Bulldogs World

hair loss on the sides is one of the indications that the thyroid is low. Not an expensive test.

I've had dogs with SFA, didn't give them anything. It just cleared up in the warmer weather with time outside and sunshine. I never got too bugged out over it.

Good luck

we gave him Lipiderm and it helped a lot.  We got it at Petsmart, I don't know if they even still make it.  But it was basically a fish oil.  I've also heard Melatonin can help.

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Kindest regards,

Kathie

I would spend a ton on tests as long as you know it is alopecia.  Have you tried melatonin?  I would have the thyroid checked just to rule that out and maybe a full bloodwork done.  You could have a skin scrap to rule out staph or demodex.

But if you know it is alopecia I don't think there is much you can do.  Other then sunlight & melatonin.

I think it's wise to have the thyroid test run, just to rule out anything else, because apparently this can also be a symptom of low thyroid (but the one low thyroid boy I have did have balding on sides and belly and legs with normal skin under--not black).

I had thyroid tests done by Dr. Jean Dodds over 12 years ago when my girl exhibited the balding sides with black skin, and the results were normal.  If it is SFA, it's not a health issue, no scraping necessary, and I never heard of it being a symptom of any allergies.  My girl would have it for a while, then it would grow back, then go bald again for a longer while then it grew back in for several years, but this year she has a bit of it again--guess she's spending too much time inside now that she mostly sleeps.

Some people believe coat supplements help, some like the melatonin (I'd suggest starting it at beginning of fall when days get shorter).  Apparently this has something to do with a pineal gland that is in or behind the eye and regulates this coat issue and is responsive somehow to the sunlight.  My 10 yr. old lives most days in full spectrum lighting--she's had SFA in the past, but hasn't had it since spending the days in the full spectrum light. 

Other breeds get this including schnauzers and boxers.

Good luck!

it has mostly gone away.....  I did lots of reading about it here and other sites, and

many resources say it's more common in winter and that sunlight helps (it did with Meaty),

but once they started him on Thyroid medication, it's almost gone.....good luck! 

i am currently giving my zoe 15 mg of melatonin total per day along with biotin and ground flax seed. She had demodex when she was a puppy so the vet always does a skin scrapping first. he did check her thyroid due to a weird hair pattern on the top of her head. thyroid came back fine. she does suffer from all kinds of allergies so her dog food is limited in ingredients so we added the flax seed for omegas, she is allergic to fish and rabbit which are both high in omegas. we live in sunny az and were amazed that it was alopecia, i think i spelled it wrong, the melatonin is working... we have only been giving it to her for maybe 1 month now and am seeing small changes but they are changes!!!! the allergy testing the vet did was based on her blood ige and igg levels. it was around 300 bucks for the testing to find out what she was allergic to and the allergy shots she gets were about 85 bucks per couple months. i work in the medical feild so i just give her the shot at home once a month now. the allergy shots are what has helped her the most. i think the hair loss is just smething we may have to deal with to keep her unitchy. in our case beggers cant be choosers....  

 loulou had this a few sumers ago. Sue Bear help me out I took her advice and since then this has not been a problem for me. i give her 9 mg a day and she not sleepy on them try that before you spend alot or gp off thee board and talk to Sue Bear. also talk to you vet to see how bad this is right now and what you can do to get her haire back. Loulou hair came back but we are tricking her brain. so you really won't see anything this season but do have her tthyroilds check out.  I did have Loulou checks out at the time and it was fine.  I have to say Louloum is like Gizmo I just don't let her out much over the  heat here in Texas or the cold. Good luck and let us know on both sides.

I also put this on the main board, but to keep up with this thread for historical purposes :P

Vet said all looks great, Thyroid was at 1.3 (lower end of 'normal') but he wouldnt put her on any type of thyroid meds, that Alopecia is just that - nothing physically wrong (in her case) just balding -

He said that we could try a suppliment, but what works for 1 bully, might not work for the next 2-3 bullies - (or maybe the suppliment regiment just timed with hair regrowth).  Who knows w/ the Alopecia - but its nothing to worry about (except us looking at it)

But, we are going to start her on 'MISSING LINK'  that was recommended by several at the Bully (Get together), and other local folks.

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Weight 52lbs and holding, eyes, ears, nose, and toes all accounted for :) :)

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Thanks for all the well wishes :) Info :) Insites  etc -  we'll try the MISSING LINK and see if there is any improvement (if not, its good for her Joints too)

Rick, Dottie and Gizmo