Fur Loss

NateEaton · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:58 pm Post subject: Fur Loss

Lexie has had problems periodically with allergies and although we originally thought they were related to something in the air or something she was coming in contact with, it has become obvious that it is (at least) a food allergy. The main symptom is hives on her back.

When we switched her at a year from eating Canidae to Science Diet her skin got a lot better. We also discovered after a period at the kennel that she seems to have a problem with Biljack food. More recently, she had a major outbreak and we tracked it down to Biljack snacks (both dog bones and the training treats). It took two rounds of steroids to get her over that.

Even though she generally doesn't have a significant problem with hives right now, we've noticed that she has spots where she is missing fur. It appears to be related to places where she's been biting herself.

Besides wondering whether anyone else has had similar problems and has alternative solutions they've discovered, we're also curious whether her fur loss is likely to be permanent... will it grow back?

Here are shots of the places she's lost fur:

Thanks,
Nate

anne · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 11:04 pm Post subject:

Hard to say whether it will grow back. I have had several areas on my dogs where they had some sort of injury scab and fall off and the hair never grew back. Other times it has.

Pinchc44 · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:02 am Post subject:

Looks like a Staph Infection to me. Antibiotics and a low dose of steroids usually does the trick for us. Our girl has horrible allergies and gets staph infections quite often. The picture of your girl looks exactly like what our girl Sade always gets. Have you considered that your girl may be allergic to corn or grain? Might be a good idea to find her a corn/grain free food like EVO or something like that. I would also recommend fish oil for her coat. Her hair will grow back in after she kicks the infection and stops gnawing on her skin. Our girls always has.

If she does indeed have a food allergy I would highly recommend changing to a grain free/corn free food.

Good luck to you, I know it can be frustrating.

Christie

cgmayeaux · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:52 am Post subject:

Omg!!! I know the frustration. Looks alot like Bailey's skin probs. I feel certain its summer allergies, but who knows!! He is currently on his 2nd round of Temoral P and Simplicef....so expensive and frustrating. I will try to get some pics to post later today.

cgmayeaux · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:19 pm Post subject: hair loss pics

Here are some pics of what bailey has....not very close, but u can see his bald spots

versatilek9s · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject:

I don't know if it will grow back, but my guess is that it will for the most part. I can say that the fur is likely to grow back white. My dogs all have a few white patches from scraping or skinning themselves.

Weimbyassociatin · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:35 am Post subject:

Sigh, I know how you must feel. We just had to get Cloud the allergy test done after the third bout. The first incident was back in April and the lastest 2 was within two weeks of each other this month!

The hair should grow back. Cloud had three bouts of staph infection and hives....and he lost lots of hair. But they all are growing back, but he will continue to be this way until we get him better food (sigh).

You may want to consider an allergy test--it's 300 in Georgia, but it will also tell you if your pup is allergic to other things--as well as foods. I posted all about it...

Best of luck.

highlandscot43 · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:02 pm Post subject: Skin Breakouts

My experience is that it could be a staph infection. Have you seen a vet? Antibiotics will usually take care of that, yes the hair will grown back, but it will take several months. I would see you vet and ask him about changing her diet to a Ultra Allergen Free Kibble. See if that works, don't take it to a dermatologist just yet Try those things first over the next several months. Hopefully it will improve and go away.

Page