What should I do about my dog hairless spots?

Question

My dog is 2yrs old and about two moths ago my dog started to loose hair and the spots got redish pink. I don't know if I should wait till Jne 22 for her opointment or i should just go? She also has fleas and ticks and I don't know if the hairless spots are just because of that ?I've bought her medication for that. What should I do?

Answer 1

You should see the vet next week- doesn't sound like an emergency but should not wait 2 months. Could be an allergic reaction to the fleas, 'hot spots' starting, mange...your vet needs to see it to diagnose and treat the spots.

Answer 2

Hi, the spots on your dog sound a lot like the spots that my cat had a year or so ago. The vet suspected it was an allergy to the fish in some of the cat food (still think it was) and the food dye in some other cat foods(definitely was). During the time we were figuring out what the allergy was, my cat was given a steroid shot and that cleared up the problem pretty quickly.

Anyway, due to this experience with my cat, I think your dog may have the same problem. Try switching to a dog food that has no dye, especially no red dye. Also, the food we feed our cat[s] was recommended by the vet, so you may need to just get a special brand for your dog. I would suggest calling your vet because the sooner you take him there, the sooner the problem will be solved. :-)

I hope you find out what's wrong with her :-) Good luck :-)

Answer 3

Hair loss can be from a number of things, including but not limited to flea allergies, food allergies, mange and ring worm. The dog should definitely be seen before June 22. Your vet may be able to decide by looking at the spots that it is a flea allergy or she may need to do a scraping to rule out mange.

You don't want to let a flea and tick problem go on for that long because the dog is, for one thing, uncomfortable and it can also get worms from the fleas or even worse, tick borne illnesses (Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Erlichiosis) from being bitten by infected ticks. These infections can cause serious, irreversible damage or even death to your dog if not treated immediately.

Don't wait. Call Monday morning and get an earlier appointment.

Answer 4

First thing would be to get rid of the fleas and ticks. They can bring parasites and bacterial diseases that can be devastating for your dog. Also, some dogs have reactions to flea saliva causeing an allergy. This can cause itching, bumps, and even hairloss. Once the fleas and ticks are gone, (I'd seriously recommend researching products before using them and remember that you can't just treat the dog, you have to clean the areas the dog has been in to get rid of all fleas) get her on a preventative (frontline for example).
If the hair does not start growing back or the redness doesnt go away, take her to the vet. There are some diseases that lead to hairloss like thyroid problems that need to be treated.

Answer 5

It sounds most like flea allergic dermatitis - which is extremely likely if fleas are in fact present. This causes hair loss and redness to the skin.

Where did you get the flea treatment from? If it was from a petshop, then don't expect it to work. You need some proper veterinary stuff that will treat the ticks as well.

You certainly shouldn't wait another two months, you should take action NOW to ease your dog's discomfort.

Chalice

Answer 6

Be very sure your dog doesn't have fleas!
Even one flea can be enough of an irritant to cause
much distress, digging and chewing.
STEP TWO:

Be very sure to keep your dog free of
clumps of tangled hair. "Moisture can collect
under mats and cause irritation that leads to itchy hot spots.
E:

Be very sure that ALL the shampoo is being rinsed from her/his baths. Shampoo residue, bathing too frequently, and/or bathing too infrequently all contribute to skin irritation that causes dogs to chew/dig causing a break in the skin that become a HOT SPOT.
TRIED AND TRUE REMEDIES .....
All submitted by readers. Please consult your veterinarian for serious health problems.

The best, quickest and most accessible thing for hotspots
is the regular kind of LISTERINE (or Absorbine Jr.)
Works well, easy to get. Put a liberal amount on a clean cotton ball and dab it on the itchy area. Repeat every hour or two if really itchy.



Gold Bond Powder - Put a bit in my hand then
place it over the hot spot. It works great and right away.





Soak HOT SPOT with Epsom or sea salt solution daily,
dry and swab with full strength apple cider vinegar if yeast infection;
dry and dust with corn starch if irritated.




You can also use topical sprays normally recommended
for Athletes' Foot or/or Jock Itch.



Eileen's vet suggests wetting a wash cloth with VERY hot water
and apply to hot spot. He said it gives relief for several hours.
PLEASE be CAREFUL not to BURN your dog!!
Submitted by: Eileen Z



Wash the dog in Head 'n Shoulders (original) once a week to help
stop those awful itchy times.
Submitted by: Lennie, DVM


Warm compresses followed with a spritz of Bactine.
Most dogs don't like the taste and or smell. Plus it takes away the discomfort.
Submitted by Mary T.


Sprinkle Desenex on the Hot Spot as soon as you notice it. Then apply at least 4 times a day. It not only dries it up, but stops the itch - without stinging your pup. Works like a charm!
Submitted by: Lori


Is your Bichon ITCHY around the feet ?
For itchy feet, try soaking his/her little paws in warm water with Epsom Salts!
INSTRUCTIONS: Use approximately 1 Tablespoon Epsom Salts per Quart
of warm water ... (please be sure it is NOT TOO HOT!)
Procedure: Soak itchy feet for about 15 minutes, three times a week for 3 weeks.

ASSURANCE: Many people have done this for a long time .. and be assured
that the dogs actually LOVE it once they find out how soothing it is.


www.eurobichons.com

Answer 7

I don't know what the medical term for it is, but it sounds like she has what we southerners call "hot spots." Basically it's just extremely dry skin. The condition itself is harmless, but the dog will be so miserable that it will harm itself trying to relieve the itching. I know of at least one dog that chewed the tip of tail off because of it. But don't panic. It's easy to treat and there are plenty of over-the-counter medications for it. Just buy the stuff and rub it into the bald spots about once a week (or whatever it says on the bottle) until her fur grows back.

Answer 8

You should not wait. It could be a flea allergy. It could be hot spots. The vet can help you get rid of the fleas and the hairless spots.

Answer 9

My grandmother's dog had the same problem and the vet said it was allergies. She was allergic to grass and hay. In your case the dog may be allergic to the flies. Take your dog to the vet asap and he can give you some allergy meds to help your dog and some ointment to put on the sores until they heal. Until you get to the vet, keep the dog from scratching or biting at the sores so that they don't get worse and start to bleed. It could be something worse then allergies too.

Answer 10

If your dog has fleas and ticks, you need to take her to the vet NOW-there is no reason to wait two more months to take her. It is cruel to leave her untreated. Fleas are horribly irritating for dogs, and her hair may be missing because of her scratching due to the fleas. And ticks carry all sorts of diseases, so you need to get your dog treated ASAP.

I would also have the vet check for mites, as this is another common reason for hair loss.