Pinnal alopecia means hair loss on the ear flaps (the pinnae). In many dogs it is a form of pattern baldness, a fairly common hair loss condition whose exact cause is not known, although the strong link to certain breeds points to genes [1].
Ear flap hair loss can also have other causes, so a vet check is the first step [2][3].
If your dog’s ear hair loss comes with itching, redness, crusts, sores or a smell, see your vet. Those are not signs of simple pattern baldness.
Pattern baldness of the ears
This is the best-known form.
- Breeds: the form limited to the ear flaps is described in Dachshunds [1]. A wider form is seen more often in Dachshunds and has also been reported in Chihuahuas, Whippets, Italian Greyhounds, Boston Terriers and other short-coated breeds [1].
- How it starts: in Dachshunds, the ear hair usually starts to thin at around 6 to 9 months of age. It slowly spreads until both ear flaps can be fully bald by 8 or 9 years of age [1].
- Skin color: the bare skin of the ear flaps often turns darker [1].
- Other areas: in the wider form, hair loss spreads over about a year to the skin in front of and behind the ears, the underside of the neck, the belly and the inner backs of the thighs. Fine, short hairs may remain in the bald patches [1].
- No inflammation: pattern baldness is a hair loss without inflammation, so the skin is not red or sore [1].
Dogs of either sex can be affected, whether or not they are spayed or neutered [1].
Other causes of ear hair loss
Ear hair loss is not always pattern baldness. In a small study, dogs whose ear flap hair loss was thought to come from poor blood supply to the skin had lower blood flow in their ear flaps than healthy dogs [3]. Hair loss in dogs has many other causes, some of them itchy or infectious. See hair loss in dogs. For hair loss tied to coat color, see color dilution alopecia in dogs.
How vets find the cause
When hair loss starts before 1 year of age in a breed known for pattern baldness, and the skin is not inflamed, vets suspect pattern baldness [1]. A skin biopsy can show the small, thin hair follicles typical of the condition [1].
A review of hair loss without inflammation in dogs notes that it is common and a frequent reason for a vet visit [2]. The author explains that a firm diagnosis usually needs several pieces put together: the dog’s history, a full exam with blood tests, a well chosen biopsy site and a careful look at the biopsy under the microscope [2].
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause.
- Pattern baldness: some dogs have regrown hair with treatment, but not all do [1]. Your vet can tell you whether trying it makes sense for your dog.
- Breeding: because pattern baldness seems to run in families, vets advise against breeding affected dogs [1].
If tests find another cause, your vet will treat that.
At home, as directed by a vet:
- do not put any cream, oil or product on the ears unless your vet tells you to;
- watch for new itching, redness, crusts or sores;
- go back for any recheck your vet suggests.
Outlook
Pattern baldness causes hair loss without inflammation of the skin [1]. How much hair comes back, if any, varies from dog to dog [1].
These are statements about groups of dogs. They cannot predict how one dog will do. Your vet can explain what this means for your dog.
When to see your vet
See your vet if your dog has:
- hair loss on the ears, to find out the cause [2];
- ear hair loss with itching, redness, crusts or sores;
- ear hair loss with thick, scaly or broken skin;
- hair loss in other places as well as the ears [1].
FAQ
Why is my Dachshund losing hair on its ears?
Hair loss limited to the ear flaps is a known form of pattern baldness in Dachshunds and seems to run in families [1]. Other causes are possible, so ask your vet [2].
Is ear pattern baldness painful or itchy?
Pattern baldness is a hair loss without inflammation [1]. If your dog is itchy or sore, see your vet.
Will the hair grow back?
It varies, and no one can promise it. See the Outlook section above.
The bottom line
Hair loss on a dog’s ear flaps is often pattern baldness. The ear-only form is described in Dachshunds, with thinning that starts in the first year and slowly spreads, and a wider form is seen in Chihuahuas, Whippets, Italian Greyhounds and other short-coated breeds. Other problems can also cause ear hair loss, so a vet check, with skin tests if needed, is the way to find the cause.
This article is for general information only and does not replace advice from your veterinarian. If your dog’s ears lose hair, see your vet to find the cause.
Sources
- Torres SMF, et al. 1.12 Canine Pattern Baldness. Small and Large Animal Dermatology Handbook, Vol. 2. University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing, 2025 (CC BY 4.0). https://open.lib.umn.edu/animaldermatology2/chapter/canine-pattern-baldness/
- Welle MM. Canine noninflammatory alopecia: An approach to its classification and a diagnostic aid. Vet Pathol. 2023;60(6):748-769 (abstract). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37191329/
- Ide K, Tokunaga M, Hiratsuka S, Iwasaki T, Nishifuji K. Validation of laser doppler flowmetry to measure dermal blood flow of the pinnae in dogs with pinnal alopecia. Vet Dermatol. 2023 (abstract). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36229967/