Hair Loss on Labrador

[Shroughaun]

Hi All,
Would anyone have any idea what might be causing the hair loss on dogs back.

It started of which just felt like something stuck in the hair. Now the hair is falling out and looks red and tender underneath.

I thought maybe a tick but can’t visibly see one.

 

[deerstalker.308]

Maybe a grass seed under the skin?

 

[Shroughaun]

Maybe a grass seed under the skin?

Would that be possible to see.
See did get stung by a bee a few weeks back. Could that possibly be it??

 

[deerstalker.308]

I’ll tap out and let a vet come in @Buchan may be better placed to advise.

 

[Bluey]

Hi All,
Would anyone have any idea what might be causing the hair loss on dogs back.

It started of which just felt like something stuck in the hair. Now the hair is falling out and looks red and tender underneath.

I thought maybe a tick but can’t visibly see one.

Looks like grass seed to me burrowing under the skin

 

[Shroughaun]

It’s a vet visit anyway in the morning that’s for sure.
Grass seed isn’t something I’d been familiar with.

 

[Bluey]

It’s a vet visit anyway in the morning that’s for sure.
Grass seed isn’t something I’d been familiar with.

I took my 4 English springer spaniels for a walk round the river one night last week and they came back covered with grass seeds. They had got all the way to the skin. It took me and the wife over a hour to make sure we had got rid of them all. Another place they are prone to getting them is in the skin between paws . You have to make sure you give them a good check over when you bring them back from a walk. It doesn't take them long to start burowing into the skin

 

[Buchan]

Classic vet response - hard to tell from the photos...
But it looks like hair has been lost rather than chewed as the skin is smooth, whcih goes against my first thought of fleas. Grass seed might do this, bt odd to get it in the middle of the back (I assume) but then I've just watched my lab rolling on the lawn!
Sorry, not being muchhelp here.

 

[Bluey]

It’s a vet visit anyway in the morning that’s for sure.
Grass seed isn’t something I’d been familiar with.

Hi did manage to get a appointment with the vets this morning for them to have a look at the dog. Just wondering what they thought it might have been on the dog. Just curious

 

[Shroughaun]

Just back from the Vets. Their actual not sure what it is. Think maybe rubbing up against a plant of some sort.
I’m actually ashamed couldn’t see it was so bad underneath.

 

[deerstalker.308]

Outchy, and that looks like it goes a bit further down than the hairs been shaved too! Poor thing, have they given anything for it?

 

[Buchan]

Just shows you why we say, " can't tell from that picture" This is an acute dermatitis, could be contact or due to self trauma, and fleas or other irritation eg anal sac or yeast in the peri-anal area. That's a good area they've clipped, so it should clear nicely. With these "hot spots" you have to clip back to clean skin or the infection keeps going. Older vets (me) give a bit shot of steroid to stop the self trauma!

 

[Shroughaun]

Yeah they’ve given me a sterile cream (Surolan). Also took a swab to send away for lab analysis.
Hopefully get it sorted soon.

 

[Bluey]

Just shows you why we say, " can't tell from that picture" This is an acute dermatitis, could be contact or due to self trauma, and fleas or other irritation eg anal sac or yeast in the peri-anal area. That's a good area they've clipped, so it should clear nicely. With these "hot spots" you have to clip back to clean skin or the infection keeps going. Older vets (me) give a bit shot of steroid to stop the self trauma!

The wife had a look at the photos and she thought it looked like a dermatitis

 

[Shroughaun]

Big improvement since yesterday evening. Maybe the pic doesn’t do it justice. But a lot of the redness has gone.

 

[deerstalker.308]

Big improvement since yesterday evening. Maybe the pic doesn’t do it justice. But a lot of the redness has gone.

Yes noticeable improvement

 

[Shroughaun]

Two weeks on since our visit to the vets. Everything seem to be improving nicely.
Cause still unknown. But the healing is the main thing.

 

[Norfolk Horn]

The difference is amazing the dog must be so much more comfortable

 

[Shroughaun]

Yeah she is to be fair.
Can’t imagine how it must have felt for her. I’ve been sceptical on where I been bringing here and what’s she’s been doing over the last two weeks. So looking forward to getting her out and about in due course.

 

[Bluey]

Two weeks on since our visit to the vets. Everything seem to be improving nicely.
Cause still unknown. But the healing is the main thing.

Big difference in the dogs condition. Glad it's going the right way