uh-man-burger

Dodge will be 6 in March. Since I moved to the Seattle area, he's began to bald in front of his hips on his back. I have changed his food a couple of times to see if it was food based, and nothing has made it better. He currently eats Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream formula, with a raw egg about 3 times a week.

He only gets bathed when stinky, and gets brushed when he needs it with a zoom groom.

He was a rescue that I got at 10 months old, and his "breeder" is Judy Mueller (out in the Puyallup/Orting area). I don't know anything about his parents or is genetics, but I can pretty safely assume it is a mess considering where he came from.

We've tested him for demodex mange (which the vet thought would be odd for him to have), and it came up negative. In a week and half or so, I'm taking him in for a thyroid panel.

Anyone else have any ideas what we could be facing? The vet mention CDA, but we are ruling out everything else. Is there any for sure way to test for CDA?

Oh, and Dodge is a red.

CedarGrove

Many of the reds are born with low thyroid function. I'm pretty certain that will be your diagnosis judging by your description. Classic symptom is symmetrical balding. My red girl was stinky and would get staph infections but at two years old, I had her tested. Almost non-functioning thyroid...Soloxine twice a day kept it all in check. Hope you get the answers that you are seeking.

MeadowCat

I second the recommendation to run a full thyroid panel (not just the free T4). Shanoa had hair loss on her ears before she was diagnosed with low thyroid. Once she was properly medicated it grew back.

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dobebug

Ditto...since he's now six and hasn't had the hair loss previously and hypothyroidism is dead common in all color of Dobes I would immediately be asking for a full thyroid panel.

Has he seemed more sensitive to cold or have less energy lately--those are a couple of other common symptoms of low thyroid dogs along with hair loss and weight gain.

Cathy43

A friend just took her black 3 yr old to the vet for a thyroid test after noticing thinning spots on her flanks. She said the vet said she was well within the normal range on the test. Who knows what the results were. The vet said she had seasonal alopecia and prescribed melatonin.

uh-man-burger

He's always been very laid back, so definitely have not noticed a lack of energy. And here in the Seattle is quite a bit warmer than back home in Idaho, so he doesn't seem to be sensitive.

I'll be getting a full panel ran within the next 2 weeks.

Thanks everyone!

katekev04

I have a red who was doing the same thing. Try 6mg of Melatonin twice a day. Mine stopped balding within a month. I supplement all my Dobermans with Melatonin...doesn't hurt.

uh-man-burger

It is official, Dodge is hypothyroid. We start on medication tomorrow and hopefully it fixes his issues.

GingerGunlock

I'm glad you got an answer!

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Amelia_

Good to know what it is, hypothyroid is really common. Best of luck, hair takes quite a long time to grow back but it should eventually with the right dosage Would live to see some pics if your new addition!

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