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JerryJones · Jan 2, 2005, 08:53 AM

I have three daschunds (Dixie, 5 years old and is red standard sized, Scarlet is 1 1/2 and is a medium sized dapple, and MaryCatherine is 1 year old and is a black and tan miniature.

All are healthy and happy but the miniature one looks like she is balding at the temples. She looked that way when I bought her as a puppy and thought the hair would grow in with age ( yeah you're right - my hair hasn't grown in with age either). Now the hair loss looks as though its spreading.

A lady I know bought a daschund - she brought it to work and I saw the same thing on her dog - in fact her dog had no hair on its chest.

I was wondering if its something common to the breed or if its something I should be concerned about. Is there a remedy?

Thanks in advance for any help you may have.

JerryJones

labman · Jan 2, 2005, 11:42 AM

Good dog people are scarce on the net. I have a strong background in socializing puppies and nutrition, but most of the medical stuff, I can only suggest checking with a vet. I think a vet tech checks in here sometimes, but haven't seem much of her recently. Maybe she waits for the right question.

tiger_3leg · Jan 2, 2005, 02:16 PM

Hi
I've never heard of Dachshunds having some crazy breed-specific hair loss like what you're describing. My first thoughts are fleas (although the hair loss is usually on the lower back and belly), mange, allergies/skin irritation (could be from it's bedding or other contacts, food, or inhaled allergens). Thyroid issues can also cause coat problems, but that wouldn't occur in a young dog.
Make sure you have the dog on good food - any national brand is ok; keep away from Ol' Roy and store brand foods. I recommend Eukanuba, Iams, or Nutro. Also keep your dogs on good flea control (again, nothing over the counter - only use what vets carry). Frontline, Advantage, and Advantix are best. Some dogs are VERY sensitive to fleas, and only one flea bite can drive them crazy. Keep any contact allergens to a minimum - carpet powders, air fresheners, etc that may irritate the skin. You can also bathe the dog with a gentle shampoo for dogs. Oatmeal shampoos are great, or you can get Hylyt or Relief shampoos from a vet.
If nothing seems to help, or if it gets worse, take him to the vet. As I said, mange is another concern, and he would need to be treated for that.
Good Luck

msterrilynn · Mar 27, 2005, 07:25 AM

I am at a total loss. My daschund has crusty areas on his back and his hair is falling out because of these scabs. I have taken him to the vet numerous times. He has had steroids shots and they don't seem to help. I have also changed his dog food from Science Diet to Purina Pro Plan - salmon flavored... still no luck. I've been told they can do an allergy test, however, they may not be able to tell for sure what he is allergic to. I also have been using Allergroom shampoo and Resicort leave-on lotion to assist with any itching...

I am looking for any other ideas.

Thanks

labman · Mar 27, 2005, 10:25 AM

The allergy tests are expensive. They can pinpoint the allergen and guide you to removing the right thing. You could try giving him a Benadryl capsule every day. If it relieves his symptoms, it is allergies, and that would encourage you to pay for the blood tests.

Pro Plan is a good chow that should be giving him all he needs. The Science Diet wasn't fish based too was it. If you change chows, you need to change protein sources as well as brands.

erileered · Jul 31, 2005, 07:41 PM

I have a dauschand/chichuahua puppy who is a little over 3 months old. With in the past 2 weeks she has been losing a large amount of hair from her neck to her tail. It is getting worse and she has started to scratch more. I took her to the vet and she was checked for mange and any sort of fungus. Everything seemed fine. The vet said that it may be an oil deficiency and gave me oil tablets to give to her but it has only gotten worse. The skin does not look irritated in any sort of way. We are not sure what to do?? :confused:

labman · Jul 31, 2005, 08:03 PM

You do have her on a dry, commercial dog chow, and feed her very little else? The cheaper ones may not have quite enough oil for some dogs, but the more expensive ones, if anything have too much. The fewer baths the better. Brush her once a day with a soft bristle brush. You are not allowing her to swim in a chlorinated pool are you? If she only continues to get worse, maybe you need to check with a second vet.

erileered · Aug 1, 2005, 05:02 AM

We have her eating 2 types of dry food-the vet told her to switch up her food. She has never been in a pool either. And if she seems dirty I wipe her down. She only weighs 3 and a half pounds so it was suggested not to give her full baths. I am going to have to take her to the vet. Thank you for your suggestions.

ethylmima · Sep 5, 2005, 05:33 PM

I have 2 Dachshunds - a smooth red female (11 months.) & a long-hair choc/tan male (4 months.).. . They sleep in the same cage together but have been itching because of fleas, I have given them 2 flea baths in the last week which seemed to get rid of the fleas.

But recently (within the last few days) my female has been "shedding" like crazy. She has very short smooth hair and has never shed before; now our shirts are covered and if you lightly run your hand along her back, your hand is then covered in her fur! I am very worried about her, she is acting normal and her coat still looks beautiful... but it's falling out! HELP.

They eat Purina One Puppy Chow. Could it be that sometimes my indoor/outdoor cat eats out of their food bowl, too?

Any response would be great.

Sincerely,
Sara

labman · Sep 5, 2005, 06:46 PM

If she has not been spayed or had her first season, she could blowing off her coat as females tend to do just before coming into season.

She could also be reacting to the baths. It would be better to go with one of the modern, effective flea treatments such as Advantage, Revolution, Program, or even some of the over the counter stuff. Along with frequent brushing, it should eliminate the need to bath them.

becky92029 · Sep 5, 2005, 09:11 PM

Jerry, I've had 7 doxies over the years and two or three have been like you describe - not much hair in the temple area. One or two were almost hairless on their tummies. I never worried about it and no vet ever said anything to me. I'll bet it has something to do with genetics. They're all a little different it seems.

becky92029 · Sep 5, 2005, 09:18 PM

Sorry I can't be of any real help, but I can tell you what I do with my two pups. I put a capful of Avon's Skin So Soft Bath Oil in their rinse water after the shampooing. This is what their foster mom did and they have wonderful coats. (No, the foster mom nor I sell Avon). :)

erileered · Sep 6, 2005, 06:09 AM

I had a problem with my female chihuahua/dauschund previously. Her hair was falling out leaving bald spots. We could not figure out what was wrong until on our 2nd visit the vet took a skin scraping and we found out that she had demodex mange. Mites were eating at her hair folicles causing her hair to fall out. My puppy received treatments and now has her coat back. Her major symptoms had been itching and bald spots. Supposedly this type of mange is hereditary and comes from the mother. I am not sure this will help anyone but figured I would share.

Thanks!
Erica

labman · Sep 6, 2005, 07:11 AM

Glad to hear you found relief for your dogs. Your experience is why so many of my answers suggest seeing the vet. Often similar symptoms can come from different things. The vets can do things like check the skin scrapings, and then prescribe effective remedies.

ethylmima · Sep 6, 2005, 11:26 AM

Thank-you for the reply. She should be going into her 2nd heat in about a month. Do they "blow" their coat for 2nd heats?

I was thinking that she was reacting to the pesticides in the flea shampoo differently than my long hair because it contacted her skin easier through her short hair. I am definitely going to get a medication like Advantage from a vet rather than use an over-the-counter flea shampoo.

Also lastnight I took a lint roller and rolled it gently across her back, not pulling out her hair - but TONS of tiny hairs stuck right to it and came right out. She isn't balding in any spots - But where is all that hair coming from...

Donna Newsome · Mar 14, 2008, 02:02 PM

I have dashhound,she is 3yrs old.I have had her to vet,taking shots every 2 months for allergies,since last September,she has allergies,hair loss,around eye area,around both ears(slick) no hair there.hair loss on belly,on behind.Vet told me not to give her anything with protein,only lamb and rice food,see if that helps,she was on beneful before,thought food couldn't get any better than that. she is on ol'roy lamb and rice,shots aren't helping,hair still isn't coming in .anyone have advice on issue,if so please let me know.

Donna Newsome · Mar 14, 2008, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by labman

The allergy tests are expensive. They can pinpoint the allergen and guide you to removing the right thing. You could try giving him a Benadryl capsule every day. If it relieves his symptoms, it is allergies, and that would encourage you to pay for the blood tests.

Pro Plan is a good chow that should be giving him all he needs. The Science Diet wasn't fish based too was it. If you change chows, you need to change protein sources as well as brands.

Can you tell me if pro plan food has lamb and rice?

mle0223 · Oct 30, 2008, 07:57 PM

Hey guys, I'm not an animal exper but I've had a dachund for about 7 years now and for three of those years he had the same skin and coat problems. Scabs, itching and hair falling out. I finally found a vet that fixed it. Most of this breed is allergic to the wheat fillers and preservatives found in regular food. The only type of food that they can eat is Natural Choice or Nature's Recipe. They're expensive but I know we all love our long bodied friends. Their skin should clear up in about 3 weeks. Also, no treats except for Nutro brand treats and use baby shampoo. Hope this helps!

e8wife · Nov 4, 2008, 03:19 PM

I have a 12 yr old chihuahua she was a rescue dog and had no hair at all 2yr ago I gave her Hill's Since Diet for sensitive stomach and she has hair all over her now

DASCHUND · Dec 23, 2008, 09:43 PM

I have a daschund and to tell you the truth most daschund don't have a lot of hair on the chest area all daschund I have met did not have hair on there chest it is supposed to be baled there. But in the other places, um... go to the vet and get some hair cream so it can start growing back. If your dog is losing hair in the summer that's not a problem because they shed a lot of hair in the summer.