My 5yr old lab is literally going bald before my eyes. She has been moulting heavily which I presumed was due to the hot weather. Last week she developed 2 small bald patches, one on her neck another on her back. I bathed her with evening primrose shampoo and started an OEP supplement. Over the past 36 hours her hair is coming out in handfuls, she is almost completely bald on her back and chest and some of her tail. She's not scratching and behaving normally, eating well etc. I'm off to the vet first thing in the morning but anyone know what this might be. I presume its some sort of mange. Her coat has always been very good so this is a complete shock for me. I'm also worried my other lab will pick up the same thing, especially if its mange. Any ideas what this might be please???
Lorna

Hi Lorna

My 15 month old Flatcoated Retriever suffered massive hairloss, but this was after being speyed. John is the best person to answer your post, as he knows labs. :)

Hopefully he'll be along later with some advice for you.

In the meantime, just keep hoovering, that's all I could do in the end :)

liberty

Where are you John????
Lorna

just a thought: two months after whelping 2 yrs ago she lost a lot of hair. She had a false pregnancy and produced milk back at the beginning of June, so this would be the time when she lost hair after her real pregnancy. I just wonder if its hormonal.

Where are you John :)

Maybe it is hormonal Lorna, I wish I could help, but I'm still in the dark (as are our vet) as to libbys hairloss. Now it's down to..................

Desperately Seeking John.

:) :) liberty :) :)

Right I'm going to see if I can be clever and do a link that might be of help to you? Or at least give you something to read until John stops his pillaging!

Hairloss info

Edited: Oh wow! I did it!

Well Done Lily Munster !!!! Sadly I'm not at the Link Stage yet ;D

I had a quick ferret around, nothing seemed to apply to libby, but as her coat is now growing back, it's not too much of a problem for us. Hope it helps Lorna, till John can offer his advice.

liberty :)

Moi? Pillaging???
Won a bottle of Pimms in the raffel at the working test today! Been test driving it! Glad it was after they gave me the 12 bore to shoot and not before!!!!

jOhN

Cracking Pimms, then Gromit! Doubly effective and your spelling's gone west!
:) :)

Moi? Pillaging???
Won a bottle of Pimms in the raffel at the working test today! Been test driving it! Glad it was after they gave me the 12 bore to shoot and not before!!!!

jOhN

Hi Lorna.
I’ve had two similar cases. Some years ago my Bethany lost all her trousers. My thought at the time was mange but the vet did skin scrapes and nothing showed. He gave her an antibiotic injection and Malaseb Antibacterial and antifungal shampoo. It took quite a time to go, but go it did. Then at the end of this shooting season Anna lost the hair from under her rib cage. Again nothing showed from a skin scrape. Because there were a couple of scratch marks there I wondered if she scratched her self crawling under fences and something got in it. Again antibiotic injections and Malaseb cleared it in about two weeks.

I never really got to the bottom of either cases!

Sorry I'm not more help, John

Well I'm very impressed with your reply John, especially under the Pimms influence;) and thanks libby for the link. I'll let you know how I get on at the vets tomorrow.
John, were you competing, judging or stewarding?
Lorna

Just helping out Lorna, I was carrying a gun for the blinds. It was a lovely day and we were very well looked after! A chance to stand back and watch some wonderful dog work.

Best wishes, John

Hi Lorna

Mmmm, sorry but wasn't my link, think Lily Munster must take credit for that.

Me...... do links.............. oh! if only!...Just about manage to post a reply :D

liberty :)

Lorna!

Crikey it took all my powers of mental concentration on a Sunday evening to do that link...and you credit someone else for it! I'm offended!!!! ;) ;) ;) Just have to go back and play dumb again! No comments ANYONE!

Oops :) so sorry lily munster. I still haven't mastered links so very well done to you.
Have been to my vets this morning. He's taken skin scrape samples and will phone me back later today. His feelings are that it is hormone linked and if the scrapes come back negative, then recommends spaying.
Sorry I couldn't get back to the board last night but Parkins et al were at it again.
Lorna