Can anyone out there advise please

[Roge]

Hi All.

Last spring Roge developed seasonal flank alopecia which cleared up within about 8 weeks however this year it has returned but is affecting a much larger area. Iv been looking into possible aids to help this and the one thing that keeps coming up is Melatonin and the sucess people have had giving this to their dogs ie: it speeds up the hair regrowth and when given eairly spring actually prevents the alopecia,
Now when looking into melatonin I found that it is usually given to control your sleep / wake cycle and is often associated with the presciption of sleeping pills which I dont feel comfortable about.
While the alopecia does not affect Roge one little bit he is still the happy chapie he always is I hate to see the bald patches and people are begining to do a double take I dont want them to think that he has some awfull disorder.
So Id just like to know has anyone out there given melatonin to their dog and is it safe to do so. I also found that vitamin B6 is good to help produce more melatonin in the body if so anyone has taken this route,
Sorry this is so long.

 

[Cami]

My friend visited with a holistic vet concerning her boys recurrent seasonal flank alopecia.
She was told that it wasn't very beneficial to give once the process had already started but to give the melatonin early in the fall and continue through the winter as a preventative. She started at the beginning of September and has continued to give it. To be honest she isn't sure it has done much. We have had a VERY mild winter, even reached 80's with bright sunshine in Feb and March (unheard of for us). We had little snow to speak of and didn't experience the typical drab and dreary winter which is typical for our area.
The hair loss is still happening however not as bad (but he is shedding like crazy).
He has not had any side effects (doesn't make him less energetic, doesn't sleep more or more soundly, etc...).

 

[Roge]

Thanks Cami that has put my mind at rest, I might just give it a go as they said that it does help speed up regrowth, Now I have to see where I can find it as its not an over the counter product here in Ireland,
Tell your friend that I feel her pain with the shedding OMG there is hair everywhere the only saving grace is that I dont have carpet and its easy swept up.

 

[Roge]

Cami I forgot to add that you can tell your friend that iv started using a deshedding shampoo it contains hydrolyzed wheat and oat proteine,omega 3 & 6 fatty acids and aloe vera. I dont know if it will help but boy Roge as some shine on his coat youd need sun glases to look at him and he smells fab , Id be forgiven if I took a bite out of him. So on the up side hes getting a lot of cuddles cauz I cant keep my nose out of his fur.

 

[TwoDogs]

I've used Melatonin as a shortterm calming aid for my thunderphobic dog with no ill effects. I'm currently using Melatonin to treat my male with Seasonal Flank Alopecia as well. Again, no ill side effects.

I can't say it is working as he's only been on it for about a month but hairloss does seem to have slowed. However, he also tested borderline low thyroid so we can't say for certain that the hairloss is from the SFA or the hypothyroid. My vet said it couldn't hurt to use the melatonin so we are treating both concurrently.

 

[buddhasmum]

Chinese Medicine for Alopecia

Hello Roge

I'm the new girl from Oregon.
I'm hoping you have an acupuncturist who practices with animals.
Some vets do as well. Hair loss can be related to many things (in Chinese Medicine)
every Boxer is different, and a good practitioner will heal the hair loss
and boost your Boxer's long-term health
by heading off potential chronic health issues!

All the best!
JoAnne

 

[Roge]

I've used Melatonin as a shortterm calming aid for my thunderphobic dog with no ill effects. I'm currently using Melatonin to treat my male with Seasonal Flank Alopecia as well. Again, no ill side effects.

I can't say it is working as he's only been on it for about a month but hairloss does seem to have slowed. However, he also tested borderline low thyroid so we can't say for certain that the hairloss is from the SFA or the hypothyroid. My vet said it couldn't hurt to use the melatonin so we are treating both concurrently.

If I can get it here in Ireland I will give it a shot, however Im more intrested in giving it from the end of march next year to maybe prevent the onset of SFA , i did have Roge tested last May when it first happened and his thyroid tested normal however he will be due his anual health check next month and I might just request it be tested again.
What dosage of Melatonin are you using and do you give it with food or is there a prefered time of day?

 

[Roge]

Hello Roge

I'm the new girl from Oregon.
I'm hoping you have an acupuncturist who practices with animals.
Some vets do as well. Hair loss can be related to many things (in Chinese Medicine)
every Boxer is different, and a good practitioner will heal the hair loss
and boost your Boxer's long-term health
by heading off potential chronic health issues!

All the best!
JoAnne

Hi JoAnne.
Thanks for that but Living in the country side I am just lucky to have a good small animal vet as most of the vets in my area just deal with livestock.
Please believe me when I tell you that my 80lb boy is such a baby, he had bloods done last year and didnt but his paw on the ground for 3 day I got a friend who is a vetenry nurse to look at him thinking the vet had done something wrong and she told me he was just a woose that she has seen dogs that have had their leg amputated that didnt kick up such a fuss so in saying that I dont kmow how he would cope with acupuncture.I proberly need the whole family to come with me to hold him down.

 

[claresmom]

I am having to deal with this for the very first time with Clare in her 5 years of age!

We moved from AZ to WA in November, and obviously we have had a lot less sun exposure and we recently noticed 2 balding areas on her flanks.

Not bothered by it at all, not scratching and no food change. So my guess is SFA.