Thinning hair?
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Just thinning hair? No crusty stuff anywhere or any other symptoms? Is there any pattern to the hair loss?
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no skin problems at all....just his undersides seem to have less hair, and his top coat is changing color and he is shedding hair. I never really noticed shedding with my Weims, so I'm not sure what is normal. His coat was soooo beautiful only a month ago, and now is duller, with uneven color.
Hubby says...oh well if he has coat problems what are you going to do about it? Nothing!
Carol
Hubby says...oh well if he has coat problems what are you going to do about it? Nothing!
Carol
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Hmmm.....
Well, I read in my Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook - great book, it's helped me so much since I got it - that if it's a hormone-related hair loss (like hypothyroidism), then the hair loss will be symmetrical and even on both sides of the dog's body. If it's parasites or other causes, it will be asymmetrical.
Here's something I found:
Hyperestrogenism - occurs in females AND males.
Signs:
Feminization with enlargement of mammary glands and nipples in both sexes
Development of a pendulous prepuce in males
Skin and coat changes begin in the perineum around the genital aread and proceed to the underside of the abdomen. Typically, the hair become dry and brittle, falls out easily, and fails to regrow. Later, the skin becomes darkly pigmented. Coat and skin changes follow a symmetrical pattern.
Can be determined by:
Physical examination
Ultrasound
Endocrine Blood Tests
Treatment:
Spay or neuter
Does any of that sound right? From what you're describing, I don't see anything else in here that fits. Maybe it's just the time of year - heat and what not. If it were an allergy, I would think that he'd be itchy.
Well, I read in my Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook - great book, it's helped me so much since I got it - that if it's a hormone-related hair loss (like hypothyroidism), then the hair loss will be symmetrical and even on both sides of the dog's body. If it's parasites or other causes, it will be asymmetrical.
Here's something I found:
Hyperestrogenism - occurs in females AND males.
Signs:
Feminization with enlargement of mammary glands and nipples in both sexes
Development of a pendulous prepuce in males
Skin and coat changes begin in the perineum around the genital aread and proceed to the underside of the abdomen. Typically, the hair become dry and brittle, falls out easily, and fails to regrow. Later, the skin becomes darkly pigmented. Coat and skin changes follow a symmetrical pattern.
Can be determined by:
Physical examination
Ultrasound
Endocrine Blood Tests
Treatment:
Spay or neuter
Does any of that sound right? From what you're describing, I don't see anything else in here that fits. Maybe it's just the time of year - heat and what not. If it were an allergy, I would think that he'd be itchy.
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Ok....feeling better, doesn't sound like what is happening. I will keep a close watch....if I bring him into the vet again with another non existing problem I think they will have me committed. He just turned 9 months old, and is heading into puberty, and also has been spending a ton of time outside in the heat, he loves being out in our yard now. I'm thinking all these things can cause some shedding.
Does anyone elses Reds turn color from the sun? My Weims coats would change with lots of sun exposure. Get really bleached out.
Thanks,
Carol
Does anyone elses Reds turn color from the sun? My Weims coats would change with lots of sun exposure. Get really bleached out.
Thanks,
Carol
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Don't know about red dobies (mine are both black) but my red horses have bleached pretty badly. The hair can seem drier, too, if they're out in the sun a lot.
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Petey has been swimming every single day too, and then laying in the sun afterwards. This could be what is going on. He loves being outside.
Carol
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Definitely!
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Better be safe then sorry. I made my vet make me change foods because I knew that Jordan had an allergy at like 5 months old because of thinning hair. It's been so long that I had a puppy I forgot it is normal for them to lose a little puppy hair and grow big boy hair. But....if it is worsening then have it checked out. BTW--Jordan's hair is growing back where it was black and now growing in rust.
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Getting his thyroid checked is a good precaution - make sure that they do a FULL panel and ask them to send it to MSU (Michigan State Univ). Then repete it every year.
However, what he may be doing is just normal shedding of his puppy coat. Dogs will blow coat at times and as long as it grows back, it is ok. Reds do tend to sometimes have a thinner coat that the blacks also.
However, what he may be doing is just normal shedding of his puppy coat. Dogs will blow coat at times and as long as it grows back, it is ok. Reds do tend to sometimes have a thinner coat that the blacks also.
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Yes....I do think he will have a thinner coat, and it could very well be just him shedding out, he has been outside a lot for the past month, and it's been hot. I'd rather just be safe then sorry....with this dog....I'm not taking any chances.
Thanks.
oxc
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Vet says he looks normal, and is blowing his coat right now. He does not feel there is any thyroid problem, and said to wait to test him for that. He did put him on antibiotics for a bug bite infection on his scrotum....so it is a good thing I brought him in. I really like this new young vet!!! He just opened his own practice only 2 minutes from my house. Spent tons of time with me, and supports RAW FEEDING and not over vaccinating!!! He will be altering Petey and his cardiologist will be checking Petey's heart in the near future. I am soooo happy to have a new veterinarian!
He was weighed....88 pounds!!! Vet said....he still has a ton of growing to do....he needs to grow into his feet!!!
Carol
He was weighed....88 pounds!!! Vet said....he still has a ton of growing to do....he needs to grow into his feet!!!
Carol
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Yeah....my boy will have thin hair! Petey was excellent for the vet.....I'm hoping he stays this way. The vet can touch him anywhere and he doesn't care one bit.
Carol
Carol, I am soooo jealous of your new vet!!!!
Mine acted like I was crazy when I expressed concern over him getting 4 vaccs at once at the same time he's fighting off staph bumps!! And, of course, chastised me for raw.
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Carol - please let us know what your vet says!
Hi Carol,
How old is Petey now? Around 10 months? And it's summer....and he's red...sooooo..... Some red dobes bleach out a lot in summer sun. Some don't and there doesn't seem to be much rhyme nor reason to which ones do and which ones don't. I wouldn't think that thyroid problems would be a likely issue at his age but there have been dogs with low to no thyroid at very tender ages (six month in one case I know about so it's good that you checked with the vet). The other thing that happens with Dobes is that they do blow coat--and usually around 9-12 months and it often looks mottled because a) the puppy coat is somewhat bleached, b) because the adult coat is a different texture--and that will make it look even more different from the puppy coat and c) adult coats are sometimes radically different color than the puppy coat.
If the vet gave him a clean bill of health I'd just keep an eye on it and if it's only a coat change you should see that resolving on its own. Takes about 6-8 weeks for a complete coat change in a dog.
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