hi i  recently added a chihuahua female pup to my pack, she is now 10-11 weeks and iv noticed that she has thin hair on her back and she's bald on her chest... iv contacted the breeder and she has offered to take her back and refund me, but i dont want that... iv asked a few chihuahua owners and they think it may be alopecia? they say it is common with her colour grey/blue, she has'nt got any skin problems and she isnt exactly bald either. anyone had this issue??
she is due at the vets tuesday so i will ask then too

Hi - in my experience the "grey/blue" pups change colour anyway.

But didn't your breeder explain to you that the breed goes through "the uglies" between 3-5 months old?  Many a breeder will keep a pup for show (chosen at around 8 weeks), and then say that they don't know why they kept the pup.  I know one show person that calls it "hide them in the cupboard" stage.

I see no reason that it may not be this.  And I wouldn't expect a vet to know about breed traits like this to be honest.  Your pup will actually end up with a totally bald v shape at the throat.  NOT Alopecia, just the process that they go through when they lose the beautiful coat that you chose to keep, and they look like total rubbish for months on end while the adult coat starts to grow (and looks and feels nothing like baby coat.)

so would you say this is normal then?? and do you think her hair will fully return? im not too bothered either way, as long as she is healthy, as she will only be a pet it wont matter to me if she goes completely bald lol.

http://s1106.photobucket.com/albums/h368/chel-chihuahua/?action=view&current=sapphire1.jpg

this is her not a very good pic tho tbh its hard to show her 'thin' hair, if the link works, im not too worried about her changing colour as i didnt choose her for that, she was the only pup in the litter, and her parents have got brilliant temps, unlike my first which i stupidly rushed into buying, he hates men... wouldnt swap him for the world tho

I can't see anything that would have me worried from this photo.

its really hard to show on a picture espesh because my cam isnt brilliant,its probably nothing, i always worry too much when there pups lol, glad i don't breed i'd be a nervous wreck lol

> glad i don't breed i'd be a nervous wreck

I have to say, this breed is most definitely not for the novice when it comes to breeding.  I had bred toys prior to this breed, but glad that I had experience in whelping bitches prior to this breed.

i have a jrt x chihuahua pup who is just coming up for 11 weeks, she also is thinning around her neck, and the base of her ears, mine came from a working farm ( both parents are workers) and the breeder ( they arent breedrs as such but thought only way to word them!!) were really knowledgable, and mentioned it may happen as Loki is more chi than jrt, and it is happening just as predicted, they didnt suggest anything to help with the process, and never owning either of the two breeds previously am unsure if i can add anything to her food to help her new coat? she is fed on arden grange puppy and forthglade lifestage puppy meat, both of which look to contain enough oil in the foods to warrant not adding anything else. so i would say good feeding and gentle brushing should help stimulate coat growth ( like hair in humans i suppose!?) so not something i would worry about just yet unless she looks sore or itchy

i hope your puppy is as much fun as mine, loki is a right tinker!

yes it is very normal for this to happen i have 1 bitch that has no hair on her chest and 2 others that do, some do some dont but its all ok ps she is beautiful x

> i have 1 bitch that has no hair on her chest

But this should not be a permanent feature in a well bred Chi.

> some do some dont but its all ok

Not so.