Gabi's losing her hair HELP!! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Gabi & Gina · 06-27-2006, 04:25 AM

I'm very worried about my precious baby who is losing her hair. Her coat has just reached below her knees (she's 15 months old), but now she is thinning between her shoulder blades, on both sides of her spine. I have no problem in taking her to the vet, but I'm sure he thinks I'm just a neurotic mom, as I seem to live at his surgery.

When I look at the patches, there is no sign of any red, itchy, oozing, broken skin, etc but she scratches all the time in this area. She has absolutely no flees, and is bathed once a week, and groomed twice a day.

I'm not sure if her hair is falling out, or if she is breaking it with her nails when scratching, as the patch is not totally balled, but has about 1cm of hair (seems to have maybe broken off)

Is this maybe a diet problem. I have been feeding her Husky (Alpo) tinned food, together with her kibble, but my breeder has suggested that I stop, and only keep her on the dry Royal Canin "Yorkie" specific range, with the added Omega oils

Does anyone have any advise for me as to what the casue could be, or what to do about it.

Mitzis Mom · 06-27-2006, 05:12 AM

Welcome to YT!

I guess it could be an allergy thing. Yorkies are often allergic to corn and/or wheat in their food. I would try a new food without those ingredients and until this kicks in I would put a cotton t-shirt on her to prevent her from damaging her hair and skin further. It also could be the shampoo you're using.

Mitzi had the same problems and since we changed food and shampoo everything is fine. For some reason the shirt helped her in the transition time to soothen the itching.

I hope your baby is getting better really soon!

Gabi & Gina · 06-27-2006, 10:07 PM

Hi Mitzi's Mom

Thanks for the advice. Other than being new to YT, I'm also a new Yorkie owner, so any advice/guidance is always welcome.

I have checked her food labels, and the tinned variety does have wheat/corn in, so I've stopped it, and I've also taken your advice on putting a cotton vest on her to protect her coat.

Thanks for the advice - I'll keep you posted on her progress.

Mitzis Mom · 06-28-2006, 04:43 AM

You're very welcome! There is a thread here on YT 'How to grade your dogs food'. It's very interesting and helps to find the right one for your furbaby.

You know it's a funny thing, I do have a cousin named Gabi and she lives in South Africa!

Please keep us posted on your Gabi's progress!

Mitzis Mom · 06-28-2006, 04:47 AM

Ohhhh.... and by the way...

We need pictures.... we need pictures... we need pictures...

Gabi & Gina · 07-05-2006, 03:18 AM

Just to let you know - after one week pf having Gabi on Royal Canin Yorkie ONLY, her itching/scratching has all but stopped.

I also put a cotton vest on her so that she did nod do any more dmae to her coat

Gabi says a big thank you for the sound advice

By the way - I'd LOVE to post photo's but have no idea how to do it?? Any advice is welcome!!

Mitzis Mom · 07-05-2006, 06:34 AM

Hey, that's great news! We are so glad to hear Gabi's doing better.
As of the pictures:

scroll down to 'Manage Attachments', click on it, browse in your files to find the right one, click on 'Upload', wait until it's done and close the window. If it doesn't work your pictures might be to big so you would need to resize them. In case you don't have the software you can send me a PM and I can resize them for you. Good luck and thanks for the update!!

06-27-2006, 04:25 AM	#1
Gabi & Gina Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: South Africa Posts: 32	Gabi's losing her hair HELP!! I'm very worried about my precious baby who is losing her hair. Her coat has just reached below her knees (she's 15 months old), but now she is thinning between her shoulder blades, on both sides of her spine. I have no problem in taking her to the vet, but I'm sure he thinks I'm just a neurotic mom, as I seem to live at his surgery. When I look at the patches, there is no sign of any red, itchy, oozing, broken skin, etc but she scratches all the time in this area. She has absolutely no flees, and is bathed once a week, and groomed twice a day. I'm not sure if her hair is falling out, or if she is breaking it with her nails when scratching, as the patch is not totally balled, but has about 1cm of hair (seems to have maybe broken off) Is this maybe a diet problem. I have been feeding her Husky (Alpo) tinned food, together with her kibble, but my breeder has suggested that I stop, and only keep her on the dry Royal Canin "Yorkie" specific range, with the added Omega oils Does anyone have any advise for me as to what the casue could be, or what to do about it.

06-27-2006, 10:07 PM	#3
Gabi & Gina Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: South Africa Posts: 32	Gabi's losing her hair HELP!! Hi Mitzi's Mom Thanks for the advice. Other than being new to YT, I'm also a new Yorkie owner, so any advice/guidance is always welcome. I have checked her food labels, and the tinned variety does have wheat/corn in, so I've stopped it, and I've also taken your advice on putting a cotton vest on her to protect her coat. Thanks for the advice - I'll keep you posted on her progress.

07-05-2006, 03:18 AM	#6
Gabi & Gina Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: South Africa Posts: 32	Gabi's Losing Her Hair - Report Back Just to let you know - after one week pf having Gabi on Royal Canin Yorkie ONLY, her itching/scratching has all but stopped. I also put a cotton vest on her so that she did nod do any more dmae to her coat Gabi says a big thank you for the sound advice By the way - I'd LOVE to post photo's but have no idea how to do it?? Any advice is welcome!!

06-27-2006, 05:12 AM	#2
Mitzis Mom No Longer a Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,837	Welcome to YT! I guess it could be an allergy thing. Yorkies are often allergic to corn and/or wheat in their food. I would try a new food without those ingredients and until this kicks in I would put a cotton t-shirt on her to prevent her from damaging her hair and skin further. It also could be the shampoo you're using. Mitzi had the same problems and since we changed food and shampoo everything is fine. For some reason the shirt helped her in the transition time to soothen the itching. I hope your baby is getting better really soon!

06-28-2006, 04:43 AM	#4
Mitzis Mom No Longer a Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,837	You're very welcome! There is a thread here on YT 'How to grade your dogs food'. It's very interesting and helps to find the right one for your furbaby. You know it's a funny thing, I do have a cousin named Gabi and she lives in South Africa! Please keep us posted on your Gabi's progress!

06-28-2006, 04:47 AM	#5
Mitzis Mom No Longer a Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,837	Ohhhh.... and by the way... We need pictures.... we need pictures... we need pictures...

07-05-2006, 06:34 AM	#7
Mitzis Mom No Longer a Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,837	Hey, that's great news! We are so glad to hear Gabi's doing better. As of the pictures: scroll down to 'Manage Attachments', click on it, browse in your files to find the right one, click on 'Upload', wait until it's done and close the window. If it doesn't work your pictures might be to big so you would need to resize them. In case you don't have the software you can send me a PM and I can resize them for you. Good luck and thanks for the update!!