Has anyone had a dog lose hair from the inside of thighs, over the front of backlegs,in the tendon space of front legs, thin patch on the back and head? Its not itchy, but the skin on his belly and thinning parts looks very pink. Had him to vets, who ruled out mange/fleas as he wasnt itching and the skin scrapes/blood tests for mange werent too reliable. Nothing has changed in his diet, exercise or grooming, he only gets bathed if really stinking, in baby bath, and has a cut up duvet in his plastic basket. I change his bed every day. Back to vets again before the 12th as it hasnt improved or got worse but it looks weird. Thanks.

Has anything been put down in the garden or on his walk perhaps ?

Not in the garden as its organic ( fancy name for neglected since Morse arrived) and probably not where we walk as its non agricultural wild stuff or footpaths. Ive been washing his bedding in the same powder/conditioner since he was a pup and it hasnt given any trouble, but formulations of brands do change so Ill check.

Is I on one side only or both sides, Lorelei??

liberty

Hi liberty, been tired out so not on board. Yes its both sides, and getting worse his little thighs are like chicken drumsticks, and you can see pink skin under his coat from belly to half way up his ribs. Bits on his head are like 2 little coins and the back is like thinning hair that I notice but no one else sees. Im going back to the vets. Nothing round his eyes.

I found this in one of my dog books;

Hypothyroidism:  Most common cause of bilaterally symmetric hair loss without itching. Coat is thin, scanty anf falls out easily. Involves the neck beneath the chin to the brisket, sides of body, backs of thighs and top of tail.

HTH

liberty :)

Okay, hypothyroidism I can cope with - does it make them shiver like humans with hypothyroidism? How is it diagnosed and is the treatment medication? His neck under chin is fine so far, also top of tail - trust him to be an atypical diagonostic pattern! Hes fit as a flea in every other way, loads of energy/mischief and isnt sleeping/drinking excessively. This could be a long haul to etablish the cause couldnt it?

Been back to look at my book, and it can cause lower body temperature, in severe cases :(

It is common in large medium dogs, such as Retievers,Setters Dobes and Boxers... unquote

<<successful treatment require an adequate level of thyroid hormone to be given each day to compensate for the deficiency in secretion>>>

I think the above refers to the more serious cases.

Let me know how you get on.

liberty

Thanks Liberty. Maybe it explains Morses skinniness as well. Ill take my courage in both hands and suggest a thyroid test, demodetic mange test and get onto Hills about the food allergy although I cant see it being that as Hills is used for allergic dogs. Thank Goodness for Petplan. :)

Well the classic signs are lethargy , obesity and hair-loss No reason for him to be skinny, Oh well, thank heavens for pet insurance.
Please do let me know the outcome? I never did discover why Libby lost all her hair last year.

liberty

Could be demodectic mange, this isnt itchy, commonly starts on the head, legs and around eyes whereas sarcoptes more commonly occurs on ear margins as well and is also very itchy. I have seen it diagnosed from a regular skin scrape, but sometimes a biopsy will have to be taken. Unfortunately many other conditions also have similar symptoms - inhalent allergy, contact allergy, food allergy etc. Localised demodex can sometimes just clear up spontaneously, generalised demodex can mean lifelong treatment. Any dip in the dogs immune system can give these little buggers (demodex mites) a chance to get a foothold, sometimes an EFA supplement can help to clear and/or prevent it happening again. A regular mange wash "Aludex" is probably the safest treatment along with AB's for any secondary infection. I have had some experience of this with a dog of mine.
Angela

I think it looks more like food allergy. Might be wrong, but my friend's dog was loosing her hair on her back, her paws and inside her thighs. She switched her dog food, the dog was on for two years, and the problem was solved. She has a shiny flake free coat and her paws are not red any more. The pathces of lost hair are growing back.
Alina D.

AARGH not a food allergy, anything but that! Not now Ive finally got him on a food he will EAT and up to a respectable weight! I have a blessed binfull of the stuff too! Will trot back to vet and ask about demodetic mange. Pointers sometimes get eczema that shows up as pink skin on the inside of their legs but the vet didnt mention it.

well, good luck - all I can say, and stay healthy :) :) :)