What to do if my dog's hair is thinning and her meds aren't working?

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.

The cost of the blood tests and medications will very by area and clinics within the area, so I suggest giving local clinics a call to see how much they charge for these things. I can also give you a link to a website to find a low cost clinic in your area: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962

Hello and thank you for reaching out to us concerning your pets hair loss. Yes, hypothyroidism can be a cause of an older dogs hair loss. The clinical signs of hypothyroidism are no itchy hair loss, panting, constantly seeking out vents or shady places because the heat bothers them, etc. but this condition usually begins between the ages of two and five but there are some situations in which happens at an older age. There are many other diseases that can also cause hair loss so it is in your best interest To take him to a veterinarian to have a full physical examination performed. The vet will be able to run tests such as blood work up, thyroid testing, skin scraping, etc. to be able to make a diagnosis and put him on the correct treatment. I hope this information has helped. Have a great day.

I believe you are referring to the medication Apoquel. I cannot tell much from the photo - is this Bear's back? My suggestions would be: 1. Do an allergy test so you can find out what he is allergic to (if anything). ( http://petslady.com/article/new-allergy-test-my-pet-offers-home-testing-dogs-and-cats ) ( https://www.amazon.com/s?k=allergy+tests&i=pets&tag=petslady-20&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 ) If there are allergies you should talk to your vet about immunotherapy instead of spending time and money on all this other stuff. ( https://www.petcoach.co/article/allergy-testing-immunotherapy-in-dogs/ ) 2. Talk to your vet about the possibility of underlying endocrinopathy and test for them (ie: Cushing's disease, thryoid disease, etc) 3. Try using this line of anti-itch products. (Calm by Duoxo). There is shampoo, mousse and spray. ( https://www.allivet.com/p-6679-douxo-calm-mousse-for-dogs-and-cats-68-oz.aspx ) ( https://www.allivet.com/p-6688-douxo-calm-shampoo-for-dogs-and-cats.aspx ) ( https://www.allivet.com/p-6674-douxo-calm-micro-emulsion-spray-for-dogs-and-cats-68-oz.aspx ) With allergies, you need to find the underlying cause and treat that instead of just trying to just cure symptoms.

Poor girl. I would highly recommend having her tested for demodexx mites, hypothyroidism, and a fungal infection. Either of these can cause these symptoms, but they can also all be treated with relatively good success. Best of luck to you at the vet. Best wishes and take care.

There are a lot of things that could be causing this appearance to the skin, and it may not be easy or cheap to figure it out. I would recommend that you keep working with the vet. Baseline blood work, thyroid hormone, testing for Cushing's disease, skin biopsies, food trials, flea preventatives, etc may be needed.

There is a possibility that your dog is suffering from hypothyroidism, so your vet should also do a thyroid test. Hypothyroidism can also cause hair loss as you describe. Another possibility could be seasonal alopecia, also called cyclic follicular dysplasia which causes hair loss on the flanks and back, just as you describe. The treatment is melatonin. It will not be a remedy showing success within a few days, so the melatonin will have to be given over several months, if not life-long. In some dogs the hair will never grow back. Your vet may want to take a skin biopsy and send it in to a pathology lab. This can also give valuable information about the cause of the alopecia.