UPDATE: Kind of worried about some flakey skin and very faint hair loss

• 01-19-2008 8:02 PM

  jstrawbri Joined on 10-21-2007 Elizabethtown, PA Posts 57 Points 270

  UPDATE: Kind of worried about some flakey skin and very faint hair loss Reply Contact Thanks to all who responded!  UPDATE -Snickers was to the vet today.  Gosh he's such a big boy...there was another GSP there that was 3 years old and Snickers was twice his size!!  My guy isn't overweight, just all together a giant.  He's now up to 94.7 lbs!  Anyway, the good news is that his flakes are just dry skin and the bumps are a mild skin infection from his skin being so dry.  We need to spray some Malaseb spray on him twice a day and he is now going to take DermCaps to get some oils into his skin and coat, plus take an antibiotic/Cehpalexin twice a day to help clear up the infection. I have a 2 year old German Shorthair.  I think around November I noticed on both sides of his back that his hair looked a little thinner.  It seemed to have began a week or so after he'd been to PetSmart for a bath.  He's been there before but this time they offered an Oatmeal shampoo and I thought, why not...let's try it.  Not sure if it's related to the problem or not but thought I'd mention it.  Anyway, I've been keeping an eye on this problem daily as I owned a German Shepherd that had come down with mange (the genetic kind) a few years ago and didn't want to overlook that possibility.  But this really doesn't look at all like what my Shepherd had. Because my Pointer's hair is so short I can see any imperfections in his skin and I've noticed a few small bumps mostly on his sides where the thin patches are but there are a few of these bumps that I can feel even more towards the rear near his butt too.  He most recently start shedding some flakey skin too but I thought maybe that is just related to the cold weather...or is it???  Hmmm...  It doesn't seem to bother him.  I don't see him biting at himself or scratching.  He sleeps in his wire crate during the day while I'm at work because he still has a lot of puppy in him and has taken to chewing on the kitchen cabinets if left home alone.  So then I started worrying...he couldn't have anything like a bedsore could he??!!!  He's only in his pen while we're at work.  The pan in his crate is plastic and at night he sleeps on a nice soft pillow bed.  Last week I bathed him with Malaseb shampoo and I think the bumps are less noticeable but can't tell yet if the thin spots are getting any better.  Any advice would be so appreciated.  I really worry about this and hope that I'm just over-reacting to some dry winter skin issue that I can treat with some kind of supplement. Jessica S.

  Filed under: Skin condition Post Points: 0

• 01-20-2008 7:59 PM

  In reply to jstrawbri

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 10,864 Points 3,330	Re: Kind of worried about some flakey skin and very faint hair loss Reply Contact Demodectic mange wouldn't start on the back - it always begins on the face/head area.  It could be allergy related -- food or environmental.  It's dry indoors now -- and dust/mold can get really problematic (particularly if you use 'heat' indoors).
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• 01-21-2008 11:34 AM

  In reply to jstrawbri

  kpwlee Joined on 06-16-2006 North Carolina Posts 6,422 Points 535

  Re: Kind of worried about some flakey skin and very faint hair loss Reply Contact  I wouldn't be too worried about the flaky skin - I do think that is relatively common in the winter months - common as in I have heard several people on here and know some people with VERY healthy dogs that don't normally get dandruff but have it now.  I think its probably due to how dry it is indoors.  Fish oil and Vit E can help.  At 90lbs you can give him 1000mg fish oil ( I use human grade from walmart/cvs/ wherever) and 400 vit E (also human from wherever) The bumps may be something else though.  My dog ( who has severe allergies) had a sudden outburst of bumps on his shoulder back in September.  I thought he had gotten into something he was allergic to or had been bitten by ants or something.  When it didn't go away I had my vet look at it and he prescribed some anti-biotic an it began to clear quickly.  My dog had had the bumps for about a month at that point with no worsening and not much improvement.  Good luck and LOVE your dog!!  I think mine is part GSP and looking at your pics they certainly have some similar features.

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• 01-21-2008 5:05 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  jstrawbri Joined on 10-21-2007 Elizabethtown, PA Posts 57 Points 270	Re: Kind of worried about some flakey skin and very faint hair loss Reply Contact Thanks for the taking the time to offer advice.  It is so appreciated!  Your were right, not Demodectic mange!  I posted an update if you care to follow up.  Thanks again Callie!  ~Jessica Jessica S.
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• 01-21-2008 5:07 PM

  In reply to kpwlee

  jstrawbri Joined on 10-21-2007 Elizabethtown, PA Posts 57 Points 270	Re: Kind of worried about some flakey skin and very faint hair loss Reply Contact Thanks for taking the time to offer your insight.  It's so appreciated!  Bugsy is a cutie...could be some GSP, I see the similarities too.  I posted an update to Snickers' skin condition if you care to check it out.  Thanks again!  ~Jessica Jessica S.
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• 01-21-2008 7:25 PM

  In reply to jstrawbri

  kpwlee Joined on 06-16-2006 North Carolina Posts 6,422 Points 535

  Re: Kind of worried about some flakey skin and very faint hair loss Reply Contact Glad you got an answer it sounds like what Bugsy had - it did heal quickly once we started the antibiotic. You may want to add a spoon of 'live' plain yogurt to his diet - at least 2 hours after you give the antibiotic - it helps keep things happy inside! Wow Snickers is a HUGE gsp - I've seen one over 80lbs!  If you could see Bugsy in person you'd see more similarity.  His eyes in particular, ears, nose (not his snout so much), tail (not docked) and of course his energy LOL People that know the breed and people that know him are quick to suggest gsp/great dane mix.  He was supposed to be a lab mix but people that know labs and really look at him and watch him (like me) can't see any lab in him. Did you realize that Snickers would be so big?

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