and his hair hasn't grown back since. also he has patches where there is no fur and there is just scabbing on the skin. we have taken him to the vet numerous times and they've done blood tests and everything. they were thinking it was a vitamis deficiency but even on vitamins it only seems to get worse. what could be the cause?
2006-07-05 14:29:30 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
sorry i spelled vitamin wrong.
2006-07-05 14:29:57 · update #1
my mom had his hair shaved for the summer which i don't think was a good idea...but whenever we took him to the groomers before this never happened...also the vet ruled out skin parasites. they had to shave him at the vet once too for a procedure and the hair never grew back where they shaved him either.
2006-07-05 14:54:01 · update #2
thyroid may be the thing...his stomach is kind of big.
2006-07-05 15:21:56 · update #3
I would call the vet and ask him if it is a skin condition and if it has to do with the dogs age.
2006-07-05 14:35:15 · answer #1 · answered by Gabe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You did not say if the dog was a big hairy dog or a short haired dog. Personally.. I DO NOT BELIEVE in shaving a dog's hair off.. even down to 1" or so long. A dog needs that hair for their own dog temperature control (for lack of better words). Scabs do occur when a dog's hair has been cut short.
Flea allergies can cause severe skin problems, so daily examination of the dog during flea season is a must. Contact allergies can also cause skin to break out. Irritated skin leads to scratching, which can open the skin to staphylococcus infections. An ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure for the dog and the pocketbook the antibiotics for skin infections are among the most expensive medications, and the cost of treatment can be dollars a day for a couple of weeks or longer. Thus.. check to make SURE that the dog has no fleas, etc...Shampoo the dog (certainly not more than once a quarter) with flea shampoo.
You said it was an older dog (14 years old)... by the way, mine is nearing 17. but anyway.. keep the below URL (web site) which is excellent concerning an aging dog.
http://www.srdogs.com/Pages/care.gt.html
2006-07-05 21:42:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just an idea, but, some groomers will use a "community" bath or dip for the canine customers, which of course, could subject your pet to disease, mites, parasites and bacteria left by previous customers. Your dog may have picked up something that way. As well, perhaps it is just a coicidence that the problem started around the time he was groomed? I wonder if your vet has taken any skin scrapings during your visits for diagnostic purposes like mites/mange/ringworm? Has his thyroid function been tested? Loss of hair, scabs, etc. could be many things as mentioned above, but could also be food allergies, flea prevention product allergy,etc. Older dogs become more sensitive to what they ingest or something in their environment that hasn't necessarily bothered them before. I hope this helps.
2006-07-05 21:41:41 · answer #3 · answered by wifilly 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is a naturally coated dog, (golden retreiver, shepard, collie), once they hit a certain age there is a possibility that the fur will not grow back properly. Naturally coated dogs have their fur for a reason. It can be becaue of trama to the hair folicles. It the clippers the groomer used were to hot it can damage the hair folice. Sometimes the fur will grow back after a loonngg period of time but the older they get the less likely that will happen. A dog is much cooler in the hot months with their fur than without: go to : http://www.thepetproject.zoomshare.com
Read: "The Truth about Shaving Your Naturally Coated Dog" it Pet Tips
This will help
2006-07-06 00:12:57 · answer #4 · answered by Pawsitive K9 Consulting 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i work as a groomer's assistant, i give the dogs baths and dry them so they can be groomed properly....my boss's dog is about 15 years old and she shaved him the year before, his shoulder spots or w/e you call them still havent grown back...he has a patch of scabs on his back....she is using a medicated shampoo on the dog about every two weeks....ive only worked there for about 5 weeks, but it seems to be getting better...although the hair hasnt started growing back yet....im guessing that is just from old age... hope that helps...even just a little bit
2006-07-05 21:39:38 · answer #5 · answered by ..::SaM::.. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Poor little thing..I am wondering if he has a thyroid problem?..You know at 12 depending on the breed I would just make sure he is eating and happy and those sores don't get infected..I love my dog..he will be 13 this year..I have had him since he was 5 weeks old..I can't imagine not having him around...he has his good and bad days..cataracts. arthritis..but he still has some play fullness in him and until he can't get up or doesn't eat or is in pain I will have him around..I know I will not have him suffer and boy will I be lost...sorry I rambled..I am a real animal lover...
2006-07-05 21:49:18 · answer #6 · answered by FloNightingGale 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could just be old age. (Male pattern baldness?!) There are some capsules you can get at a pet store that have cod liver oil in them that is supposed to help the skin and hair.
Has the vet taken a skin sample to see if he has a skin parasite?
2006-07-05 21:36:13 · answer #7 · answered by PuttPutt 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what kind of dog? chows , collies, poms, shelties theyre hair is not guaranteed to grow back and a short haircut. why we dont know and it doesnt happen all time to every dog or even the first 40 times but that forty 1st it might not come back. or the top coat grows in or just the undercoat or in patches or spots stripes
2006-07-05 21:40:07 · answer #8 · answered by groomer504 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be that he has mange. I would find a new vet.
2006-07-05 21:38:36 · answer #9 · answered by Roni D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋