Why is my Chow Chow losing hair and getting sunburn after puppies?

Hormones affect shedding in Chows. A female Chow’s shedding cycle is affected by her heat cycle and pregnancy. Anywhere from one to three months after giving birth, a female chow will rapidly blow out her coat, sometimes leaving her with thin hair along the ribcage, flanks and her lower back area. It takes two to four months for the fur to fill back in. This is nothing to worry about.

From your description it sounds as though Istra becomes itching and loses patches of fur during seasonally shedding periods. It is possible that this is due to environmental allergens such as pollen or dust. There many ways to manage seasonal allergies including medicated shampoos, antihistamines and fish oil. Other things can cause hair loss and itching including infections, mange and food allergies but these problems are typically not seasonal

I would recommend that the puppies be examined by a vet. The dandruff could simply be dry skin (so try not to bathe frequently), fleas, mites, skin infection, lice, ringworm, etc. depending on the cause a different treatment may be recommended. The puppies will also need to get age-appropriate vaccines, which may be able to be done within the same appointment, depending on the diagnosis.

Many breeds with heavy under coats will have extremely slow hair regrowth if the hair is shaved. This can take up to 2 years to regrow. That's why is is so important to keep these dogs regularly groomed to avoid needing to have them shaved (because something that is the only option). You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing his diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. You can't make his hair grow faster but you can give it the best building blocks that you can to help it. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Poor pup! I will say that one condition I see commonly is flea allergic dermatitis. Very often I do not even find fleas on the animal! Reason being the dog develops an allergic reaction to the flea saliva. They can be bit only a few times and have a very severe reaction similar to some humans with bee stings. If he is itching at the base of his tail, I would venture to guess this is a flea allergy. It is possible, however, that it is something else .Fish oil can be a great natural anti-inflammatory and can improve skin and overall health. I often combine fish oils with a few drops of Vitamin E oil and place it atop their food. From a medical standpoint, treatments such as Apoquel( an oral pill), or Cytopoint (an injectable every 4-8 weeks) are two options to relieve the itching. I will say that in such a young dog, flea allergy is still at the top of my list. Good luck!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Chowder. I would get Chowder to your veterinarian. Several things are possible- He could be suffering from a corneal scratch/ulcer either due to an eye injury or an eyelid problem called entropion. This is where the eyelids roll in towards the eye causing corneal irritation, itching, and corneal damage. Another possibility would be a severe bacterial infection of the eyelids and surrounding skin or even a mite infection. Eyes are very special sense organs and eye problems can deteriorate very quickly. Your vet can gather a history, perform an exam and then advise diagnostic/treatment plans. Possible tests include corneal eye stain, measure pressure inside the eye, tear test, skin scrape (looking for mites), etc. Once a diagnosis is made, a sound treatment plan can be implemented. The swelling of the eyelids may need to go down before an assessment can be made about eyelid conformation. If entropion is discovered, surgery will be advised to correct the anatomical defect. Get him evaluated today. He may have corneal damage and that can impact his vision long term. Good luck

The hair loss on Coco’s face is very suspicious for mites or ringworm (which humans can get as well). Less likely would be food allergies. Secondary bacterial infections are common with all these conditions. I recommend to have her see her veterinarian who may preform a skin scrape to check for mites. Treatment for mites varies. She will likely get medication for the bacterial as well. If she seems itchy, she should wear and Elizabethan collar to protect the area and try not to let her run it. I hope this helps to point you in the right direction! Please feel free to post any further questions!