Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / January 2008

.........sorry about the previous blank post!
....I'd get a 6 panel test done on the thyroid.
http://www.2ndchance.info/doghypothyroid.htm
Hair and Skin Changes
Adequate levels of thyroid hormone are necessary for hair to grow. When
hormone levels are low, hair growth sparsely over the lumbar area equally on
both sides. The back of the rear legs is also commonly affected. The pet's
hair coat is often scurfy, flaky and dull. The coat commonly lacks finer
body hairs and undercoat. The tail may be bald as a rat's tail. An important
clue pointing to thyroid deficiency is that this hair loss is not itchy as
it would be from fleas , allergic skin or infectious skin disease.
Hypothyroid dogs commonly have excess black pigment in the skin of their
groin. This pigment results in a condition called acanthosis nigricans.
Sometimes this pigment is present over much of the body and the skin becomes
oily and thickened. Broken toenails and toenail infections are common. Hair
coat color may change.

buglady
take out the dog before replying

How is her coat otherwise? Healthy looking? Or has the 'quality' of the coat
changed as well recently? Have you had her looked at?

What's her undercoat normally like? Do you have pictures (that you could
post to a website and post a link?) Its tough to get a good idea from just
words.

Is this a colour you normally see in her coat, that is showing through
because of a lack of black?

How is she otherwise? Eating/drinking as per normal? Weight loss? Weight
gain? Is she spayed?

Dale