Help needed with my yorkie back legs going bald
 

Hello everyone I need some advice. My yorkie, Harley suffered earlier this year around Jan with itching. Vet recommended Benadryl for itching but read here about fillers in dog food causing itching. Changed his food from Science Diet to Canidae- things got better- hair on top of head grew back- it had been thinning. This summer we have been letting him go outside in the grass-- with supervision of course- but just this weekend noticed his back legs are almost bald- major hair loss.. He is itching terrible- just gave him some benadryl. Any advice?? I am calling the vet in the morning but he is miserable- he has scratched red marks under his front legs-( like our armpit) so to speak... I have aveno oatmeal bath but do not know if I should bath him.. His normal shampoo and conditioner is Chris Christiansen- and used it since he was a baby-- He will be 2 in september. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi and I would advise a thorough vet check. There is an underlying condition causing his hair fall-out. More than allergies and good luck. Warmly, Deborah

Need more info
 

What are you suggesting when you say underlying condition? That phrase scares me so please could you be more specific? He is pulling out the hair - chewing- No other hair loss except on back legs.. Are you thinking thyroid? I just need all the info I can so I will ask all the right questions to the vet. I live in rural West Virginia so my vet see all breeds of dogs and I am not as lucky to have a vet locally that would see lots of yorkies. She is a great vet and I trust her totally but the more I know the more I can help my furbaby.

If he's pulling out his hair....it's an allergy....not thyroid. Sounds like he could be allergic to grass

I think you are probably right
 

Talked to my vet today and Harley has an appointment tomorrow afternoon for allergy testing. She says that yorkies are pretty common for allergys but usually do not develop them until 3-5 years. she also said that usually they do not develop allergies as a puppy. He is only 1 year and 8 months. She also said she did not think it was thyroid since he is so young. She is going to run tests and see what is up.. She did give me a topical spray for him and it has helped! He has not scratched at all. I put a shirt on him and that has also kept him from scratching his upper body. I will keep you posted-- Thanks for the hep/

:(HI, 3 DAYS AGO BOO BOO MY 6 YEAR OLD STARTED SCRATCHING AND HE NOW HAS A BALD ELBOW AND UNDER HIS NECK LOOKS HORRIBLE WITH 4 KNOTS AND NO HAIR AND HIS SKIN ON HIS NECK IS YUCKY I BATHED HIM IN BABY WASH AND PUT CLEAR CALAMINE LOTION ON HIM. HE DIDN'T SCRATCH ALL NIGHT. I HAVN'T BEEN TO BED YET. HE STARTED TO ITCH THIS MORNING AND I PUT MORE CALAMINE ON HIM AND HE IS ASLEEP BESIDE ME. AT LEAST ONE OF US CAN SLEEP! AT 3 THIS MORNING I READ ABOUT A CONDITION THAT HAD A WIERD NAME BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER IT. PROBABLY COULD IF I SAW THE WORD AGAIN. GUESS I'M JUST TOOO TIRED. HOPE YOUR BABY GETS BETTER! MINE HAS HAD A RECENT DIET CHANGE BUT HAS ALWAYS WENT OUTSIDE TO POTTY. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO SHOW UP ON THE SCREEN. I AM AN IDIOT WHEN IT COMES TO COMPUTERS. GOOD LUCK!!!:confused:

I hate to hear that your baby is itching also. Harley had a depamedrol (I think that is how it is spelled) on Friday and he has stopped itching. The vet did the allergy testing and I am waiting for the results. I hated to have him have a steroid shot but he was so miserable. She also looked at his ears which have always been a problem and she feels his ear problems are because of the allergies. Harley does not go outside his is puppy pad trained but will use outside also. I went and bought newborn onesies at Walmart, one dog t-shirt was $5.97 and got 5 onesies for $8.00- used scissors and cut them to fit and they are perfect and have stopped him from scraching under his front legs. I have a friend whose dog also has allergies- she is on shots and her vet reccommended a shirt to be worn outside and to wipe her paws with the doggy wipes when she comes in to remove the pollen. Her dog is doing much better and the shirt keeps the grass off of her belly. I will keep ya posted on the allergy results. I also tried a spray from the vet called Genesis Topical Spray-It is a solution of 0.15% Triamcinolone acetonide. I used it on him last thursday before the shot and it helped also.
I keep you posted but the shot has helped but I know the steroid shots are not good for them but since he has only had this one, I am not going to try to worry about it. I hope this info helps....

Breaks my heart, these darn seasonal allergies. Some of these guys get it SO bad. It sounds like it could be grass/seasonal/pollen. Steroids are just so awful - but - if it gives him back a quality of life, it's something to consider. I mean, if the steroids help - maybe it's something you give only during the absolute worst months - and during the rest of the months - you build up his immune system. Keep us posted and best of luck. :)

You are doing everything you can to help your little baby. I am glad he is feeling better too. It is never, pleasant to se your PUP suffering in any way. i hope the worse is over and he is on his way to recovery:aimeeyork
Best wishes:animal-pa

I've put my dogs on flaxseed oil. It's a very good supplement for the coat and skin. The recommended dose I've seen is 1 teaspoon twice daily per 25 pounds of weight. I just adjusted the dose for my dogs' weight and mix it in their food. You need to start off with a smaller dose and increase it to the regular dose over several days to avoid loose stools. My dogs have been on it for about 6 weeks and I see an improvement in their skin texture and their coats have more luster. I had 2 itchy ones and both of them are improved and don't scratch or chew themselves nearly as much. :aimeeyork :animal-pa :animal-pa :animal-pa :animal-pa :)

kiele will be a year this month and was just going through the same thing. the vet put her on antibiotics and steriods w/ antihystmine.(sp?) Its gotten better so far. She just finished the meds friday so we will see!

Well as soon as I get the results of his allergy tests - then I am hoping no more steroid shots --- one is enough for me --- I will pay the money for the allergy shots its worth it for his health.. Thanks everyone for their support and ideas-- just looking at the new posts today - I am not alone is this allergy drama. I will let everyone know what I find out - at the moment I am keeping Harley inside until I get the results--- The vet thinks it is grass-- which makes sense.. we will see- I hope everyone's baby's are doing better. With so many dogs with allergy issues- we may need a new forum just for that topic-- which is so sad.... but hopefully we will all get the right info to help our babies:):):):)

Thanks, I'll Get Him Some Baby Shirts Tomorrow. I Hate To See Him Like This. Now He Has Scabs And Is Miserable. Not To Mention The Stress Of My Boxer Being In Heat And Him Being Verrrry Short. Lol Hopefully I Can Relieve His Itching. He Has Had This Problem For Years. Thank You For Replying. I Need All The Advise I Can Get.

Interesting subject...I'm here to learn. Winston luckily does not seem to have any allergy/itching issues. But I have a friend with a Maltese that is going thru this same thing. Poor little baby...itching and losing hair. Change in diet and shampoo does not seem to have helped. The steroid injection did...but that's only a short term answer. So, any ideas or information I get here I will pass on to her. Love the onesies idea! Thanks everyone for their input!!!

Itchy dog
 

OMG I have the same problem with Trixie. She started in March and it's been all down hill from there. First they thought food allergy so we switch the food and put her on an antibiotic, predisone and a special shampoo.. Then they thought Yeast infection so she was put very expensive yeast medicine and a new shampoo for two weeks.. From there they wanted to put her on Atopica for allergies (for the rest of her life) so I switched vets.. This vet is treating her for mites. (manage) it's been four weeks and little to no change. I too put shirts on her to stop her from ripping her body raw. We have an appointment Thursday to recheck her but I'm now convinced it's not manage either after seeing this site. Trixie is also very greasy and flaky so I read on here to try baby shampoo or (human) dandruff shampoo so I went out yesterday to get some.. She seemed to scratch a little less but it's to soon to tell. Good Luck with your pup and let me know what happens I could use some help too... Thank.. Missy:)

It has been two weeks friday, since he has had his steroid shot and it has helped amazingly. We have not let him out in the grass since then. We are still waiting for the results of the allergy test. The cost was $200.00 but if it really allergies and he can get relief from shots it is worth it. The hair on his back legs is starting to grow back. The vet warned me that I was bathing him to much that once a week was too much so I have let him go over two and amazingly -- no scratching. His ears were a problem and she did a swab test on him and they were not infected - she feels allergy and so far no scratching of the ears- I feel like the steroid shot is the help but not a good long term solution- I will let everyone know as soon as I find out the results... I hope all the info I have shared has helped-- I have gained so much great info from everyone on hear that I am truly grateful...:):):)

Got results from allergy test
 

Wanted to update everyone on Harley's allergy test- results were that he has no significant allergies to anything. I am relieved but now puzzled. I let him out in the grass yesterday evening and today he is itching for the first time since he went to the vet to get tested and was given the shot. Called the vet and she agrees with me that it is probably the grass or a weed that the test did not test for. So back to the spray, benadryl and steroid shot, bathing in oatmeal. So I hate to not let him outside because he loves it so much.. Only choice is to let him out and bathe him when he comes in or wipe him off with wipes. If anyone has any other suggestions please advise. thanks :):confused:

It sounds like your doing everything right. I give my Krissy Benadryl and use a medicated shampoo but this has been a really bad year and she actually itched more than ever before, extra benadryl seems to have solved it for her.

I hope you figure it out.

I think allergies are so much worse now than they ever have been. We have to use Benadryl also for our wiemriemer. He gets it really bad and between his web feet. Our vet said it was the fact he gets out in the grass with the dew and then the moisture is in between his webbing. WE had to use some medicated pads to wipe his feet for awhile. I didn't realize so many dogs has allergies.

Update on Harley-thyroid & Cushings disease
 

Hello everyone, just wanted to update everyone on my Harley who is only 1 year and 11 months old. He went for a skin biopsy which came back inconclusive with the vet thinking it was either thyroid or cortisol problems. Well I found out Tuesday that he has low thyroid - borderline and the vet started him on meds and today the other test came back and he has mild cushing disease- he is to be started on a new med on tues. If anyone has any info on have a young dog with Cushing disease please let me know- I am so upset and concerned about his future... thanks Sonya