Breed-specific differences were observed, with Keeshonds having higher estradiol levels and Pomeranians and Siberian Huskies having higher progesterone levels. However, not all dogs within these breeds had hormone abnormalities, and some breeds like Chow Chows, Samoyeds, and Malamutes had a higher percentage of normal steroid hormone intermediates. There was a significant correlation between baseline cortisol concentrations and progesterone, 17-OHP, and androstenedione. The study concluded that alopecia in dogs might not always be related to steroid hormone intermediates and emphasized the need for breed-specific hormone ranges.
30 citations
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January 2001 in “Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association” High adrenal sex hormones in dogs with hypercortisolemia can mislead adrenal hyperplasia diagnosis.
71 citations
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February 2000 in “Endocrinology and metabolism/American journal of physiology: endocrinology and metabolism” Estradiol stops hair growth in mice, but an antagonist can reverse this effect.
154 citations
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October 1996 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America” Estrogen affects hair growth and skin cell multiplication.
143 citations
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October 1996 in “Dermatologic Clinics” Too much androgen can cause hair loss; finasteride may help.
157 citations
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April 1994 in “Clinical endocrinology” Androgens can cause hair growth in some areas and hair loss on the scalp.
77 citations
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January 1993 in “Skin Pharmacology and Physiology” Steroids stop hair growth temporarily but don't block the signals that start it.
1 citations
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January 2006 in “Elsevier eBooks” The conclusion is that different types of hair loss in dogs and cats can be cosmetic or serious, and affected animals should not be bred.
88 citations
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April 2017 in “Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology” The document concludes that early diagnosis and treatment of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia are crucial for preventing serious health issues and improving patient outcomes.
52 citations
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October 2004 in “Veterinary dermatology” Melatonin and mitotane treatment led to hair re-growth in 62% of dogs with Alopecia X, but this was not always linked to normal hormone levels.
January 2008 in “Pratique médicale & chirurgicale de l'animal de compagnie” Alopecia X in dogs is a cosmetic issue, not a hormonal disorder, and harmful treatments should be avoided.
December 2018 in “Journal of Advances in VetBio Science and Techniques” Low testosterone might be a common cause of hair loss in male dogs.
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