Complete Hair Loss on My Two Yorkies

[pyoung]

I have two yorkies, brother and sister, who are 9 years old and they each lost their hair, one at age 3 and the othr age 4. The vet checked for yeast and found none and said they needed to go to a dermatologist pet doctor. I just can't affor that. I've tried no beef food, supplements to their food, medicated shampoos, and made my own food for them. One dog has some hair now but it is completely off under her chin on next and underside of body. The other is completely bald and has hot spots on his skin. I can't hold them because their skin is sticky and scaly. Does anyone have any ideas on what to do. Thanks,

[kjc]

Did your vet run any bloodwork? Best place to start to try to figure out what's going on with them....

[chachi]

Youve let this go on 6 yrs really.? did your vet ever do a skin scrape test to check for mites. Have their thyroids been checked

[gloriajean]

you might want to try clothes on your yorkies so you will want to have them in your lap I know about the skin feeling "funny" hence the clothing suggestion

[pyoung]

Yes, they did blood work and skin scrapings. I just can't believe it's not yeast. There is a condition I've run across call malassezia that sounds just like what my dogs have. I just need to know how to cure this. The vet is the one who said to take them to a dermatogist, which as I said I just don't have the extra cash for that.

[pyoung]

Well the females hair started coming back in on the top of her just not underneath and in the mean time the male got worse as I was trying different things and finances got worse so I wasn't able to take them anywhere. I've written places for help but no answers. I didn't know about the thyroid thing until I read some of you blogs. They seem to act like they feel okay. They eat and have regular bowel movements.

[Bitsy]

This sounds really awful. Poor little things. You really need to find a way to get them to a specialist. They must be so miserable.

[TxVicki]

So, WOW in a 6 year time period you have never been able to afford to take these babies to Vet Dermatologist?

The only way you are going to find how TO CURE them is take them to a specialist.

If it was one of mine, I would do every thing possible to find a way. These babies rely on us to take care of them.

Do the skin have a an oder to it ? Does it stink?

[pyoung]

I think they are miserable. I'm going to try to get them there hopefully soon. I just couldn't believe my vet couldn't do anything for them. I've tried that Dinovite supplements but it ends up being expensive. Thanks for your concern!

[Bitsy]

My Sophia is now on Atopica...she was very itchy and her hair started to thin out. She was definitely uncomfortable and unhappy from being so itchy. Please put yourself in your dogs place....imagine having poison ivy all over for 6 years. It would be horrendous.

[chachi]

Your gonna have to go to a dermatologist. I hope you can get some help can you borrow from a family member or something. Your poor dogs have been itchy and scratchy for a long time and thats a terrible way to live

[Bitsy]

Originally Posted by pyoung

I think they are miserable. I'm going to try to get them there hopefully soon. I just couldn't believe my vet couldn't do anything for them. I've tried that Dinovite supplements but it ends up being expensive. Thanks for your concern!

Your vet did the right thing by referring you to the specialist. I understand how bad you must feel for them. I really hope you are able to find a way to get them some help. Good luck.

[pyoung]

Yep the skin smells bad and it flakes off and is real sticky where it lands and I have to scrape it off their cage they sleep in. College is expensive for two kids so it is true, not enough money for everyone or thing. And we have another dog that had surgery so I am doing the best I can. I've tried everything out there you can get without paying $150.00 each for an intial visit to a specialist vet. I don't want to be judged just helped with suggestions. Thanks,

[chachi]

When you do go take a copy of the blood work and copies of anythig your vet has done so you dont have to have that done again

[pyoung]

Actually they don't seem to be itichy. The one is just more bald than the other. They get baths every week and still are active. I say they must be miserable because they don't look good. I do put clothes on them some especially in the winter.