Hair loss and itching.

Gloria · 01-25-2009, 07:43 PM

I have a 4 year old boxer his name is Buddy.He has thinning hair patches which I have noticed that in one or two there is a small dark spot sort of like a mole that is not raised at all.He is also scratching.I have been giving him benedryl for the itching.Do you think this is Alpoceia (sp?)or could it be something more serious? Gloria

bruinsBoxers · 01-26-2009, 07:58 AM

It could be seasonal alopecia but it could also be a thyroid issue . Not all thyroid cases show all of normal thyroid symptome . My old boy had low thyroid and his only symptom was hair loss .
The other signs of low thyroid besides hair loss are weight gain , and lethargy and seeking out heat ( being cold ) .
Your vet can run blood work to see if it is his thyroid . If it is thyroid then a inexpensive pill is all that he nees to get back into the normal levels . He may need blood work now and then to make sure his thyroid levels are normal and the pills may be for the rest of his life . But luckily it is treatable .

KeeperBoy · 01-26-2009, 08:36 AM

Have you switched food recently?

Gloria · 01-26-2009, 04:41 PM

I took him back to the vet today and had the thyroid bloodwork done.I hate seeing him like this and can't wait to get his coat back to normal and his itching relieved.From what I understand that could take a few months.Geesh! Thanks for responding.Gloria

Gloria · 01-26-2009, 04:54 PM

Andrea, kind of a long story but Buddy use to eat science Diet adult large breed food and I changed him to sensitive skin science Diet mostly because another boxer I had at the time needed it and he always ate whatever Champ was eating.Champ passed away in November 2007 and I changed Buddy back to the adult large breed because I was wondering if the sensitive skin formula was putting weight on him.Since the skin problem I recently put him back on the sensitive skin to see if it will help.He has only been on that again for maby 2 or 3 weeks now. Thanks for your response.Gloria

KeeperBoy · 01-27-2009, 08:29 AM

I would check out www.dogfoodanalysis.com. They have some great reviews on dog food. I would try a higher quality food, even if it doesn't help the skin issue I'm sure his overall health will improve.

Gloria · 01-27-2009, 01:51 PM

Thank you Andrea. What do you feed your boxer? I always thought science diet was a good food and have used it since the 1980's.What would you suggest? Gloria

KeeperBoy · 01-27-2009, 04:18 PM

We feed Wellness Core. It is pretty easy to find, PetCo now carries it. We've also had success with Nature's Variety, at smaller retailers, check the Nature's Variety website. I've found that Keepers can not handle grain at all... and don't even get me started on corn, it is horrible for dogs. I would bet that at least some of your pup's skin problems clear on up a new food.

KidsDogCrafts · 02-09-2009, 03:26 PM

I would try changing his food. I did tons of test with the vet and the only thing that works till this day is a food called life abundance.

Cloc · 02-20-2009, 09:10 AM

how is she doing now? what did the vet diagnose about her problem? She should had skin scraped, maybe she's suffering from mange. Hope the vet had already rule out something to have an early diagnosis.