Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:22 am Post subject: my dog has hair loss?
Hi Everyone...
I hope someone can help me... My 2 yr. old dog Sarge has this unusual loose hair on the flanks of his body (the end of his body near his bottom and tail). He is a chocolate lab and the parts where he has loose hair are spots of lighter brown. At first we thought it was the usual shedding that occurs with both our labs. But then I started to get worried when I was able to take a clump out with my fingers. The hair that comes out from these parts are soft and fuzzy, similar to how cat hair is. It is unlike the hair he usually sheds.
At first I thought it might be Thyroid Disease, but he is still energetic and his temperament has stayed actively cheerful.
Could it be that Sarge needs doggy vitamins or other supplements?
Would I need to take him in for a blood test -- just in case?
Sorry but i can only think of what you have already mentioned - shedding.
How you have described and where the clumps are is exactly the same as our lab cross Herbie. he sheds all over but it also forms in ligter colour, cat like hair around his rump and it comes in handfuls too.
Maybe try brush him twice a week for a while and see if it it still an issue?
Thyroid Disease is a "Worst case" scenario, far more likely is a bacteriological skin infection, usually easily cleared up with a medicated shampoo. Of course, I would imagine you have already ruled out a flea allergy? Yes it could just be a heavy moult, but the flanks point to an irritation with the fur being removed by scratching.
My parents have just been through similar with their dog.
Charlie started shedding in larger clumps, the fur became sort of puppy soft, and then he started to lose it in large bald patches until he was totally bald apart from his head and feet! However it didnt bother him at alll and he was still a happy lively dog just as he always had been!
The vets tested for skin diseases, thyroid problems, cushings disease, hormonal imbalances etc but it turns out he has something called alopecia x. He had numerous blood tests, ultrasound scans, mri scan, xrays, skin scrapings, biopsys - all to a total bill of over £3000 (thank god for insurance!).
Alopecia x is a "fits all" diagnosis for unknown hair loss. However he will be re-tested for cushings at a later date due to one of the tests coming back inconclusive.
Is your boy neutered? the vets suggested this may be one of the reasons for his hair loss as sometimes they can have a hormonal imbalance and neutering can solve it!
On a happier note charlies hair started to grow back a couple of months ago, the only strange thing is that now his hair is curly and black, whereas before he was the same colouring as a german shepherd!
If you take him to the vets be prepared for lots and lots of tests, it was over 4 months before we got a definitive diagnosis, and we still have to return for more tests! 90% of these alopecia episodes in dogs is nothing to worry about, but its still worth getting it checked out just in case!
I think one thing is certain Sally, whatever is wrong with your parent's dog it is not Cushings. After 4 months of Cushings you would know!! Believe me! Alopecia is not well understood, but is almost certainly an autoimune problem. An old friend of mine had it some years ago. Not nice for a lady to loose all her hair!
Your mothers dog reminds me so much of a Labrador I say at the college one day. He again was completely bald. Has your mother been refered to specialists? The college at North Mimms would be quite easy to get to from you. Up the M4, round the M25 and it's only 5 minutes off the motorway.
hiya john yes he's seen the specialists, not only at the swindon referral centre (with a dermatologist, and endocrine specialist), and then to the bristol vet college too! it was a whirlwind few months with him, but thankfully his hair is re-growing (albeit black and curly rofl)
Your right that alopecia is very misunderstood! she has had people stop her in the street accusing her of neglecting him which is so far from the truth and totally heartbreaking when it happens!
Your right about the cushings though, noone really thinks its that anymore. Its interesting though that one of the main drug treatments for alopecia x is the same as for cushings. Charlie isnt on any medication let alone that, as the risk of sending him addisonian is just too high for a simple case of hair loss!
thanks for all of the info. Sarge is neutered and I don't think its Thyroid disease anymore. He's too cheerful and energetic for that. I'm going to change his Shampoo to a gentler kind. One that's geared to allergies.
I'm also going to see about ....alopecia? WOW! never heard of that happening to dogs before.... When I do go to the vets what kind of testing should I expect for this? If the worst case scenario is alopecia, then it doesn't sound too bad. He definitely will look weird w/bald spots, but as long as he's still happy and energetic then that's fine with me.
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