Strange Hair Growing In On 3 Yr Old GD Back

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I don't know where to post this discussion...either here or in the Medical Group.  Gracie Doodle is a 3 yr. old Goldendoodle (F1) and has never had a skin issue at all.  She is a very soft wavy fleece but not thick.  If you push back her hair it is very easy to view her skin.  She has just finished having two surgeries for fox tail removal and was on an antibiotic for 12 days.  That is the only change in her life.  No food changes...nothing.  Within the last week these two areas on her back right on her spin have showed up.  It is almost like she is trying to become a Rhodesian Ridgeback!!  The hair is very course, tight, laying very flat and short.  One is larger than the other.  They are 2/3 back on her back.  Any clues or ideas as to what this is and what I can expect to have happen? 

[Leslie C.]

Weird - no clue good luck!! What is Fox Tail removal?
~Leslie

[Helen]

my mini labradoodle has that sort of hair as part of his regular coat, it is all over, but not in clumps like that. Hopefully someone has the answer out there.

[Deanna Marsh]

I've heard of Kemp which is coarser hair but usually it's generally all down the back. My mother-in-law's GD has a spot like this that happened after a sore that healed on her puppies back, it later went away, but has since returned. Dark like that and coarser, I think it's kind of cute! A little quirky orange spot!

[Kim]

my Allie has the SAME spot. I have had the Vet look at it as well as the Groomer. I have been told it is one of two things: My Vet seems to think it was a bruise that changed the color of the hair (weird - I know) and the Groomer who has horses says that this happens to her horses after a bug bite. Not sure - but I'm growing to like it. She has 2 of them now.

Oh - and if it makes you feel any better. It is no longer course and flat. It has grown with her hair.

Did you notice a bald spot? I didn't, which is why I was shocked when I first saw it!!!!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Thanks Kim for your input. It makes the most sense so far. There never was a bald spot and I am sure I would have noticed it since I am constantly running my hands through her...especially her back! A bruise is the only thing I can come up with. I say this only because she had been at a dog ranch for 9 days and when I have watched dogs play I often wonder when they are rolling around and falling to the ground if they ever get bruised or sore when they land on a stick or rock. Dogs just seem to roll and fall anywhere without choosing soft places to land! I can see this happening to Gracie Doodle while at the ranch and it is the only explanation I can possibly come up with. I has been two weeks since she was there which seems kind of soon for her hair to have grown. As it grew it must have pushed her old hair away because she never was bald. Otherwise, something internal going on which I really don't want to even think about! If it grows out then I won't mind as much. She will look unique with some red spots on her back!!! Thanks for your help.

[Heidi]

Something very similar happened with my FIB goldendoodle Newton. He had some sort of sore on his foot that he kept worrying to the point that he licked all the fur off his toes. A visit to the vet and some meds helped heal up his foot, but when his fur grew back, it was just like yours - dark orangish-red and flat rather than his normal tannish-orange curly. Now he has a cute quirky foot. He's had it about a year now, and its still the same. I imagine maybe your dog had a bite or sore on his back and had the same reaction. :)

[Kim]

WEIRD. Same thing happened to Allie - the fur on her foot!!!!!!!!! But it was the fur between the pads. I have to call my Husband now so we can figure out if the strange hair thing happened before or after the foot.

oh wait - I'm just thinking... you mean that Newton's hair on the foot changed color. Allie's foot hair didn't change color - the foot was fine after us making her use the E-Collar. She wasn't on Anti-biotics or anything... just Paw Balm from Petco.

Just talked to Hubby... Hair change was BEFORE the foot problem!

[Kim]

here is a pic where you can see that it has grown in with the rest of her hair!!!!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Cute photo! Yes, that is the exact spot where it is happening to Gracie. Thanks for sending it as an example.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Did you ever figure this out? Owen is 12 weeks and on antibiotics for Giardia. The hair on his back has an area that is not getting short and coarse. Could it have anything to do with the antibiotics?

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Bonnie...no I never got a definitive answer as to why. There were no injuries, hot spots, allergies...nothing. No Antibiotics either. We are just accepting that it is a coat change and since Gracie is 3 1/2 years old there may be other changes in her lifetime with her coat. She is extremely healthy with zero health problems at all. I do all her grooming so I know there are no injuries that may occur during grooming if she were at a groomer. So we just figure...it is what it is!!!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thank you for answering my question, Nancie. I meant to say in my post that the hair on his back IS getting short and course. It started near his tail and is moving up his back. It seemed way too early for coat change but then Gracie seems a little old for coat change. I was just hoping it wasn't caused by the antibiotics but there isn't anything to do about it if it is anyway. ;o) Happy Thanksgiving!