Question:
We have a female papillon-Chihuahua cross. She was rescued from a puppy mill about four years ago. She is about 11 years old now.
In September 2007, she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. She was also tested for Cushing's disease, but the tests came back negative.
Candy takes thyroxine (0.1 milligrams). She gets a half tablet in the morning and half at night. As a result of the thyroid condition, she has lost almost all of her coat and is not growing any new hair. Our regular vet is unsure why new hair is not growing back. I have researched causes of hair loss in dogs on the Internet, and all symptoms lead back to the thyroid problem. We make sure that she gets good dog food, one that does not contain corn or animal products. She eats Natural Life dry dog food. Could she have a food allergy?
We also have another dog, Snickers. He is a purebred papillon. We wondered if having another dog was too stressful for Candy, so we had her on anti-stress medication, but it didn't seem to make a difference. We have run out of answers for the hair loss. We would appreciate any suggestions you may have. Thank you.
L.A., Pine City, MN Aug 02, 2009
Answer:
This kind of alopecia can be difficult to rectify once the hair follicles cease to function normally. Your dog's condition could be aggravated by lack of exposure to sunlight outdoors, which can lead to seasonal alopecia in some dogs. You could set up a full-spectrum grow light or Vita-Lite by which the dog sleeps during the winter months may help. Your pet's diet (dry food) is lacking in essential fatty acids, so I would give your dog a teaspoon of cod-liver oil, flax or coconut oil daily with food and the same amount of brewer's yeast. A good-quality multimineral and multivitamin supplement like Pfizer's Pet Tabs or other beneficial supplements listed at my Web site (www.twobitdog.com/DrFox) may also help. I would take her off any "stress" medication and have her checked again for Cushing's disease. I would advise against giving her any more vaccinations. They may be responsible for some forms of thyroid disease in dogs; high fluoride levels in certain pet foods and fluoridated drinking water also playing a role. For details, visit my Web site.
Subscribe