Splotches of missing hair

[oojacoboo]

Well, as many of you are aware, Duke is still recovering from coccidia and parvo. He is doing excellent and I swear he has more energy now than anytime since I have had him. I think he must have had something when I got him. Anyway, when I take him out to use the restroom, often times he likes to walk infront of me. When he does, the sun being behing me, gleams down on his coat and I can see these splotches on his back that look like they run down his spine. I don't know if this is something that I should be worried about or not. I have tried to do some research and I can't seem to come up with anything. My guess was that it is some sort of flea bites. He has recently been started on frontline plus, as a recomendation by my vet. Is this something to be worried about? You can't really see them unless there is a light shining agains the grain of the coat.

Thanks as always,
Jacob and Duke

 

[Taliesyn88]

Parvo Is Very Hard On a Dog

My Rusty had parvo when he was a pup. He did not lose hair, but lost so much weight, I thought he would never be normal. He now weighs 100 lbs. Parvo is very hard on an animal, and mabye Duke's body is still recovering. Dogs lose many vitamins and electrolytes with parvo, mabye a vitamin deficiency is what is causing the thin hair. Since he is still a young dog, just keep watching the hair to see if it grows back. If not, Duke could have boxer alopecia, or could have low thyroid. Rusty started losing his hair at 7 years old, and found out, after several tests, that it was not allergies, or alopecia, but a low thyroid. Some boxers are also very sensitive to flea bites, but if this is so, then the hair should grow back after flea treatment. What does your vet think??? Hopefully, when Duke is fully recovered, the hair will come back. Just feed him good, mabye give him a once daily vitamin supplement, and see how it goes!!!!

 

[Rlr.Giraffe]

Probably wouldn't hurt him once his tummy is back in shape to start feeding him some supplements to boost his immune system. Poor Duke has been through a lot and he could probably use some help in the vitamins and minerals department. Good luck! I really hope he's back in shape soon!!!

Watch the patches too to see if they grow or anything, could be a sign of mange that can pop up when the immune system is depressed...

 

[oojacoboo]

yea, the mange was something that I was thinking. It actually has been there since before I took him to the vet for parvo. I am guessing it really started to show up when he started getting sick.

What does demodex look like? Could it be that? I am thinking that it is probably something other than after effects of parvo.

Thanks for the help,
Jacob and Duke

 

[lafsalot]

The patches first appear as thinning spots that may progress to areas of complete loss. If it is mange, I'm sure it is just because his immune system was compromised due to recent illnesses. Our Thumper got a reoccurrence of localized (knock on wood) mange after her recent spay. ~ Cathy

 

[oojacoboo]

yea, it must be mange then. The spots are just thining out and they have gotten increasingly larger over the past 2 weeks or so.

 

[BeckyNC]

If you think it might be mange, and he has large places of hair loss, your vet might want to treat it right away. My vet wanted to watch Tae's mange until she had 7 places where fur was lost. One we hit 7, we started Tae on ivermectin. I think the idea is to hope the dog's immune system will kick in before the mange becomes generalized (widespread).

It would not be a surprise for your boy to have mange since he went through so much recently. Poor guy. If you do not already supplement, there are a lot of good supplements out there. I put Tae on Missing Link when she had mange.