Yorkshire Terrier Hair Loss:

Causes and Treatments 

Already know about possible causes and just wish to see treatment options? Jump down to: Treatment for Yorkshire Terriers with Hair Loss or Balding.

4. Emotional stress. Chronic and/or severe stress can trigger hair follicles to enter a ‘resting’ phase. This condition is known as telogen effluvium. Those hairs will then do a quick shed 1 to 2 months after the event, which can seemingly cause the coat to look drastically thinned in a short amount of time. Since this is a delayed reaction, by the time the hair falls out, the stressful event has concluded and this usually self-resolves.

5. Canine diabetes. Though this is not an overly common symptom, hair loss on a Yorkshire Terrier may be linked to diabetes. There are usually other signs including loss of shine on the coat, increased thirst, lethargy, and/or weight changes. This needs to be diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian.

6. Cushing’s disease. This disease involves the overproduction of cortisol. It typically affects dogs over the age of 6 years old. Other signs may include increased thirst, increased urination, lethargy, and/or easy bruising on the skin. This needs to be diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian.

7. Folliculitis. This is a type of infection of the hair follicles that causes hair to fall out and thin. Other signs include possible skin blisters with discharge and/or crusting. This needs to be diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian (usually with antibiotics).

8. Allergies. Allergies can cause a wide range of symptoms. Though it’s not one of the common ones, there can be hair loss due to severe itching. 

9. Alopecia X. The word ‘alopecia’ is the medical term for ‘hair loss’ and the ‘X’ stands for ‘unknown’. Though certain types of hair loss (like black skin disease seen with Nordic breeds) is sometimes called Alopecia X, any breed can be diagnosed with Alopecia X when their hair is falling out or thinning and the underlying cause is undiscovered. 

Typically, hair loss is symmetrical and starts on the main body and/or hind legs. There is usually no itchiness involved, however skin may become irritated. 

Detailed information is ahead under ‘Treatment for Yorkshire Terriers with Hair Loss or Balding’.

10. Color Dilution Alopecia (CDA). This is a particular type of hair loss that typically affects the ‘diluted’ portion of a dog’s coat. So, it is only seen with certain breeds that carry the dilution gene. The Yorkshire Terrier is one of them. 

An unofficial term sometime seen with Yorkshire Terriers with color dilution alopecia is ‘blue born’; however, there is a lack of agreement as to whether ‘blue born’ should actually refer to CDA or to an entirely different congenital condition. 

With Yorkies, color dilution alopecia will cause the blue hairs (those that appear as faded black, grey, or silver) to break and then fall out. In many cases, the coat becomes completely bald in those spots. 

Since the tan/gold hairs are often unaffected, Yorkies with CDA may eventually have fully bald areas with distinct lines of tan/gold patches of hair. 

Color Dilution Alopecia with Yorkshire Terriers generally develops after the age of 6 months, once the black hairs from the puppy coat start to transition to the blue hairs (which may appear to be faded black, grey, or silver) of the adult coat. 

There may be other symptoms including itchy skin, rash or bumps on the skin, and/or skin infections. 

CDA it is believed to involve the ‘clumping’ of melanin (pigment in the skin) that causes hair shafts to break, as well as damage to hair follicles making them unable to grow hair. 

Color Dilution Alopecia seen with Yorkshire Terrier can be conclusively diagnosed via a skin biopsy. Currently, there is no known treatment or cure. With CDA, damage to the hair follicles is permanent. 

Possible secondary issues with the skin (dryness, irritation, sun burn prevention, skin infections) will need to be treated/prevented with lotions, moisturizing shampoos, canine sunscreen and prescribed medications as needed. See steps #3 thru #6 under ‘Treatment for Yorkshire Terriers with Hair Loss or Balding’, ahead. 

And, if the hair loss is actually a case of Alopecia X, and not CDA, there are some remedies that may help regrow the coat, as seen next under all steps under ‘Treatment for Yorkshire Terriers with Hair Loss or Balding’. 

#1 Obtain an official diagnosis. 

#2 Melatonin supplements. 

Melatonin is a natural hormone that helps regulate sleep. But it has also been shown to be useful in treating alopecia (hair loss) with dogs, even including severe cases with complete balding. 

Because melatonin can cause a dog to feel sleepy, and it may need to be used long-term, pet parents should first check with the veterinarian to receive an ‘okay’. 

For tiny dogs like the Yorkshire Terrier, dosing is typically 1 mg daily, given each night. It may take up to 3 months to see results. And the best results may be seen when this is used in conjunction with other home remedies (seen ahead). 

Note that in some cases, the coat will stop regrowing or hairs will fall out again if the melatonin is discontinued.

For this, we recommend Melatonin 1 mg by Nature's Bounty. 

#3 Massage with restorative lotion. 

For this, we recommend ResQ Organics Pet Skin Treatment.

#4 Baths with moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. 

Even if there is very little hair left, bathe your Yorkie every 1 to 2 weeks, using an all-natural, moisturizing shampoo (and conditioner, if there is any hair remaining). These baths will wash away and residue from the lotion and excess body oils that can clog skin pores. And ingredients such as colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, aloe vera, etc., can be helpful in restoring proper moisture levels and soothing skin itchiness or irritation. 

Once you have gently washed the body and applied a quality conditioner, allow it to sit on the coat for a good 5 to 10 minutes.

For this, we recommend Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Shampoo and Conditioner. 

Note: When drying your Yorkie, do not rub. Rather, gently pat them dry. Apply the restorative lotion soon after the bath. 

#5 Omega-3 fish oil supplements.

It’s best to combine this step with others; balding areas will seldom regrow from omega-3 alone; however, any hair that does come in will benefit from this supplement. 

For this, we recommend Zesty Paws Wild Salmon Fish Oil. This is sourced from wild fish which is preferable to farmed (which may be fed pellets with vegetable oil that interferes with omega levels). Note that most Yorkies do not need much; dosing is by weight and most will have one-half ‘pump’ per day.

#6 Protection

Yorkshire Terriers that are missing their coat will have vulnerable skin and a low tolerance for the cold and inclement weather. Here are some tips: 

• In the summer, apply a canine sunscreen to any bald or severely thinned areas; skin will be prone to sunburn. 
• Do not allow your Yorkie to lie down on unpadded surfaces (hard flooring, rough carpet, etc.). Place down baby blankets or encourage your little guy or gal to rest in a supportive dog bed. 
• Your Yorkie may feel chilled even when you are comfortable. Obvious signs include shivering and/or wanting to snuggle close. Have several clothing options to keep your little one warm (t-shirts, sweaters, etc.), along with a warm and water-resistant winter coat.

We’ve covered quite a bit, so here is a recap of the steps that can help remedy a Yorkshire Terrier's hair loss and prompt the coat to re-grow: 

1. Obtain an official diagnosis. There are many possible causes, which have very different treatments. In cases of Alopecia X, stress-related hair loss, and allergy-related hair loss, the following tips may help further. 
2. Melatonin supplements
3. Restorative lotion
4. Baths with moisturizing shampoo and conditioner
5. Omega-3 fish oil supplements
6. Protection including sunscreen, padded surfaces to lie down on, and clothing