my puppy, Lowla is starting to get these balding spots on the very top of her head and one on her back. From one angle you can't tell, but from another angle it's pretty obvious. She doesn't seem to scratch anymore than usual in those spots. The skin looks fine, no crusties or inflamation, her fur is just thinner there. She's on Natural Life Lamaderm Puppy and Royal Cainin Baby. She doesn't seem to have any reactions to them. She does have quite a few fleas, I haven't started her on something like K9 Advantix, just given her a flea bath a few weeks ago. Do puppy coats thin out before they get fuller? Or should I just take her to the vet and maybe he'll know what's up? She's about 14 weeks.
Puppy Fur Thinning Out
- Thread starter Cattrah
- Start date
she's a short haired breed, Dachshund/Rat Terrier. No, there's no reason I'm waiting to put her on the flea med, other than I'm not sure where a good place to get it is. I know I can get it from my vet, but it's more expensive right? She does still have some fleas after the bath. They're just rampant down here in Houston. I guess I'll just step up my search for some flea med and see if that helps her out.
Might be mange. I've seen a few demodectic cases like you're describing. The hair looks normal from one angle but from another it's quite obvious it's not.
You can get a skin scraping done at the vet and they can tell you. I'm not sure if it'd be fleas. It could be a reaction to the flea shampoo that you're using. I'd suggest some other brand like advantage, advantix (but not if you have cats), or frontline. They all work well.
You can get a skin scraping done at the vet and they can tell you. I'm not sure if it'd be fleas. It could be a reaction to the flea shampoo that you're using. I'd suggest some other brand like advantage, advantix (but not if you have cats), or frontline. They all work well.
Flea meds are expensive no matter where you go. My local high quality pet food store/feed shop sells it (although it is kept under the counter).
Also I think someone on the TP was trading ponies for it if you are interested (think maybe Gingerbread--or someone like that) I had traded with them for some last year but not this year...
Also I think someone on the TP was trading ponies for it if you are interested (think maybe Gingerbread--or someone like that) I had traded with them for some last year but not this year...
Even when puppies blow their coats, its normally not enough to cause bald spots. I would def say that flea alleragies may be the cause. 99% of flea and tick shampoos just kill whats on the dog and doesn't prevent anymore from hopping back on. Start using the preventive, see if that helps. Ask your vet about Revoluation, which protects against fleas, flea eggs, heartworms (which means you don't have to buy heartguard!), ticks, ear mites, and sarcoptic mange.
A couple of different reasons for hair loss could be mange (either sarcoptic which is contagious, or demodex which is genetic) but that normally starts on the face and feet and then moves onto the back. Could also be ringworm (test it under a blacklight in a dark room, if it glows bright green, its normally ringworm). Best bet would be to take the pup to the vet.
A couple of different reasons for hair loss could be mange (either sarcoptic which is contagious, or demodex which is genetic) but that normally starts on the face and feet and then moves onto the back. Could also be ringworm (test it under a blacklight in a dark room, if it glows bright green, its normally ringworm). Best bet would be to take the pup to the vet.
Demodectic mange is usually seen as red on the skin (you never said if it was red but I assumed that as a puppy that was what he'd have), sarcoptic mange may be what you're looking at though. But mange can really start out anywhere. It's just wherever the mites happen to take up home.
And ringworm only glows green under a black light about 50% of the time unfortunately. It can be detected through other more reliable methods (like a DTM test) though.
And ringworm only glows green under a black light about 50% of the time unfortunately. It can be detected through other more reliable methods (like a DTM test) though.
Well it seems to be rapidly getting worse so I'm taking her to the vet. I'll pick up some Advantix while I'm there. It is now a little brown and scaly the area and the bald spots are getting much more obvious from all angles. While she was at the shelter she was being treated for some kind of skin infection so it may have just come back or the shampoo irritated it or something. Regardless, I'm just gonna go to my vet and have him take a look at it. Thanks for the advice.
turns out it was Demodectic Mange. The vet gave me some cream stuff to put on it. Said it happens to puppies with under developed immune systems or weak immune systems that is hereditary. She was fine until she had her first vaccine. I wonder if that kinda triggered the outbreak. I dunno. But hopefully I'll start seeing some improvement. Anyone have another other advice about managing Mange?