Doodle losing hair

[Kathryn Howard]

Hi, I am brand new to your site, thank you for having me.    I am needing some help.....I have an almost 2 year old English Doodle.   She has started losing her hair in clumps and patches all over.  This all started about a month ago and has just gotten worse everyday.   I took her to vet two weeks ago, they did blood tests and skin scrapings and no sign of mites or anything like that!   Came home with some RX shampoo and different food, still getting worse so yesterday our vet sedated her and took 3 biopsies of some of the areas to send off to a lab.   We won't know anything for another week or so.    I am really worried!   Has anyone had this happen or know anything it might could be.   Also, her red and white blood cells are normal but her liver is elevated.   She looks awful too and has a musty smell cuz I can't take her to a groomer until this is figured out plus she has several stitches and those won't come out till 10 more days.      I just feel helpless!   Any info you might have would be greatly appreciated.  Another note, I have a Labradoodle who is 1 yr old and she is just fine.   Not from same family...two different breeders.    Thank you so much!    Our doodles are our babies!!! 

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Hello Kathryn, sorry to hear your poor girl is having this problem and I hope it is nothing but seasonal allergies or such, but do a search for "hair loss" in the forum and there you will find years of posts regarding doodles with this problem.  Will hopefully give you some idea of what to look for if biopsies don't prove to be diagnostic. 

Good luck.

[Kathryn Howard]

Thank you so much!   I will check "hair loss" forum's.   I really appreciate it.

[Stella]

I'm guessing that as part of the blood testing they tested her thyroid? Karen and Jackdoodle will tell you that it is extremely rare for skin conditions to be food related. If the biopsies aren't very conclusive I would ask for a referral to a veterinary dermatologist.

I have a multi-gen LD with seasonal alopecia, basically his hair falls out every winter - a canine presentation of seasonal affectvie disorder. He was tested for thyroid, Addisons, Cushings, a whole bunch of other metabolic disorders, as well as having skin scrapings etc etc done. It was basically a process of elimination to get a diagnosis. Every year in late fall his hair along his flanks and across his back begins to fall out, by mid-winter those areas are totally bald and his skin becomes horrible and flaky. I moisturise him regularly, use a soothingly shampoo and he always wears a coat outside. Luckily his face and legs aren't too badly affected so when he has his coat on he looks almost normal. In early summer his hair begins to grow back and by October he looks normal again!

I hope you get an answer for your dog :)

[Kathryn Howard]

Thank you so much for your reply!   I appreciate the info.  I will keep you posted on what we find with Lulu.  Biopsies should be back next week.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with Stella. There are a number of conditions that could cause this, and none of them are related in any way to food. I would definitely ask for a referral to a specialist if your vet is not able to come up with a conclusive diagnosis. I'm thinking that a veterinary internal medicine specialist might be an alternative choice to a dermatology specialist, especially with the elevated liver enzymes. Please keep us posted on what you find out. 

[Kathryn Howard]

Thank you Karen!   I appreciate your feedback.   I will keep ya'll posted once I know something!   

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

I wonder if the breeder might be able to add any information to help you understand why girl is losing her hair. Perhaps this has happened to some of her siblings or parents. What a puzzle. I am not a vet, nor a dermatologist, but I doubt that this is related to her food. I hope the blood tests are informative, and that you are able to figure out what is going on. 

[Kathryn Howard]

Good Idea, I will contact her breeder.   Thank you so much for replying.   

[Kathryn Howard]

update on Lulu...got the results from the biopsies back yesterday and she has Sebaceous Adentis (sp?) so we will start a regime of bathing in baby oil and Rx shampoo 3 times a week plus taking two vitamin A pills, antibiotics and omega 3 pills a day.   plus a topical ointment after the baths.  There is no cure.     So thankful it wasn't anything more serious.

It will be a lot to get used to but I will do anything for her, she is my love!  I have never loved a dog as much as I love her!   I know you all understand and feel the same way!    Thank you all so very much for your thoughts, prayers and info.   So happy to be apart of such a wonderful doodle family!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm sorry to hear this, Kathryn. Sebaceous Adenitis is a genetic disease that runs in Poodles, so you will want to inform your breeder of this diagnosis. There is an S.A. registry in the Poodle bloodlines database, but unfortunately, doodle breeders don't seem to do that.

The disease is basically cosmetic, but it can be difficult to manage and keep the dog comfortable. Often, dogs with S.A. require immunosuppressant drugs such as cyclosporine. 

Here's some good information: 

http://www.poodlehealthregistry.org/docs/Standard/PHR_Standard_SA.html

[Kathryn Howard]

Thank you so much Karen!   I have already let breeder know.     Thank you for the info, very good to know.

[Stella]

Huh, I had wondered if this is what it was from your description. You definitely need to tell the breeder about her diagnosis. The hardest thing I find with Chases seasonal hair loss is that people think he has mange because his hairless skin gets nasty if I don't keep on top of it. I have to do a lot of explaining when we are agility trials - reassuring people that he isn't contagious! In the winter or on cold, wet days he always wears a sweater or coat to keep him warm and dry. Glad you were able Tim get a diagnosis and can now start managing it and get her more comfortable.