Thyroid & Hair Loss - Page 4

Yes, Blitzen you are absolutely correct. The dog must be off all steroids and antihistimines for 2 weeks prior to the appointment with the dermatologist. I've already located a dermatologist but they only accept referrals from the attending vet. Hopefully, I'll find out more this afternoon from my vet. I have the dermatologist's name and phone number ready to give to my vet so I can proceed with the referral. I'm just looking forward to getting some answers...and hopefully new fur growing back on her sides minus the itching of course :)

My atopic GSD suffered for several years, constant scrathing and secondary bacterial infections. We couldn't sleep at night it was so bad. My vet kept switching foods and prescribing different steriods and antihistamines. Nothing helped. I bathed him once a weeks with special shampoos and even made him homemade diets, one a vegitarian recipe, but he still scratched day and night. One trip to the dermatogolist for skin testing was the answer for him. He tested positive for just about every tree and grass pollen in the area plus molds which indicated why his allergies were year round. Most vets just assume if dogs scratch in the winter that its food when most times it's molds, dust mites or something else that is found in the environment all of the time. Too often scrtaching is blamed on food when in reality the statistics indicate that less than 15% of allergies are food related. The desensitizing worked, but it took almost a year, so it's not a quick fix, but it's worth it just to get the dog off steroids (and to get a good night's sleep LOL). I will never again waste much time with a GP vet if I ever have another atopic dog. They only treat the symptoms; the dermatologist gets to the source of the problem and treats that. Good luck.

Whether or not this thread has become proficuous, it certainly has expanded. Yes Blitzin---I agree with with your suggestion that the allergies encompass far more than 1 simple allergy. Hence my suggestion for Frontline and Interceptor. Nothing to do with fleas---but, yes to dustmites, or any mites. I don't even like giving Frontline or Interceptor, because my youngest (possible immune cripple) reacts negatively to them (that's why I administer the Benadryl). You have to play 'trial and error' till you get it right. Your dog is obviously immune challenged. This has been going on for some time---and your vet, to put it indelicately--S-cks. All vets are not equal. Even one of my own vets in a joint practice, tells me which vets he would rely on and which ones he wouldn't. An immune cripple can't cope with steroids. My younster had scratched his eye--went to vet--green liquid put in---special light--drops given for 3 days--return to vet--another vet says wrong drops used because eye has not begun to heal---different drops for 3 days---back to vet, eye has healed---given drops to administer for 5 days to keep inflamation down and not let reoccurrence of injury. After 1 day, my youngster starts to lose the hair around his eye. Guess what? It's a steroid. I DO NOT have anything against steroids when they are given properly---but, to an immune challenged dog it's just plain stupid. (GSDLVR--You've implied that you're not going much further $$$wise. That is why I made my previous suggestion. Cheapest, and easiest. The only thing I will add is the addition of vit B Complex WITH BIOTIN--the raw egg has an enzyme that attaches to biotin and depletes the body---you must replace it. Give the vit B separated into two daily doses---not the same time as you give the raw egg.) If you want to continue trying to help the dog and are willing to spend more--go the dermatologist route. At least, he or she will deal with the immune issue.

LMH, I totally agree with your statement that dogs that suffer with allergies are immune cripples. I will even take that one step farther and say that many, not all, allergic dogs will also develope more allergies over time or, worse, some type of serious autoimmune disease or a cancer such as my dog had, lymphosarcoma. My dog also suffered from a chronic bacterial sinusitis that was also indicative of a depressed immune system. Allergies in dogs should be taken seriously and those dogs should NEVER be used for breeding. I think too many breeders of all breeds trivialize allergies as just being nusance diseases when, in fact, thet are indicators that these dogs' immune systems cannot cope with the every-day challenges of inhaling irritants. They are certainly not good candiates for breeding even if they are kept under control with antigens, steroids, antihistamines, whatever.

Well, still can't tell if the Soloxine has helped yet - it's been a couple weeks. I am SO FRUSTRATED!!!! The trial and error process has GOT to have negative effects on the dog. Tried so many things I am sure her body is reeling from the inconsistencies and different medications, etc. I am sticking with this Soloxine for minimum 30 days to see what happens. I know some will disagree, but after all the negative about steroids on this topic, I took her OFF prednisone. I think I will buy Frontline just incase...and wash her with the selenium shampoo that was suggested above. I will also try this vit B complex with biotin but no egg - according to the vet she is somewhat allergic to chicken so don't want to take a chance on that one. One other question - ****Has anyone had a dog that they had tested for allergies and gotten the "serum" made special to cater to the specific dog's allergies and DID IT WORK? Fred Lanting insisted that all of the allergies are due to the boost her thyroid needs, however I am just wondering if I did go in and pay another $200 (this is so CRAZY!!) to get these "miracle serum" injections, if it would be pointless or what. I AM JUST TRYING TO GET HAIR BACK ON THIS DOG AND STOP THE NONSTOP ITCHING!!!! This is horrible!! We have spent thousands for a "quality" West German Showline GSD and could have spent $70 and gone to the pound and gotten a dog with a stronger immune system...how sad. Now I am SO afraid to trust ANY GSD breeder. It just sickens me. How many breeders are out there with dogs like this and just don't tell anyone because the lines are "top show dogs and come from fantastic lines, etc? Makes you wonder...you'd sure never hear about those dogs. I even heard about breeders that "dispose" of pups that are born and have faults so as to get rid of the evidence and keep their reputation. Oh, I just need to shut up...my bitterness is starting to come thru...I just wanted a healthy happy dog - I HATE seeing her like this...in all of this, she is still a trooper and still has her vigorous zest for life and it just kills me that I can't fix it!!!! I feel myself growing more and more skeptical and all my trust in GSD breeders draining from my body!

GSDLUV, the shots work to some degree for about 70 -75% of all dogs. It can also depend on the skill of the vet doing the testing. They need to be familiar with your area and which pollens, mites, and molds are common. Most will also test for flea bite allergies. As someone else said you don't need to see a herd of fleas on a dog that's allergic to flea saliva in order to set off intense scratching. Each time an allergic dog is bitten by a flea, every spot that been bitten in the past flares up and causes more scratching. GP's generally use a pre-made allergy kit for skin testing that may or may not contain all the right allergins. Best to use a dermatologist for that. Inhaltion allergies are the dirty little secret of the dog world. Many breeders do not think they are serious enough to elminate the dog from a breeding program. As mentioned before, inhalation allergies are indications of a supressed immune sytem and an immune cripple. Allergic dogs should never be bred. BTW you cannot know if a dog is allergic to food unless the dog is tested using a homemade elimination diet. Blood tests for food allergies are not reliable. I had Dylan blood tested 2 times for food allergies and both times he got postive results from different protein sources. As it turned out he was not allergic to food, his problems were mold and pollens. After about a year on the desensitizing program, he stopped scratching. I did give him a occasional dose of presnisone as needed during the first year. After that he no longer needed it. Good luck!!! If a similar post shows up under this thread, please forgive. I think the first I wrote was lost in cyberspace, so wrote another.

GSDLVR- Get Clavamox (antibiotic) from your vet and start a course of treatment. Don't use Frontline for a couple of weeks--till her immune system is boosted with the antibiotics. (Frontline and Interceptor will help with the mites---but wll put a strain again on her immune system--remember the Benadryl 25mg (give at the same moment). Boost with the recommended supplements I previously mentioned above--ester C, COLOSTROM, Vit E, and vitamin B Complex with Biotin (35mg daily)--The vit B Complex deals with recuperating the body from stress of any kind (which, of course, burdens the immune system). The added biotin( which is actually, I believe, vit H)is given to correct the raw egg white deleting the body of this nutrient. Please do all of the above---they are all connected---but first, make sure you give the antibiotic. ( Colostrom comes in capsules from the healthfood stores--I purchase GNC )---The dosages for all the vitamins are above. Good luck--L.

DDR-DSH - ***Interesting development I just came across. I bathed her tonight with the selenium sulfide shampoo you suggested and I couldn't believe it , but I FOUND fleas!!! A couple HUGE fat ones...and it just so happens right around the time she went into heat a year ago and got out, I got her back and she started losing hair (she probably got exposed to fleas at that time she was loose) and we treated her very seriously with 3 different types of flea treatments per the Dr. and treated all areas for about 45 days...then soon after that a neighbor of ours' rhodesian ridgeback dog kept getting into our yard to hang with our dogs, well- I think that's maybe right around the time she started aggressively losing hair??...I could be wrong, but just suppose that dog brought fleas into our yard. I read on the net a vet's writings that said oddly enough the dogs that seem to have the worst reactions are not the ones flea-ridden, but dogs that are not usually exposed to fleas! And she came from a cold climate when I purchased her...AND we never had fleas in our yard....and this is the first time I have seen them on her. We do have cats around but none of them are ours. Then I asked myself - I wonder if that expensive blood test for allergies included fleas...?What if it didn't and was only for inhalants, plants and foods? ***SO I am calling the vet tomorrow to find out for sure. This just might be it. Thanks for the suggestion and I'll keep you posted. ***One other question for everyone : If a dog has flea allergies, is it ethical to breed her? I am assuming no, but *if it was, then we could keep her and we would know how to get her hair back (assuming there is some type of cure).

That might be the best news you could hope for, GSDLUVR. I'd have done the happy dance had fleas been Dylan's problem. Fleas are bionic and you'll need to treat all your animals and the surroundings religiously, and it's a big PIA, but I'd sure rather deal with fleas than inhalation allergies any day of the week. Treat all your animals at the same time. I'll say the same thing again (ad nauseum, I know), those blood tests are not reliable so don't discount fleas if there was no reaction. Never overlook the obvious. I'm not sure you would have to withhold her from breeding because of a flea bite allergy. I have never heard that is an indication of a weakened immune system. It's just an individual dogs reaction to the flea saliva. Fleas make all dog scratch, some just scratch more than others.

Well, forget that idea - it's amazing how if you want to believe something, your brain connects the dots and BAM! you have facts to back up your inclination......SHOOT! I called the vet and the blood test said she was in absolutely no way allergic to fleas in the slightest bit. BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD - DARN IT!!!! :(