Doggy problem....

[Katydid]

My 6 month old puppy has hair falling out on the back of his neck. The skin underneath is scabby. Has anyone seen anything like this? Right now the spot is only about the size of a quarter, but the hair around it is loose and if you rub it, it comes out. Could he just have allergies? I don't know. Tomorrow, I am taking him to the vet during walk in hours, but I don't know how much money to take. We go to a German vet and we have to pay when he recieves the services. Does this sound like something that could be really expensive? HELP!!! I have only had one dog that lost hair and that was when I was a kid. She had bad allergies and ended up having to be put down because the meds didn't work. Please tell me that someone has experience with this.

 

[Mashley]

I don't know if it could be the same thing, but our guinea pig had the same kind of problem. He had mites. We gave him a bath in lice shampoo and he got better. We still have to give him a bath in lice shampoo every once in a while, because it will come back. Also, we used flea spray on him.

 

[andiesmama]

Mange maybe? Here's a link I found that might help: http://www.canismajor.com/dog/mange1.html

Demodectic Mange

Demodectic mange is caused by Demodex canis, a tiny mite that cannot be seen without the aid of a microscope. This mange strikes puppies from three to 12 months old.

The demodex mite is commonly present in the pores of puppy skin and usually does not cause symptoms, and it not at all certain what causes them to activate. The mites can produce a substance that lowers the dog's resistance to them and make use of an opportunity to multiply.

It's also possible that some lines of purebred dogs carry lowered resistance to the mites, and that stress can trigger an active infestation. In any case, demodectic mange symptoms include thinning of the hair around the eyes and mouth and on the front legs that evolves into patches of hair loss approximately one inch in diameter. This mange may correct itself within three months or may require treatment.

However, demodectic mange can also begin as a localized infestation and develop into a generalized case with multiple hair-loss sites on the dog's head, legs, and body. This is a far more serious condition and requires veterinary attention. The dog's skin is sore, crusty, and oozing; the hair follicles are clogged with mites and debris. Treatment is extended and requires bathing in medicated shampoo and application of an insecticide to kill the mites.

 

[GypsyBella]

Yeah, that definately sounds like mange... I had a puppy who had the same thing, and it started around her neck and hindquarters...

 

[Sunnie Rose]

My 6 month old puppy has hair falling out on the back of his neck. The skin underneath is scabby. Has anyone seen anything like this? Right now the spot is only about the size of a quarter, but the hair around it is loose and if you rub it, it comes out. Could he just have allergies? I don't know. Tomorrow, I am taking him to the vet during walk in hours, but I don't know how much money to take. We go to a German vet and we have to pay when he recieves the services. Does this sound like something that could be really expensive? HELP!!! I have only had one dog that lost hair and that was when I was a kid. She had bad allergies and ended up having to be put down because the meds didn't work. Please tell me that someone has experience with this.

Hi! This is be a few things... all of which I'm guessing is not to expensive...

1. yes, could be alergies... or irratation... did he just get a bath?... maybe not rinsed out well... Treament is probably an anti-inflamatory or soothing cream.

2. Worms - yuck.... I know..... lots of pups can have them..... treatment, either a few pills, a shot, paste, or drops.

3. Mange - can be costly...... treatment is usually creams, special shampoos and steroids.

4. Chaffing...... how long have you had the pup.... maybe it was tied up and it's a kinda rope burn...?.... treatment, conditioning ointment or cream.

There's my two cents!

 

[andiesmama]

Oh, I forgot!! s for your puppy so you can find out what's going on & he can start healing!!

 

[tannie89]

It kinda sounds like 'hot spots'. my dog used to be covered with them, and he still has some, but he's always had really bad skin conditions.
I think it's an allergy (the vet can't figure out what my dog's allergy is though, she's been pretty useless)
But when i took my dog to the vet, she gave me some various tablets to feed him, and in a week they were all gone and the hair had grown back. One of the tablets was steroid based though
maybe do a search on 'dogs and hot spots' and see if that is what your dog has?
I found white vinegar to be pretty good on them for short-term relief.

 

[Dagna]

Could be allergies, mange or a thyroid problem. Also a couple other diseases, but I would be surprised if it were those. All of these problems are easy to treat. If it's allergies, it's most likely due to his food, so your vet will recommend a food with no beef or corn as those are the two most common allergens for dogs. Mange is easy to treat, it's not too expensive in my opinion, but for people on a limited budget, it can be. Thyroid problems are really easy to treat, it's just a pill that you give every day.

Also, check his collar. Because of the location, it may be his collar is too tight and rubbing against his neck.

 

[cjonesy22002]

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http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=82483&item=7150483998&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
this stuff should fix it, we use it on our horses all the time. awful stink but works wonders.

(i am not plugging foor this guy, it's a good product and i think it will fix this dog problem, if it is against the ROC please let me know)

(ebay is one of the few places i've found this stuff. it works.)

 

[Fangtastic]

That sounds like mites.Yep.Sulfodene may work but hopefully ya took the pup for a prof.op.Goodluck

 

[lovestrav]

It also may be a fungal infection of the skin. Clean with a fungicide, prescribed by your vet.

 

[bubblegirl23]

I'm an allergy guru of sorts. Plus my dog was very ill with allergies when I got her.

If it is an allergy, there is the process of elimination. Rather than treating allergies with meds that don't work, change the dog's lifestyle. Remove all possible allergens and slowly introduce them back after the dog improves. This means the dog gets comfort and you'll work out what's affecting him/her.

Consider: flea treatments
shampoo and soap
bedding
washing powders
floor cleaners
furniture polishes
deodorisers

Go to the health food store and buy a castile soap without essential oils. They are safe for pets but can replace the above chemicals.

 

[lovestrav]

Also consider food. Many commercial dog foods are responsible for allergic reactions and poor health in general.

 

[MrsSeptemberPenguin]

Could be and allergy or mites. It is a good idea to have the vet check it out.

 

[Anna N. Amos]

I run a health food store.

Most allergies we see are food related. You may want to try Solid Gold's Bison or the salmon blend. The cheaper grocery store foods are not human grade foods and can contain some very unhealthy things regardless of the advertisements.

Even in the better foods a dog can be allergic to wheat or chicken that is why I suggest the above.

Dogs also need oil. You can get EFA's oil at a reputable health food store. (After opening it, keep in the fridge) OR you can just give them Flax seed oil.

On the skin, topically try and use a little tea tree oil, it kills bacteria.

If it is mange it came from the dogs mom and I do not know what to do about that. I will look it up.

My one dog is allergic to "Grass" so it has been difficult. I was told to give him benedryll but instead I use Twinlabs Allergy formula. I has worked well.

 

[Anna N. Amos]

mange:

http://www.woodlandnaturalremedies.com/canwebsite/mange.html


Dog food

http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/

EFA's

http://www.preciouspets.org/newsletters/articles/efas-pets.htm

Conditions related to EFA deficiency include eczema, dermatitis, and recurrent seasonal pruritus. Allergies also often lead to skin problems, such as poor coat texture, itching, scratching, constant licking, and self mutilation.

Because skin problems are so common with deficiencies of EFAs, EFA deficiency is sometimes referred to as fat-responsive dermatosis.

 

[AliceSOBEstudent]

Food allergies can cause these "hot spots." I would do some searching online about holistic diets, homemade food, raw diets (BARF), etc.

My GSD had demodectic mange (and a touch of kennel cough) when we got her. She was from a shleter. She had been given all of her vaccines including rabies on the same day (VERY bad idea, although lots of vets do it)and then was spayed two days later. It was way too much stress for her immune system and this left her vulnerable. They gave us a cream to put on it, which we did, but over the next few weeks it just got worse and worse.


One vet insisted that the only way to get this to clear up was repeated dippings. My DH and I ran away from that vet. We were not going to have our dog treated by poisons! (we also avoid flea dips, lawn pesticides, and such) We found a wonderful holistic vet who worked with the dog's immune system, rather than against the mange. She basically gave us super duper vitamin powder, which combined with the switch from the shelter's storebrand food, to a healthy raw diet, boosted her immune system. Her body fought off the mange on its own within a week. We continued the vitamin stuff for another week and that was it. No problems since then.
We did use some topical antibiotic ointment (human neosporin) on one spot where it was really bad and the skin was broken. However, no oral antibiotics. (Did not want to upset her digestive system by killing off the probiotics) No other pills, creams, etc. were needed.


If there is anyway you can find a holistic vet I would definitely urge you to do so.

ETA- my understanding is that pretty much all dogs "have" mange...like you could find it on them, it's everywhere, the way we all have germs and stuff crawling all over us. The issue is when the dog's immune system is too weak to fight it and the mange is able to get into/under the skin. Sorry, not a very technical explanation.

 

[Anna N. Amos]

A natural food recipe my holistic Doc gave the dogs is:

1 part meat
Beef or chicken or turkey (cooked)

1/2 part cooked brown rice

1/2 part vegtables such as carrots and green beans (NO ONIONS)

A bit of oil, EFA's, flax or even olive oil

A teaspon to a table spoon of bone meal.

A good animal vitamin such as Ark Naturals or Solid Gold makes.

You can blend it in a blender with filtered water for a smaller dog or a finicky one. Alarger dog will usually wolf it down having just been mixed together.

The raw diet is controversial. The pro people say "hey they ate raw food in the wild". The people against it said, "but by purchasing beef or whatever in the store it is not FRESH kill meat and they do not reccomend it.

Your call.

 

[Anna N. Amos]

Yeah Alice, our first vet was dip happy and we refused to dip and wash them in posion.

 

[Anna N. Amos]

I found the exact thing he wrote here:

Home Made Dog food



Dog Food Use your own amounts just make it ½ meat, ¼ vegetables, ¼ or less brown rice --

½ meat -- hamburger or chicken (I cook it, some people have it raw – my dogs would not eat it raw)

Then chop in very small pieces especially for a small dog. I chop mine fine you can use a blender



(never onion)

¼ vegetables preferably RAW – green beans or baby carrots or a mix (I occasionally use asparagus and/or cauliflower)

½ to a whole apple DO NOT use seeds as they contain natural arsenic (occasionally I use a half or whole banana, or blue berries – great for dogs)

(Blend them in the blender, with a little (filtered) water)



¼ cooked brown rice (if they gain weight just put in less rice – my dog has trouble with rice so after it is cooked I use a little of the broth from the chicken and the oil and blend it a bit)

(As a treat you can add a cup of cottage cheese and blend it in the dog food)



Mix it all together as a wet food; you can use alone or with dry food



Use either olive oil or canola oil. Use about a teaspoon per cup of food. (Eyeball it – it is not exact)



You can mix with Canidae or Wellness dog food as a dry base



I yield about 8 cups of food.



I blend in that 8 cup batch:

1 tablespoon brewers yeast

1teaspoon lecithin

1tablespoon bone meal (available at health food stores)

2 smashed up then blended in multi vitamins





If they have a bit of arthritis – I use 1 cartilage support and that natural stuff Glucosimine or shark cartilage