I have been blessed that the girls have good health, but here lately they have been proving that they are adding to the gray in my hair.
Jezz is really worrying with her backside tonight, which means her anal glands are full again. I never can seem to express them myself, so we are off to the vet tomorrow if they can get us in. She also seems to be moping about, but perks up immediately at the slightest hint of fun, so I think she is still unhappy about the addition of Keela. I don't want to put human feelings on her, but that is the only thing I can figure out. If she isn't the center of attention, she acts like the world could end and she wouldn't care. I just worry about her being happy! And healthy.[sm=rolleyes.gif]
Then there is Miss Keela. Ugh, I never knew a short haired, single coated dog could lose so much hair and not be naked! We went to a fun match back around May 19th. I noticed then that she was shedding a lot, more than just normal seasaonal cold to hot weather coat loss. I looked like I was wearing her coat that weekend. So I am thinking: hormones because she is due to come in soon (last heat in Jan.); or stress from being at a friends house (though we have been there before); or the Evo I had started feeding as training treats (not to mention looking to change foods from NB).
The following week, I was
pulling handfuls of hair off of her when I would pet her. Not to mention, she had (and still does some) horrible dry skin in huge patches, that were also making her coat oiler feeling. She wasn't scratching like it itched, but she did act like it was sensitive after she got her usual evening back/butt scratch that first day. That is actually what tipped me to the problem.
I still don't know what is going on with her. Nothing I can pinpoint for a vet visit, and she doesn't seem worried with it. I am the worried one. I stopped the Evo treats, added flax oil to her food since I couldn't find any good fish oils, and started treating her with a pennyroyal and comfrey oil herbal conditioner that has always helped Jezzy. Just the past week has seen a large improvement. She doesn't look like a shedding snake anymore, though there is still dander showing up. But today, on her left side, her coat looks like she has bumps and long scratches on the skin. But there is nothing on the skin. No bites, no rash, no redness, but the hair loss is very thick again in that area.
I am just at a loss. I make sure that I get all the soap off of her, and that I rinse her bed really good. Actually, I am glad I don't have to pay a water bill since I rinse her bedding twice, or even three times if the rinse water doesn't look clear enough. I haven't changed any soaps or anything. And apparently, I am the only one that sees the rows in her fur without any problem. My husband and mom don't see anything.
Jezzy isn't showing any of the symptoms, so I know it isn't contagious. I guess I am just too much of a worry wart. I just want to do right by my girls. I would take her to the vet if I knew what to tell them. It is still an option if her skin doesn't continue to improve as it has been doing.
And on top of all of this, we have a dog show this weekend. Like my nerves aren't already bad enough! LOL I may get there and pull her if her coat looks horrible. Thankfully I'll have another opinion to get about her show-ability.
Thanks for reading to the end. I know y'all understand these types of worries!
Amy