[gembob22]

Hi all, I am new and really would like to see if anyone else has experienced what I am going through with my Dobie.

She is 5 years old and i would say about 3 years ago she slightly lost hair on her back but nothing to worry about really. In the past year this condition suddenly spiralled, I talked to my vet and they said it can be how these dogs go when they are all brown. Anyway, i felt a bit sad and she is such a lovely dog.

Things went from bad to worse around Xmas time, I had been putting a coat on her as she lost so much hair so fast, I tried to eliminate all sorts of reasons why this was happening. On Xmas day i took the coat off her and her back was covered in horrible lumps and her hair was falling out root and all. I was so upset and she was boiling. Since then her back has been scabby and flaking, and the odd few lumps have been appearing but nothing like it has been.

Over the past few weeks, she is improving and her hair bizarrely seems to be growing back in the places she hasnt had hair for such a long time. I just hope it continues.

Sorry for rambling

Anyone else had similar issues with their Dobie's?

 

[Axel's Mom]

Has she been seen by the vet since the condition escalated?

 

[sam&macksmom]

I looked at your gallery pics, your girl is red, correct? Was she checked for any type of staph infection? What food does she eat?

 

[alwayshadpets]

Check out folliculitis.

 

[dobebug]

Has her thyroid been tested. Hypothyroidism (low thyroid levels) is so common in Dobermans that is the first thing I'd want checked in an adult dogs who was loosing hair and having skin problems.

But I'd also like to know what your vet meant when he said she was all brown? No rust markings or is she fawn and not red--if she's actually fawn you may be looking at a type of alopeca that is common in dilute Dobermans (fawns and blues)--it's called CDA (color dilution alopeca) but even if she's fawn and that may account for some of the hair loss I'd be suspicious of a bunch of skin problems too which can also indicate that in addition to simply having hair loss she may also be hypothyroid.

It also sounds like she may have a secondary infection going on her skin--very possibly staph as someone else suggested.

I'd really recommend that you get her in to see a vet--if I were doing it and since this is a problem that's been three years in the making I'd probably ask her regular vet to give you the name of a good vet dermatologist. Specialists are more expensive in the beginning but can often identify the problem much faster than a general practice vet.

Good luck.

 

[DogsR4Life]

Has her thyroid been tested. Hypothyroidism (low thyroid levels) is so common in Dobermans that is the first thing I'd want checked in an adult dogs who was loosing hair and having skin problems.

But I'd also like to know what your vet meant when he said she was all brown? No rust markings or is she fawn and not red--if she's actually fawn you may be looking at a type of alopeca that is common in dilute Dobermans (fawns and blues)--it's called CDA (color dilution alopeca) but even if she's fawn and that may account for some of the hair loss I'd be suspicious of a bunch of skin problems too which can also indicate that in addition to simply having hair loss she may also be hypothyroid.

It also sounds like she may have a secondary infection going on her skin--very possibly staph as someone else suggested.

I'd really recommend that you get her in to see a vet--if I were doing it and since this is a problem that's been three years in the making I'd probably ask her regular vet to give you the name of a good vet dermatologist. Specialists are more expensive in the beginning but can often identify the problem much faster than a general practice vet.

Good luck.

^^ this.

Some vets are lazy and just blame it on Alopecia. I had one vet look at chase who had the same symptoms as yours ( he is also red ) and just said there is nothing you can do, it's Alopecia. Well heck, of course it's Alopecia, I wand to know the cause and treat it.

In chases case, it was hypothyroidism. He needed to be on antibiotics for 6 weeks to get rid of the staph infection, and it took 7 months to grow his hair back.

Is there a chance you could find a vet who is more familiar with the breed?