My dog has had quite a few health problems and I need some advice. She is forever at the vet so here goes the history. She was always having overweight issues and so I put her on weight control food-good expensive brands. She would lose some weight but after being on NutroMax for weight control for awhile she developed a huge kidney stone that had to be removed surgically. The Vet put her on Science Diet prescription C/D and cranberry pills. After a trip to the groomer, I noticed a few bumps on her back that seemed to start to spread then a patch of hair came out. Vet put her on antibiotic-cephalexin and all bumps went away but hair continued to fall out. The pattern is mid spine is hand size bald spot-flank right side weak thin hair and on left flank side little bulls eye patches (just a couple) no itching whatsoever and no mange, looks strange, as though she has been clipped in these area on purpose-other dog in house fine. This time vet draws blood for thyroid but it turns out fine. Vet suggests that it is cushings disease but she does not have other cushings symptoms such as excess drinking and urinating and does not have swollen belly, so vet puts dog on ketoconazole for possible yeast problem (suggested by dermatologist). I decided that that it could be the c/d food but vet disagreed. But I stopped it any way. Then I made a homemade stone diet and after about 2 1/2 days of ketoconazole and home made diet, my dog starts vomiting and diarrhea. Back to vet, this time pennicillin and centrine for vomiting and diarrhea. Vomiting and diarrhea have stopped and now she won't eat anything but a little yogurt-and will drink water. She has currently stopped the ketaconazole because I can't keep it down her. I am at a loss now as to the hair loss and the gastric upset. Has anyone else gone through any of this with the hair loss? It seems that in trying to treat this I have ended up with all sorts of problems and I love this dog and don't know what to do next. Help!!!
Balding Dog
- Thread starter ohiomag
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OK... A possibility then is seasonal flank alopecia. Have a look at some of these photos from the gallery (if the link doesn't work, then just search the gallery with that term and you'll find the photos): http://www.boxerworld.com/photo/showgallery.php?si=seasonal+alopecia
Do any of those look like what you're seeing on your dog? Like anything else, not every sufferer has identical symptoms, but the general outlook is the same.
Do any of those look like what you're seeing on your dog? Like anything else, not every sufferer has identical symptoms, but the general outlook is the same.
Seasonal Alopecia
Yes, it kind of looks like this, except it is also on the spine not just flank--is it possible to have this on the spine and what can I do for this problem? Oh and thanks for your help, you would think that a vet would know this stuff but I guess not. I knew I would get good information from this web site!
Yes, it kind of looks like this, except it is also on the spine not just flank--is it possible to have this on the spine and what can I do for this problem? Oh and thanks for your help, you would think that a vet would know this stuff but I guess not. I knew I would get good information from this web site!
Yes, it's possible to get it on the back as well. As the name suggests, the usual place for it to start is the flanks - but it can spread to other parts of the torso, back included (and spreading may mean big patches on the sides getting bigger, or it may mean additional small patches developing elsewhere).
As you would also gather from the name, it is a seasonal affliction. It seems to be related to lack of natural sunlight with the short days of winter (and actually, to limited time in the dark). The hormone at work here is melatonin - which is produced by the body *only* during the hours of darkness, but is triggered by sunlight. Well, during the winter, many dogs get very little exposure to natural light or, actually, to darkness (since we spend so much time under artificial light).
In some cases, the condition can be partially or completely avoided through more exposure to sunlight and more time in the dark during winter. Some others respond well to melatonin treatments. Others don't seem to be helped. However, it also seems to be primarily just a cosmetic affliction - and it does self-resolve as the days get longer into summer (may recur in subsequent years though).
Incidentally - this would have nothing to do with the vomitting and diarrhoea issues. That's a completely separate medical thing.
As you would also gather from the name, it is a seasonal affliction. It seems to be related to lack of natural sunlight with the short days of winter (and actually, to limited time in the dark). The hormone at work here is melatonin - which is produced by the body *only* during the hours of darkness, but is triggered by sunlight. Well, during the winter, many dogs get very little exposure to natural light or, actually, to darkness (since we spend so much time under artificial light).
In some cases, the condition can be partially or completely avoided through more exposure to sunlight and more time in the dark during winter. Some others respond well to melatonin treatments. Others don't seem to be helped. However, it also seems to be primarily just a cosmetic affliction - and it does self-resolve as the days get longer into summer (may recur in subsequent years though).
Incidentally - this would have nothing to do with the vomitting and diarrhoea issues. That's a completely separate medical thing.
ChristyA
Super Boxer
Hi,
Sophie used to suffer from seasonal flank alopecia. One both sides by her ribs in the winter here in OHIO her hair used to fall out. Then in the summer she would grow this beautiful full coat. It was crazy, and no the vet didn't really know what to do. She doesn't have this problem anymore and I'm not really sure what has changed other than we moved to a different house, still in Ohio just 3 miles from our old house.
But with the vomitting and diahrrea I would be careful and see a vet if it doesn't clear up. The ketoconazole can be very toxic if the dogs dose is too much. Here is a little blurb about it:
Ketoconazole is an antifungal medication used for the treatment of serious, deep fungal infections, such as blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, aspergillosis, and cryptococcosis. It may also be used against some yeast and dermatophyte (ringworm) infections. It has also been used to treat Cushing's disease (hyperadrenocorticism). Contact your veterinarian if your pet experiences lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, liver toxicity (jaundice - yellowing of gums, skin, or eyes) or bleeding problems while being treated with ketoconazole. Itraconazole, a similar medication, generally produces fewer side effects although it is more expensive.
If the vet doesn't know your pup was throwing up and had diahrrea with this medication I would let him know.
Goodluck,
Christy
Dexter & Sophie both 9 1/2
Sophie used to suffer from seasonal flank alopecia. One both sides by her ribs in the winter here in OHIO her hair used to fall out. Then in the summer she would grow this beautiful full coat. It was crazy, and no the vet didn't really know what to do. She doesn't have this problem anymore and I'm not really sure what has changed other than we moved to a different house, still in Ohio just 3 miles from our old house.
But with the vomitting and diahrrea I would be careful and see a vet if it doesn't clear up. The ketoconazole can be very toxic if the dogs dose is too much. Here is a little blurb about it:
Ketoconazole is an antifungal medication used for the treatment of serious, deep fungal infections, such as blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, aspergillosis, and cryptococcosis. It may also be used against some yeast and dermatophyte (ringworm) infections. It has also been used to treat Cushing's disease (hyperadrenocorticism). Contact your veterinarian if your pet experiences lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, liver toxicity (jaundice - yellowing of gums, skin, or eyes) or bleeding problems while being treated with ketoconazole. Itraconazole, a similar medication, generally produces fewer side effects although it is more expensive.
If the vet doesn't know your pup was throwing up and had diahrrea with this medication I would let him know.
Goodluck,
Christy
Dexter & Sophie both 9 1/2
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