"Injury" hair growing back with different color & texture.

[Carrie Arnold]

My 2 year old AL boy, Louie, had a recent battle with fleas. (Which have been taken care of!) He really chewed himself up pretty good and required antibiotics to clear things up. Since he looked so mangy with his bald patches, I went ahead and had the groomer shave him down to 1" to give things a chance to even out with the bald spots. Now that things are growing back in, the new hair is dark, reddish brown...and the rest of him is apricot!! Also, the new hair is smooth and straight and Louie is quite wooly and poodley. Have any of you had this experience? Does it eventually get back to normal?

[nate]

Our 18month old had an elbow like that around 5months old.  it eventually started to lighten and match the rest of him.  

i read up on stuff like this a long time ago... according to a lot of blogs -- and no vets or books confirmed/denied/addressed  this to my knowledge -- basically after a shock to the system, the follicles can reset and think they're a puppy again.  they go through the whole baby-hair to normal hair process again.  it happens often with injuries and "groomer shock" ( when they can actually go bald due to a bad grooming experience ). everyone's mileage varies.

you should be generally happy that he grew hair back in the first place.  some dogs can take months/years , if ever , to grow hair back. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think the hair in injured ares can be darker/different for a time but that often it all blends in again.

[Becka]

I remember a similar discussion about this a while back--try searching using some of the terms you used in your discussion heading and you should find it.

[Christine & Shelby]

My Shelby was attacked at her Playcare facility and received 8 puncture wounds. Those 8 spots are growning in darker red (her puppy color) while the rest of her coat is apricot. It's been several months.... We'll see if it stays this way long term or if it eventually fades.

[Carrie Arnold]

Thanks for the replies! There is hope that things will get back to normal. If not, I guess it adds character! Nate, glad you did some research; I couldn't come up with much. Christine, Louie's "new" hair is a little darker than his puppy hair, but it makes me realize how much his coat has changed since he was a puppy!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

My Gracie Doodle just finished being on Prednisone for almost a year.  She lost probably 80% of her hair and it is now growing back like crazy.  She is apricot and it is coming in dark red and in areas sort of brown.  She had a few areas on her sides that looked flat but after they got a certain length they flipped up.  Gracie is Apricot and is a wavy fleece F1 GD.  We are having fun wondering what she is going to look like once everything is in and she has an "even up" haircut.  It just is what it is and you get what you get.  Either way, they are still lovable and adorable!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

How's Gracie doing? I hope she can stay off Prednisone for good.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Wondering the same. Please give us all an update.  Blog Nancie?