Dog's balding, flaky skin: Is it thyroid? What can I do now?

Skin problems are common in dogs with hypothyroidism, and should improve once medication has been started. I would give it about 6-8 weeks for the coat to get back to normal again. It is possible that it may appear to get worse around the 3-4 week mark though, as the old hairs are pushed out for the new coat to grow in. In the meantime, if the only problem is dry skin, try to bathe no more than once a month, and use a conditioner afterwards. Omega 3 (fish oil) supplements can also help to combat dryness. I hope this helps, and your pup is feeling better soon!

Dogs that are hypothyroid have a deficiency of thyroid hormone which can cause the symptoms you describe as well as lethargy, weight gain, etc. Replacing with thyroid hormone is the only way to treat the problem, and it is necessary to confirm that she is indeed hypothyroid before starting treatment. Unfortunately there is nothing that can be given at home.

Hello and thank you for your question about Twix! I am sorry he is having a hard time with his skin and finding a shampoo to use. I would recommend products from the company called DOUXO, specifically using the shampoo formulation for seborrhea. That should help. You can ask your veterinarian if they carry this. Some online retailers also sell it, like amazon.

Bailey's flaky, scaly skin could be due to a number of conditions, including hypothyroidism, seborrhea (oily yet flaky skin - often caused by another condition), allergies, among others. Stress increases shedding and often worsens any scaling of the skin. You can try bathing her in a medicated shampoo designed to manage seborrhea conditions, but be sure to leave the shampoo on her coat for 5-10 minutes before rinsing. Here is one shampoo example: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=21564. Continue brushing her frequently as you are doing because this will help to spread natural oils throughout her hair in an attempt to minimize scaling. If this issue worsens, Bailey should be examined by her vet to assure that there is not a more systemic cause of this issue. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Poor guy. You did the right thing by shaving it. But now it looks like he is in need of antibiotics because this is a skin infection, hence the yellow crusting seen there. You will need to take him in to your local vet for a quick skin test to rule out mites and a thyroid test may be applicable as well, depending on his estimated age and physical exam findings. The vet will likely get him started on oral antibiotics to hopefully clear up this skin infection. Also Duoxo shampoo seborrhea may help clear up some of these infected areas. Duoxo shampoo for dogs is often found through online stores. I hope he gets better soon. Best wishes and take care.

Hi. Skin problems can be difficult to diagnose and difficult to resolve. Your breed of dog tends to have allergies but as a puppy he may be a bit young for this. He could be having a reaction to something in his environment, have dry skin, or may have a parasite on the skin called Demodex. This parasite can cause fur loss in different areas and is more common in puppies as well as your breed of dog. You did not mention the exact medication that he is on so I cannot comment on that however I would recommend to add a high quality soothing and hydrating shampoo. Virbac has high quality shampoos that many veterinarians use and now it can be purchased on amazon! I particularly like the episoothe shampoo and resicort

I'm so sorry that Duke is doing poorly. Unfortunately skin problems can be very difficult to diagnose and treat because they often look the same on exam and require further testing for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. If Duke has a low thyroid level, then he will need thyroid medication for the rest of his life. I have attached more information on hypothyroidism below. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=461 Unfortunately, hair loss can be caused by a huge variety of hormonal and skin problems. Below is a handout that discusses another hormonal disease that can affect the skin called Cushing's disease. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1551 If Duke is itchy, I would also recommend that your veterinarian perform a skin cytology to evaluate for secondary bacterial or yeast infection which is very common with hormonal diseases. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=466 I think you will likely need to have your vet recheck Duke's skin, recheck his blood work, and possibly do additional testing to determine the best treatment for Duke. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.