Does Anyone Have a Dog With Seasonal Alopecia?

[Kmorton122]

Does anyone have a dog with Seasonal Alopecia and do you have any photos in the gallery? Someone saw a picture of my Kaine's hairloss and said it looked like mange. However, the vet and I both concurred that it looked more like seasonal alopecia and he told me to administer 3 mg melatonin 2 times a day. I haven't given him the melatonin yet, because I read on the bottle that most people use this as a sleep aid, and I don't want Kaine sleeping all the time. He is too young and vibrant for that. Wouldn't the vet know what Mange looks like? We did a Thyroid panel on him because he is also large (101.4 lbs to be exact), but it turned out fine. I have read alot about mange, and from what I read, the dog suffers itching and it's also contagious, so wouldn't my Zoey have caught it too? I would also be interested in knowing if anyone tried Melatonin and how your dog reacted on it. Did it work? Was the dog sleepy? etc. I have a picture of Kaine in my gallery (with the hairloss issue -listed as "Seasonal Alopecia" Please feel free and take a look! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[andybuk99]

if you look at my thread "at my wits end" im thinking that sadie has just started this or mange in the last week. is your dog red and itchy on the chest and rubbing its face? sadie has balding areas around her eyes as well

 

[Vela]

My dog has seasonal alopecia. She is a dark brindle so you really can't see it so I didn't take pictures. I tried her on the melatonin last year but after I started giving it to her she started throwing up every day, so I stopped, and she stopped throwing up. Lots don't have that issue with it though. I know that without the melatonin her hair came back normally as soon as it warmed up and she spent more time outside in the sun. I didn't bother to give her anything for it this year. Her thyroid was also fine.

Your vet could tell if it's mange by doing a skin scraping. Mange will generally get scabby and itchy too. If your vet doesn't think it's mange I would probably trust their opinion, if you know and trust your vet. If not either get a scond opinion or have a skin scraping done.

 

[Roxy83]

Almost exact as mine....

My 2 year old has shockingly similar marks/balding as yours.
My Dr. scraped and ruled out mange and ringworm but wanted to do a biopsy under a general anesthesia.
I did not chose that route as she acts absolutely normal. No scratching or anything. Does not seem to mind the balding.
I just want it to grow back already.
Please post any updates or remedies to this thread.
Good luck...my fingers are crossed for both of us!

 

[Austin's Mom]

Austin has it. He loses the hair on both of his sides around this time every year and it's usually back by June.

 

[twrlrgrl]

our Koda has it and it is different from mange because there is no itching and you can see somewhat of a pattern (symetrical) when you stand over their back. My vet didnt give me anything for it, he just said make sure she gets some more sunlight etc.

 

[terrip]

Yogi had it on the back of his hind leg. It was totally bald. Vet said not to worry about it. Its growing back and we did nothing for it.

We also battled the d-mange. That looked totally different. It was red and he itched it alot. The vet told me that they itch it b/c as the mites die off they irritate this skin. Also d-mange is not contagious. Sarascoptic is the version that is contagious.
Do some research on the site. There is some very useful information on all subjects.

 

[Tankersbabe]

We deal with this every year. Our Semmi actually gets 6mg of melatonin in the morning and 6mg at night. I haven't noticed her sleeping more, but she's pretty lazy and getting older anyway. She also takes a fish oil capsule each morning and evening too.
Her's looks nasty every year. The vet ruled out mange and all that a long time ago, so we have the moth eaten Boxer every winter.
We did a thyroid scan this weekend while she was being boarded at the vets. It came back rather low, so we have started the thyroid medication. Hopefully that will help with this issue also.
I would go ahead with the melatonin, but since it is almost spring, maybe just more sunlight and start the melatonin about the end of August in preparation for the season change.
Good luck!
Stef