Posting for traffic - please help my bald dog :(

[JesusInTheCabbageVan]

DDog is a 1 1/2yo lurcher, and we've had her since March. She was spayed shortly after we got her, and we noticed that the fur was taking a long time to grow back where she'd been shaved, but we put that down to the time of year/normal moulting.

Around a month or two ago, the skin on her belly and chest turned slightly pink, which we thought at the time was a touch of sunburn. Then she had her first overnight stay at the dog sitter (we booked a holiday before we got her and did a couple of short stints before that to get her acclimatised). When she came back, she had a blistery rash on her chest and we realised that the fur in that area was visibly thinner.

Took her to the vet, who diagnosed a bacterial skin infection and gave us Malaseb and Hibiscrub. We applied both as directed and the rash cleared up very quickly, but the skin stayed pink and hair loss seemed to be very slowly spreading. Vet said not to worry as it would probably take a while to go back to normal. We carried on treating her for 2 weeks (involving washing 2-3 times daily, which anyone with a lurcher will know is a bloody nightmare).

She had been completely rash free for over a week by the time we went on holiday, and we hoped she was on the mend, but we gave the dog sitter the Malaseb and asked her to just keep an eye in case the rash came back.

When we picked her up, her chest and stomach were covered in what looked like fresh but healed blisters, and the hair loss is definitely worse. It's spread to the outside of her legs and the sides, of her neck. She's not bald as such, but you can see skin through the fur.

I'm taking her to the vet again tomorrow and have gone back to the Malaseb /Hibiscrub regime in the meantime, but just wondered if anyone had any knowledge of this kind of thing? Given that the rash is (a) not appearing on all the balding areas, (b) post-dated the fur loss and (c) has coincided with visits to the dog sitter, I'm beginning to think it's a separate condition - maybe an allergic reaction to something at the dog sitters house.

She seems fine other than that, appetite good, loads of energy, no obvious discomfort. WTF is wrong with her????

Sorry for the long post.

It’s less likely to be a food allergy from your description. A contact/environmental allergy is more likely. As is a secondary bacterial or yeast infection.

You need skin scrapes and a proper work up. Plus check with dog sitter re: detergents used, places she lies on etc

Widdlin She had her jabs back in March and was fine, so I'd be surprised if it's that. I know the steroids are only a short term fix, but tbh right now I just want to stop any further hair loss ASAP and hopefully repair some of the damage while we work out what to do. If it's an environmental thing (e.g something outdoors and related to the hot weather, which the vet seemed to think was likely) then she could end up completely bald by the time we finish eliminating everything!

Veterinari are you an actual veterinari by any chance? If so, fab, can I ask a few things?

If the steroids work, can we rule out secondary bacterial or yeast infection, or would steroids work on those too? She's on Prednisolone.
The area where I walk her is quite dry and dusty, could that be a cause?

I think we may just not use that dog sitter again, given that we're not planning any more overnight trips for a long time.

Yes I am

You can’t rule out anything. The steroids will just dampen her over-active immune response and won’t impact any secondary infections, though the malaseb will help with those.

It usually takes 6-8 weeks of non-exposure to an allergen (pollen, laundry detergent, food etc). To get an improvement in signs. I really would speak to your dog sitter about possible allergens - laundry detergent etc.

She needs a proper skin work up and if signs don’t resolve an allergy testing panel - i’m Going through the same with my own Cat at the moment - it’s frustrating

My boy used go lose his coat in summer and had bald patches on his back, it never bothered him, but looked so awful for him.
When we left him at kennels one summer holiday, they one recommended a couple of cubes of frozen spinach in his food, alongside a change of food.
Within a month or so of the spinach and a change to a fairly natural lamb and rice kibble his coat was looking gorgeous, and so thick and shiny. We stopped the spinach after a few weeks as he was hit and miss as to whether he would eat it, but kept him on the food and we've never had an issue since.

Thank you!

She's been on the steroids since yesterday morning and pinkness has gone down considerably. I know we're treating the symptoms rather than the cause and it's only a short term fix, but it's still a relief to see such a rapid improvement. She's also so lovely and mellow on the steroids, it's bliss Though she did destroy a whole box of tissues as a final hurrah.

Stinky Stuff (mentioned upthread) arrived today so we'll have a play around with that tomorrow.

Thing is, even if we ask the dog sitter, we'll just get a list of products and we won't know if any of them caused it, won't we? Or am I being dense?

The pinkness and hair loss pre-dated her first overnight stay with the dog sitter, although she did have a one day stay before it all kicked off. Now you've got me wondering. Is it possible that 36hrs exposure in two chunks could have precipitated all this? (She was in a fair state even before the 10 day stint).

Another thing I should mention is that her 3rd eyelids have been red since before we got her, but seem to have improved with the steroids. Could that suggest an allergy to pollen or similar which has got worse with the warm weather?

I'm definitely in favour of getting skin tests but DH thinks we should wait and see if the Stinky Stuff makes a difference. Thing is, we won't know whether it is or not for as long as she is on the steroids.

MC well we can try with the spinach, but she's so incredibly fussy that I'm not optimistic!

Hi my dog had hair loss and I tried absolutely everything, he was on steroids for 3 months, strict diets, shampoos, multiple blood tests.

Then I tried a shampoo called Dermopt, available on Amazon, seriously its amazing, noticed a difference after the first shampoo.

My vet was amazed at how quick he grew beck his coat, she now recommends it!

This is what the bottle looks like, good luck

Watching this with interest - my dog (lab cross) had the same thing last year and my mum’s dog (lab) has something very similar right now. Interesting that it is exactly this time of year when it seems to show up. And our dogs love running around in long grass. Our dog is on Advantix and was tested for ringworm, the lot - it went away after a few weeks of malaseb but I’m convinced it just went on its own and no one ever worked out what it was. Sounds a lot like grass allergy or similar doesn’t it.

We've had loads of problems over the years with our 8 year old lurcher. Lots of scratching and biting himself. Tried steroids, antibiotics, nothing worked. He went on antihistamines and changed his food to Arden Grange. Things improved for a while.

Then last year when we picked him up from kennels after our holidays he had improved a lot. The owner of the kennels said he had been putting salmon oil in his food! So we bought a big bottle off him and he's been having it ever since. Just a spoonful a day and we've had no more problems. It costs about £30 but lasts for absolutely ages. It's worth a go.

Thanks Ellie, will keep that in mind, the Amazon reviews look very impressive! We've already ordered (non) Stinky Stuff though, so are seeing how that goes for now. Rubbed some on her belly today and also let her try some - she thinks it's delicious

AGirl Tbh I hope it is grass or pollen or similar, as a hypoallergenic diet will be an absolute faff.

Thanks Mrs, will see if I can get a small bottle!

Good luck jesus I hope the stuff you’ve ordered works, I spent over £1000 in pills, potions and specialist dog dermatologist. It really did work.
Let us know how you get on

Hahahah @Jesus mine think it's tasty too :) hope it helps!

I was going to say mange, see another poster has suggested it too. It can't be seen with the naked eye. When mine had it they put her under ultraviolet light.

I'll ask the vet about mange when we bring her back, but she didn't mention it as a possibility before and there's been no obvious itching, discomfort, smell etc. I've also done the ear rub test and she didn't scratch.

She's got salmon oil as well now

Nustock is v v good if it’s mange but some dog breeds are allergic plus it smells! www.ebay.com/urw/Durvet-Nu-Stock-Ointment-12-Oz-For-Cattle-Dogs-Equine/product-reviews/710159934

She's been on salmon oil and stinky stuff for a few days now, and I have to say what's left of her coat is lovely. She's like an otter

Wahahahaahahha that's superb! Fingers crossed the rest will start growing back asap :)