bald patches around eyes

[Meera Rao]

Hi everyone,

My dog, 14 month old Einstein has bald patches around his eyes. He rubs this part on surfaces and the hair falls off. The Vet has tested him for specific mites and infection but it has come back negative twice, so he does not have nay infection. Vets then treated him with antibiotic and steroids and he responded well, growing hair back, but as soon as the medicines stopped he is back to doing it. He is now on 50 mg Hydroxyzine 3 times a day,  but I see no improvement. 

I am beginning to think he may be allergic to some stuffing in toys? But I don't know. I would welcome any comments and tips.

Thanks everyone. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If the cause was allergies of any kind, he would not just have hair loss around his eyes. You would notice itching, rubbing, licking, biting or scratching of other areas of his body, usually the paws, groin and/or axilla, and base of the tail. That would include a food allergy or an environmental allergy.

If the stuffed toys are the culprit, he would have the same symptoms from stuffed sofa cushions, pillows, etc., and that might be an indication of a dust mite allergy, but again, the itching would not be limited to the area around his eyes. 

But the fact that it responded to steroids is indicative of some type of allergy or disease. 

Did the vet do skin scrapings? Any blood work? 

[Meera Rao]

They did do skin scrapings twice, negative both times. 

No blood work specifically for this. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Are his eyelids swollen and/or red?

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Just out of curiosity, Karen...why couldn't it be food related? I'm allergic to canned clams. My only symptom is itching eyes. Haven't torn my hair out yet, but I feel as tho I want too at times. :p
I'm guessing,if the dog is rubbing his eyes, than they itch?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm not saying it can't be food related, although true food allergies are much less common than most people believe, and rarer still in dogs under 2 years old. I'm saying that it wouldn't be limited to itching only around the eyes, there would be other areas affected. A true allergy produces a histamine response, and in dogs, the histamine receptors are located differently than in people. That's why dogs with allergies to ragweed (or other pollens) bite and lick their paws, while humans' symptoms are usually confined to the facial sinus areas.

 As for your reaction to canned clams, it would be unlikely that you were allergic only to canned clams and not to fresh steamed clams, say, or any other form of clams. The allergy would be to the protein in the clams, and that remains the same regardless of how they are prepared. Of course, there could be some other ingredient that is in canned clams but not fresh ones that is causing the reaction. 

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Thanks for the explanation!
And nope...I can eat fresh clams all day and never have a reaction. Raw or cooked , any number of ways. It appears to be canned clams only...something in the way it's processed / additive. But have never had a reaction with anything else. ( shrugs)

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think a visit to a veterinary dermatologist might be your best bet. I would guess there must be one on Red Bank. But here is a list:

https://www.acvd.org/locator/locations.asp?state=NJ

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with this very good advice. 

[Meera Rao]

Thanks for this list, I will make an appointment w a dermatologist. 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna rubs her hair off like this when her seasonal allergies (ragweed) flare up.  Her allergies were so bad this year we had to put her on prednisone.  Previous years we just used Benadryl.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

JD used to do that too when he had a flare. But it was never just around the eyes. His paws and parts of his body would also be affected.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Yeah, Luna chews her paws and rubs her back too, but the eyes are the only spot where you can see physical signs.