I groom and clip a really lovely little cavalier but the last couple of times the fur on its back has not grown or only a few hairs have.  The rest of the fur is growing normally.  It has gone kind of a brown colour instead of the black it should be.  The skin is a bit flaky although not excessive in the part where the hair is thick.  It does not bother her at all. The girl concerned is 8 years old and spayed.  Any suggestions? 

Have you tried Quistel shampoo & lotion ? Its growing coat on my eldest Cavalier(he had a horrible rash irration of the skin) & since using it his coat is thicken & his skin is now quite normal

I will get the lady to try that.  The dog isnt irritated its just the fur hasnt grown back since I clipped it in the summer for her although one a few strands have.  The dog is in otherwise good health.

Hello Thomas-the-spot!

Sometimes older spayed bitches can have a hormonal inbalance that can cause them to have thin/balding patches on their backs.  This tend to be in a bilateral pattern, (the same on both sides).  If this is the case, I suggest that the owners take their girl to the vet for a check-up.  If the patches are not bilateral, then it is probably a skin problem, eg allergy, eczema etc. I know that certain breeds are more likely to have the hormonal inbalance, for instance the dachshund and the boxer but I'm not sure abou the CKC!

Hope this helps,

Ali :)  

Some spayed cavaliers' coats can go woolly as they get older & get thicker rather than thinner. If it is a skin problem then the quistel will help as it invigorates the blood vessels to the skin & encourages the new coat & skin. At least that what the dutch vet told me

Hi Ali

That was my guess as well.  When you groom lots of peoples dogs you tend to get to hear all their problems and I wondered if it was a hormone imbalance as well.  Shame as she is a lovely little dog.

TTS