King Charles Cavalier has thin hair?

Question

Hi, my 7 month old cavs hair is very thin, vet has said nothing medically wrong with that, just the way he is, hes got quite a bare patch under his neck ( put that down to pulling on lead, changed to harness) and his tummy is quite bald, the worse parts are around his bum and back legs, although its not bald its very sparse, any one know if there is anything i can do, or give him to make it thicker?

Vet checked his skin he is free of fleas, mites etc, we dont bath him much so it cant be the shampoo ;/

Think i will get 2nd opinion, just looked up the symptoms of haveJuvenile-onset demodex mange but i dont think its the same as his baldy spots are velvety soft, no scaling or itching

Answer 1

If could be skin irritation from over-shampooing, but he also could very well be losing hair due to mites (juvenile-onset demodex mange or perhaps sarcoptic mange, but sarcoptic mange would cause a lot of itching). You should have the vet do a skin scraping, and I'm not so sure I would use the vet who said "it's just the way he is". Juvenile-onset demodex mange can clear up after a while on its own, but could also get worse and lead to skin infection.

Edit: Some areas of skin with demodex mange appear red and slightly swollen or irritated -- hence the common name "red mange" -- especially around the eyes or on the legs. The skin on the body is more hardy and may not appear irritated at all for some time. Demodex doesn't itch, at least not until it is complicated by secondary infection. If it advances to that stage, the dog's scratching will make it worse, more difficult and expensive to treat.

Answer 2

I agree with the suggestion about getting a second opinion (from a different vet.) Interesting that this topic comes up ... today, I was out for a walk and a woman was walking her KCC (adorable!), but I noticed the dog's hair was a bit on the fine side, and I wondered if that is a trait.

I've done some checking on the internet, but I was unable to find any specific information about the thinning hair, although this link might be of interest. Still, I think it would be a good idea to check with another vet, and/or to check with the breeder.

Answer 3

You might want to get a new vet.. Dogs aren't just naturally balding for no reason .. Thyroid, mange, fleas, allergies.. There is a reason for the thin hair, a good vet will be able to help you.

Answer 4

Since you obviously don't even know what breed your dog is (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) I highly doubt your dog came from a reputable breeder. Ill-bred Cavaliers will typical have thin/sparse coats among other issues. Also Cavaliers can take up to two years to get their full adult coat. It also could be food related. "You are what you eat" applies to dog's as well. Make sure your dog is eating a high quality food like Solid Gold, Timberwolf Organics, Orijen ect..

Answer 5

You could have the thyroid checked. That can cause the problem, and is not unheard of in a dog that age.
You can also discuss nutrition with the vet and see if a change of diet may help.

Answer 6

Sorry Ashley S. All canines do no longer shed. As an proprietor of two Shih Tzu doge. i will allow you be attentive to first hand that they do no longer. Our kinfolk has hypersensitive reactions and those canines are what's observed as hypoallergenic canines.. some canines have hair and a few canines have fur.. verify it out on canines one hundred and one for finished info on canines that do and don't shed..

Answer 7

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Answer 8

may be from the food he is on, possible allergies, may simply be fall shedding.