New Member

Posts: 2
From:los angeles, ca, usa
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-08-2003 06:42 PM         

---

hello,
i have chihuahua who has suddenly developed 3 small (about an inch) bald patches. they don't seem to be irritated and i haven't seen him scratching them. i saw one, then the next another, and now there is a third.

can anyone help me out with what this is and how to take care of it?!

thanks in advance for any advice!!
lori

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 50
From:Seattle WA USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-09-2003 01:03 PM         

---

What kind of food is he eating and does he have fleas?

IP: Logged

New Member

Posts: 2
From:los angeles, ca, usa
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-10-2003 10:45 PM         

---

hello,
he is eating eukanuba and doesn't eat "people" food. and he doesn't seem to have fleas these days. i have had him on BioSpot for a while and it hasn't bothered him.

can't seem to make sense of the bald spots as nothing seems irritated and he doesn't seem to be messing with the areas.

thank you,
lori

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 409
From:Los Angeles, Ca.
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-10-2003 11:48 PM         

---

Hey ASHCRAFT:
Your Chihuahua could be showing signs of DEMODECTIC MANGE. He, not scratching at them at all is another sign of this. One, after another is another sign of this. Where are these bald spots located? Usually if it's in/around his face/head, front legs & chest, ohh-and feet, this is antoher sign of LOCALIZED Demodectic Mange. You will have to do some reading on this type of Mange, and 'skin disorders' in general to have a better clue & understanding of why & how to treat it. If it is Demodex, what you've described still is in what's called a 'localized' type. Being that there is only 3 bald spots. Ohh, how old is your dog?? If he's still under a year old, this is also another sign. Although, older dogs can develope Deomdectic aka "Red Mange", aka "Follicule Mange". If your dog is an older dog, meaning older then 13 months, there could be another reason why these mites where given the chance to proliforate---anyway-"multiply". The younger your dog is the better chance he is to win this battle. The older, the harder. It's in your wallets best needs, and in your dogs health needs, to see a veterinarian ASAP. The earlier you can start treatment, the better. Don't wait untill it multiplies out of control. Your veterinarian will have the best way to deal with this problem. Usually he will either put your dog on a 'dipping' program (i'm not too familiar w/ it's prcedures). I think it's something like your pup being dipped in a solution/medication (kinda like a flea dip), about once or twice a week for about a month or two. Untill you get two or three negative skin scrapings. Ohh yeah, your vet should also do a skin scraping in order to see if it's actually a type of mite/MANGE causing this problem. He should also do a number of different tests in the same visit (for other causes) if not determined by the skin scrapinng. Hmmm, where was i, mann i really got caught up in this one. Ha! it's A-OKAY! LEt me see, ohh yeah, another way would be an oral IVERMACTIN liquid medication that you will have to give your dog daily. ALl of the quantities that i've mentioned is going to be based on how bad/deep the situation is. Your vet should also, tell you of any side effects that Ivermectin can cause. If he does'nt tell you, ask him. Do your own research on everything that i'm posting here, especially before you go in. HE might prescribe to you some antibiotics (mgs)- based on your dogs weight, and intake should be on how severe-(did i spell that right?). He/She should also prescribe to you some type of MEDICATED shampoo. A type w/ Benzoyl Peroxide will help flush out dead skin, dead hairs, dead mites, and all other nastyness! He might also advise some oatmeal conditioner, or something to relieve his skin after the medicated bath. Demodex get's harder/LONGER to treat when it get's into it's GENERALIZED type/stage. The sooner you start treatment, the better off both of you will be, trust me on this.
MOST IMPORTANT:
don't let the vet give him a cortizone shot (steriod shot[s])! This will surpress his immune-system, which is key to fighting-off any bacteria & foriegn substances that enter the body, or somthing. Trust me, His Immune-System is important. I'm sure of this, only if he's diagnosed w/ Demodectic Mange. Cortizone is given to help stop the inflamation, itchyness, etc. and it sounds like thats exactly what he needs. But your dog is not yet inflammed, and not really itching. Don't let him talk you into it. Ask for another option. Even for other causes Cortizone or any steriod type stuff, should be like a last resort type thing. Doing your own research, especially on this stuff i've been yapping about is key, before going in to see a vet.
Feed him a good QUALITY diet. Keeping his health strong is important too. If you walking or hiking w/ him, don't stop. I know he now looks a little creepy, but keeping his heart & lungs and all that other stuff healthy is important too in your dogs maintainance to help hsi body fight-off these nasty critters. WOW, i could go on & ON, sorry,---i'm also saying this to myself for staying on this post sooo long.
Basically, you should go see a vet you've had good experiances with & trust. Regardless wether it's Mange or not, it could even be something called 'Ringworm' (it's actually not a worm, it's just antoher type of bacteria), you should have this problem seen by professionals while it still minor. MANGE SUCKS!!! don't worry though... Get em' checked.

------------------
...it's the understanding of what's wrong, when you only know how to do right...

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 409
From:Los Angeles, Ca.
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-10-2003 11:54 PM         

---

Hey ASHCRAFT:
What's up!?!?
I did'nt even realize your posting from L.A. too! Your the 1st i've ever seen from the same town (on any board)... Well welcome aboard! Park your 'ASHCRAFT' and hop on in, your always welcomed here... enjoy.

------------------
...it's the understanding of what's wrong, when you only know how to do right...

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 1179
From:,Calif. U.S.A.
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 09-11-2003 11:54 AM         

---

Goodboy; Ashcraft isn't the only L.A. poster here. That would be me too. I'm an L.A. gal myself. I'm from the coastal area. I just kept it easy and put Cali.

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 409
From:Los Angeles, Ca.
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-13-2003 12:52 PM         

---

Aey Puttin510,
Cool, nice to know... So, what part/area of the coast? You don't have tyo answer if you don't trust me... j/k, if you don't want to. Ohh BTW, what does 'puttin 510' mean? Do you own a pitbull or something that pulls 510 pounds. Just guessing..? Anyhow, i'm up in the 'inland' area of Mt. Washington. You probably don't know where it is, not that many do. It's 323 though. Cool later...

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 1179
From:,Calif. U.S.A.
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 09-13-2003 02:58 PM         

---

Goodboy, I'm in the 310 area code. Which is pretty big but give you an idea. Hint, Port of L.A. That is until they decide to change it again. Your right I don't know exaclty where that is. I'd have to look it up. We don't own a pitbull. Far from it, I had one years ago named Ziggy. But my username is part of a name and the number 510 is from my husbands 510 Datsun in which he is going to sell. But what you thought sounds much better.

IP: Logged

New Member

Posts: 4
From:NC, USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-17-2003 01:55 PM         

---

Sounds like could be a flea allergy. Does he hang around other dogs? Mange can be passed easily and that doesn't mean that your dog is dirty or anything. It's called seratopic manage that can be detected by a small skin scraping that is basically painless. Also have your vet check your pups thyroid. Hypothyroidism can cause hair loss. Another sign of hypothyroidism is heat seeking and weight gain. But in my dogs case he just loved the sun (heat seeking) and he had hair loss as well! Good luck to you and the little guy!

IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)