Balding Betty

whisp&willow

whisp&willow

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HI everyone, I am phoning the vet this morning when they open, but thought I'd see if anyone had any ideas...

The last few days I have noticed a patch on Betty's side, around the croup area, but on either side, rather than over her back. I had just thought she had been licking herself then snuggled up so was quite pink.

Last night however I noticed an even bigger area on the other side of her body which is the same- scanty hair (probably about 1/2 as much as covers her body normally)

no dietary changes, she is rarely bathed, no change to washing powder on her blankets etc, she is not licking at it at all, and the skin looks healthy and unbroken. No other skin/allergy issues, she has been dressed, and she will be 5 this year. (American bulldog.)

Any ideas welcome!
 
The areas of baldness are interesting and would suggest a thyroid / hormonal issue to me. I imagine the vet will do a skin scrape and take some blood. Has she been drinking more than usual? Peeing more that usual?
 
thanks cc- thats what I was thinking ( i knew a dog who had a bald patch in the same kind of area, and seem to remember it was thyroid related)

She's not drinking any more than usual, but did have a wee (pardon the pun) spell of urinary incontinence, it was very sporadic, only happened two or three times, but randomly and hasn't happened for months.
 
Is she spayed? If not when was her last season? Also,sorry I don't know, but what breed is she? It points to thyroid for me too but hormones can also do strange things.
 
Blood tests at the vet today confirm hypothyroidism.

Betty is now on an a tablet a day (and will be for the rest of her days)and is to be blood tested again in 3 wks to check the dosage.

Certainly explains the hair loss, and now sheds some light on the sporadic urinary incontinence and the frequent forelimb lameness which rest and anti inflammatories did nothing to help. She has also always been a lazy walker around the house, dragging her toes- this could all be linked.

x
 
It's not the end of the world - it's great that you have a diagnosis. Our old Italian Spinone was finally diagnosed (after a change of vets and lots of pushing by me) with HT when she was 9 and we only lost her just before Christmas at the age of 14 - not HT related I may add.

She was on 1mg Soloxin twice a day for ever and after a month, her bloods settled right down and she went onto 6 month blood tests. The hair didn't grow back for her, mainly because I think she had it for a lot longer (before I was on the scene), but she certainly became perkier and normal once on the right dosage.

Well done for getting yours to the vets :)
 
Thanks CC. I am just so relieved to have a diagnosis, and that it is easily treatable. It also makes me feel a bit better as I think it explains a lot of the recent ailments outlined above.

The vet has just got all the blood testing apparatus recently, so I only had to wait 20 mins for the results and was sent home with tablets... cant remember what name but soloxin rings a bell.

Hopefully the one tablet a day will be enough. Her T4 level was only 11, and all other levels across the bloods were normal.

Great to hear that your dog lived a full and long life despite HT. ;)

xx
 
ANY Betty thread is utterly useless without pics of the beautiful girlie!

Nice when things are diagnosed quickly, hope the tablets sort Miss Thing out!!
 
lexiedhb said:
ANY Betty thread is utterly useless without pics of the beautiful girlie!

Nice when things are diagnosed quickly, hope the tablets sort Miss Thing out!!
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Ha ha! Thanks Lexi! ;) I'll get you a nice shot of baldy later on tonight! ;)

Worst thing about today... left her bloomin frisbee at the vets. :eek:

I was very impressed with the speedy blood work... £123 lighter for the morning's activities though!

I'm looking forward to seeing any changes which occur, and I think Betty will be pleased at getting a treat every morning (to conceal the tablet!)
 
My eldest bitch has a lazy thyroid and is on medication. She is blood tested every 6 months to check levels and has a bald patch on her tail which I was told would not grow back. Coat improved and she lost some weight so it worked for her.
 
Luci07 said:
My eldest bitch has a lazy thyroid and is on medication. She is blood tested every 6 months to check levels and has a bald patch on her tail which I was told would not grow back. Coat improved and she lost some weight so it worked for her.
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Thankfully weight has not been affected at all with Betty. :)

Glad to hear that your dog is doing well on treatment.
 
Glad you have a diagnosis, hopefully the medication will soon kick in and you will see an improvement.
I hope you are planning a return trip to get the frisbee, did she have to put it down to try and eat the poodle?:D
 
MurphysMinder said:
Glad you have a diagnosis, hopefully the medication will soon kick in and you will see an improvement.
I hope you are planning a return trip to get the frisbee, did she have to put it down to try and eat the poodle?:D
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ha ha! Yeah, she had to put it down to intimidate the other dogs (in particular the poodle) - you cannot be intimidating with a bright pink frisbee in your gob! :p

Hoping to see improvements in her general well being soon... although I may miss the sedate Betster come sunday mornings...
 
You may feel better for seeing these pics. Geoffrey was a neglect case that came in at around nine years of age.


This is him with his new family eighteen months later;


Just half a Soloxine tablet a day.
 
Quick update... and some thoughts and famous HHO AAD vibes!

Betty was back at the vet last saturday for another blood test to check t4 levels, which have increased to 17 from 9. This is still quite low so is now on 2 x soloxine per day and another bt in 4 weeks to check that this is not too high now!

As (i think!) I mentioned before, she has been suffering from forehand lameness (mainly left) for some time, mainly after exertion and had seen the vet a few times, was told to restrict exersise and given carprieve anti inflams, but nothing ever made much difference.

This lameness was getting worse and appointment on the 8th was again given carprieve for 2 weeks, and a months grass only exersise as the vet felt she has very worn pads... her pads are not what they used to be, but i think that must be associated with the thyroid problem?

Regardless: she is so very very lame now. :( heavily nodding and sometimes her back legs seem disconnected and she staggers. (this was mentioned to the vet.) She is lame at all times- even in the house on carpet, so I give no weight to the pad theory. To me it seems like the shoulder.

I have made an appointment for next week, as the vet is away and just a locum in at the moment: What would you think would be the next step in treatment/diagnosis?! Rest and meds are doing nothing to help, and when at the vet she is so pumped up that she could sever a leg and not notice.

I have taken a few vids from this morning to show him.

I just feel so bad for her. She is not a happy pooch.

xx
 
Massive but gentle huggles for my fave lump of a girlie.......... hope they can find whats up and help her, sounds like no fun at all! :(
 
Thanks CC. I couldn't speak to the vet today, but my feelings were that I wanted Xrays.

I am hoping to speak to him directly to try and arrange this without having to go in for ANOTHER consultation to go home and back again for xrays etc. :rolleyes:

I just feel so bad walking her. I can't not walk her, as she is so fussy about going no.2's. :rolleyes:

Thanks Lexie: you can hug her as hard as you like... she shows no reaction to any form of manipulation... :confused:

It certainly is no fun. :(

On a more positive note: She is no longer bald... so at least SOMETHING is working.
 
I've read a lot of posts on this part of the forum where the *first* thing I would be doing would be pushing for x-rays at least to rule out a problem. You're the client, it's your money, it's your dog, she is lame and the vet has not been able to fix it thus far - if you want x-rays, ask for them (I've never had a problem getting a vet to do x-rays) and if you don't get them then I would consider going elsewhere.
 
oh sorry to hear she isn't better. I know they have to play around a bit with the dosage to make sure they are on the right one to begin with so hope its that. My bitch never showed lameness at all.

Once my dogs hit 7 they get an annual blood test anyway now to give an indication of what is going on internally - thats how we found Tara had a lazy thyroid. Is your vet a good orthopaedic vet as well? My vet sent the x rays of my boy onto a specialist vet so might be worth asking.
 
CaveCanem said:
I've read a lot of posts on this part of the forum where the *first* thing I would be doing would be pushing for x-rays at least to rule out a problem. You're the client, it's your money, it's your dog, she is lame and the vet has not been able to fix it thus far - if you want x-rays, ask for them (I've never had a problem getting a vet to do x-rays) and if you don't get them then I would consider going elsewhere.
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You are right. I should have learned my lesson after the goalpost incident. :( She had cracked her si joint and was given rest and anti inflams... then eventually I demanded xrays. :o

I think I will phone them back up to see about the locum doing xrays.

I was also thinking about seeking a second opinion based on the outcome of this next appointment.

I dont think the vet acknowledges just how lame she is: "Bulldog feel no pain when other doggies in building" :rolleyes:
 
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