A friend of mine has an 8yr old cocker spaniel bitch, which has 3 bald patches on her back. She has had all the necessary tests over the last year, for mites etc, and nothing has been found. She has tried all sorts of lotions and creams, nothing seems to work.

Has anyone else had this problem, and if so can you recommend some treatment. We think it might be hormonal, and she is desperate to get her back in the show ring.

Any comments gratefully received.

Natasha

Are th4ey on her sides in the waist area, as hair loss in this area can be a sigh of thyroid trouble (too little)! Has she had blood tests for T3 levels. My friend has two 12 year old dobermans who have had to be on thyroxine medication most of their lives!

Hi Natasha

I agree with Brainless - this sounds like one of the symptoms of an underactive thyroid, not uncommon in middle-aged Cockers. Other symptoms include depression & lethargy (though not all affected dogs have all the symptoms)Get your friend to ask her vet to test for this - if it is underactive thyroid, then this is one of the easiest conditions to treat & once on the hormone therapy, the hair will gradually grow back.

Jane

Apparently she has had the thyroid tests a couple of years ago and they were negative..can it show up in the last 2 years??

I have a bit of thyroid trouble and mine can change within a year so perhaps dogs are the same as me and they should have her tested again :D gina

Yes the thyroid levels can alter & also the test itself can sometimes be not very accurate - we have a 12 year old Cocker with an underactive thyroid & her initial tests were negative as can sometimes happen apparently. I have also read of non-itchy baldness in bitches & dogs caused by other kinds of hormonal imbalances (excess of testosterone I think, can't remember exactly) so this might be something else to pursue.

Jane

Hi,
Just wondering if these patches are on areas of her back that she could be rubbing against something --- wall, floor, furniture? If so, They could be itchy spots on her skin or habit rubbing---similar to constant paw licking.
just a thought.
toodles

She has 2 bald patches on her side and one on her back..I think it is looking more like thyroid problems ... I have contacted my pal, and will print off all your comments for her, and she will make an appointment to get them tested again. Is there any specific tests she should have...what is a T3 test, as I mentioned this to her...

T3 & T4 are the two hormones produced by the thyroid gland & the basic test most vets carry out just measures the level of these 2 hormones. It can be unreliable as the level of thyroid hormones can fluctuate normally throughout the day & also other factors can affect the test like whether a bitch is in season or has just finished a season. Some vets will start thyroid replacement therapy if the symptoms suggest an underactive thyroid even if the test is inconclusive - if the dog responds positively to the therapy (once or twice daily dosing with replacement T4 hormone), then the diagnosis is confirmed

Jane

Well, I think we are all heading towards thyroid problems but I will throw this in for good measure. I know someone who female cocker had exactly the same bald patches on her. She had all the tests and the vet drew a blank. then one day she gave the dog one of those moist treats in front of him and he asked how many the dog had a day. apparantly she was giving the dog about four every day with her food to encourage her to eat it. the vet said these were bad because they were full of salt and may be contributing to her problems ( too much salt in the blood or something)So they have been stopped and from that day the bald patches have disappeared (touch wood)It may have been conincidence but its strange.