Why is my dog pooping inside, losing hair, and suddenly biting?

Oh my - it sounds as though Riley has a lot going on. It's likely that his excessive licking is associated with the hair loss that you've noticed, as licking is a sign of itchiness in dogs. I agree that his whining sounds like a sign of discomfort. This could all be associated with his other issues, or due to other skin conditions, like mange, ringworm, or allergies. Vomiting, diarrhea, weight gain, and excessive urination could be due to a number of different health conditions. Some of these possibilities include gastrointestinal viruses, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney disease, liver disease, endocrine disorders (such as Addison's disease), or food allergies. The challenge is that all of these conditions are treated very differently, so it's important to figure out the root cause of all of Riley's issues. At this point, Riley really needs to be examined by his vet and have some diagnostic testing performed. I assume that your vet will likely recommend some baseline bloodwork to check on his organ function, as well as a fecal flotation test for parasites, and skin testing to see if any infectious conditions are present. Based on their findings, they'll be able to come up with the best course of treatment for Riley. I hope that everything goes well!

I don't think this is seasonal shedding. I would be concerned about causes of hair loss and itching in a puppy, including fleas, mange, lice, infections (bacterial or yeast), and ringworm. A vet examination will be able to help you figure out the cause and best treatment. I would also discuss the diarrhea with the vet. Possible causes include food intolerance or allergies, intestinal parasites, dietary indiscretion, bacterial or viral infection, stress colitis, among others. Even though Bear was dewormed, the vet should probably do a fecal floatation test to check for intestinal parasites.

It sounds like Ryder may be painful in his joints given that he is walking slowly and lying down frequently. Painful joints can be due to a number of things including immune-mediated disease (IMPA) and some tick-borne diseases, especially if you have recently removed ticks from him. Your veterinarian will be able to determine what is causing Ryder's pain and discomfort and provide appropriate treatment. If you still have questions, please feel free to request a consult with either myself or another expert so that we can ask more specific questions about Ryder's clinical signs and provide you with more information.

Your dog should be on puppy food for at least the first year of his life. I worry that he's not getting the right balance of nutrient in the diet you're giving him now and that can lead to a number of health problems now and in the future. If you want to continue to make his food at home, ask your veterinarian for advice, find out if there is a veterinary nutritionist you can consult with for a recipe that will meet his nutritional needs or go to the website for the American College of Veterinary Nutritionists and consult with one there. http://www.acvn.org/

He may be losing hair due to a mite called demodex. This mite is a normal mite in the hair follicle. When dogs are stressed or they are growing the mite can over grow causing hairloss. I would have your veterinarian skin scrape Rico for that mite. The stool in the pictures may be from intestinal parasites and I would recommend having your vet check his stool for a parasites. I would also recommend having them give Rico a general dewormer. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Zyyz! His itching can be caused by impacted anal glands (small structures on either side of the anus that make mucus to lubricate the stool), an obstruction, or a food allergy. In my experience, issues with the anal glands are relatively common, especially in dogs who have softer than normal stool. Your vet will be able to express these glands carefully or determine if there is any other cause. You should definitely have him seen by a vet as soon as you can, as this is pretty uncomfortable. In the meantime, I recommend using an E-colla (or “cone”) to prevent your dog from reaching the area and causing further damage. i hope this helps and that Zyzz feels better soon!

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There can be many causes for hair loss in dogs. Mite infection, allergies, endocrine issues such as low thyroid or Cushing's disease as well as other disorders of the skin can all be causes. It is difficult to say for sure what the cause of Rocky's hair loss is without an exam and some diagnostic testing such as a skin scrape and blood work. I would suggest Rocky see his veterinarian soon so a cause for this can be nailed down.