Why is my 5-year-old picky Chihuahua's hair thinning? Is it diet?

Poor Tiny. Without seeing him, I cannot say for sure why his fur is changing colors or why he has a poor appetite. His fur could be changing due to age or chronic chewing/licking. If he has a skin infection or thyroid problems, this could also cause his fur to change. There are a number of reason than can cause them to have a decreased appetite. I would have your vet take a look to ensure there isn't something that needs treatment for both the skin and appetite. If he has always been a picky eater then I would be less concerned. Some of these guys prefer to have homecooked meals which is fine as long as you feed them a proper and balanced diet. I would look into recipes off balanceit.com. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If he is itchy at all then it could be due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Poor Chica! This could be caused by a number of different things. Some common possibilities would include a localized bacterial or fungal skin infection, an allergy, or even an inflammatory reaction to an insect bite or something similar. Treatment will depend on what the underlying problem is, so it would be best to have this checked by your vet when you are able to. He/she can do some simple skin tests to help diagnose the problem and get her started on appropriate treatment.

Excessive shedding of hair can be due to things like stress, certain endocrine diseases, primary dermatologic diseases, or natural loss due to seasonal changes. Based on her unusual cries for attention, she may be less comfortable / contented than she normally is for one reason or another. Pairing this with her inability to gain weight, I would say that it is certainly time to have your veterinarian examine her. While you do not seem to be able to appreciate any identifiable pain response, a thorough physical exam might reveal something less obvious. Reasons for failure to gain weight are usually related to the gastrointestinal tract and will typically include gastrointestinal parasites, certain types of cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or generalized anorexia. Hope this helps and that you are able to figure things out for you and Mamas.

Hi, I can't see any picture of Sachi on your post, so I'm assuming you have seen another post on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach which looks like her eye. If your vet has seen that Sachi already had mild (or immature) cataracts, it is likely that it may have become mature and looks more white. Cataracts can develop very rapidly, particularly with some health conditions like Diabetes mellitus. It would be a good idea to get her eyes checked by your vet. They will probably also recommend a blood test to check that she doesn't have an underlying health concern. If you have any other questions I can help you with a text consultation.

Especially if symmetric that could be due to an hormonal problem, most likely related to thyroid hormone or sexual hormones (estrogen). Tests for thyroid hormone (total T4 and TSH and eventually free T4) and sexual hormones are recommended in these cases. Sexual hormones related hair loss can be much improved with neutering procedure.

It sounds like Chachi has a lot going on! What I am understanding Is that Chachi is lethargic (just lying in bed all day), he has gained about a pound and a half over the last 6 months despite eating less. He has symmetrical hair loss and is aways cold, and his vision in the dark is getting worse. You were told that the cause of the hair loss was CDA (color dilution alopecia). While this could cause the hair loss, CDA does not cause other symptoms in addition to hair loss; CDA does not explain the lethargy or weight gain. Melatonin has not helped his symptoms. I am a little confused on his T4 results. Was a whole thyroid panel run, including a TSH? Were there any abnormalities on general bloodwork? (cbc and chemistry profile) All of this information can be helpful in piecing together what the problem is and how to best manage it. An abdominal ultrasound may also be recommended to more fully evaluate what may be causing the lethargy and weight gain. It may be worth considering a consultation with an internal medicine specialist. Their advanced knowledge and experience managing complicated endocrine cases can be extremely helpful in cases that are difficult to manage. Find one near you here: https://find.vetspecialists.com I am sorry that I don't have any specific answers or recommendations for you and Chachi, but I don't really have enough information to fathom a guess at what may be causing his issue. You can request an online consultation for a "back and forth" exchange of information that may be more beneficial to you. Again, I encourage you to consider seeing a specialist with Chachi. Thank you for using PetCoach!