Why does my Shih Tzu have black, itchy skin and thinning hair?

Poor Chalie! Black discoloration in the skin can occur as a result of chronic inflammation (from infection, fleas, allergies, etc.) or due to endocrine/metabolic conditions (such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease). Make sure that Chalie is receiving a high quality flea preventative (such as Nexgard, Bravecto or K9 Advantix II) regularly. You can also try bathing him in a gentle oatmeal based dog shampoo, because this can be soothing on the skin. I also recommend taking Chalie to his vet for further evaluation of his skin to determine if there are more chronic conditions that should be addressed. I hope that all goes well!

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. From the pictures that you provided my primary suspicions would be a skin infection. There are some things that you can do at home if you are unable to get to a vet right away. I would suggest starting with a shampoo that is medicated such as Duoxo chlorhexidine PS combination and bathe him twice weekly until the infection is resolved. I would also suggest starting welactin omega-3 fish oil and essential 6 Spot On by dermoscent. If there is no improvement then I would see your vet for further testing and treatments. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I am also available via phone or text base consultation if needed

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. From your description, it sounds as though Jojo is fighting a bacterial skin infection. It is hard to say for sure without pictures being unable to examine him. I would recommend a chlorhexidine based shampoo such as Douxo PS chlorhexidine combination shampoo and bathe twice weekly until the infection is resolved. A spray such as malacetic conditioning spray should also be used and applied to the affected area 2-3 times daily until resolved. These can be found online quite easily and if you are unable to get these delivered to your area, something comparable should suffice. If the skin condition worsens I would recommend having a veterinarian examine him so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

This could indicate an allergy to the environment, food or another skin disease like sabeceous adenititis or an autoimmune disease. Sometimes an oatmeal based pet shampoo and conditioner help as well as omega 3 fatty acid supplements. However if this is due to an allergy he may need a long term medication like Apoquel for control. If Shadow gets worse, or the over the counter treatments don't work, he needs to get checked out by his veterinarian.

If it all possible I would recommend taking Molly to a veterinary dermatologist. If she does have allergies or atopy it's going to take an accurate diagnosis in order to treat her correctly. Symptomatic treatment is only going to work for short periods of time, as you've seen. Unfortunately shitzus are a breed that is often affected with skin disease. While the initial investment with a dermatologist may be expensive, in the long run I usually tell my clients that it will be less expensive than treating infection after infection or trying over-the-counter remedies. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/pruritus-itching-and-scratching-in-dogs https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/allergy-general-in-dogs Best of luck, I hope Molly gets some relief soon. Thank you for using PetCoach

Skin problems can have a variety of causes, sometimes more than one. Allergies, parasites, bacterial or fungal infections, even contact with some surfaces or substances will cause itching, rash and/or hair loss. It is important to have the problem checked by your vet to determine if there is a medical cause for your pet’s skin issues and treat accordingly. In pets of all ages, fleas, food allergies and exposure to chemical irritants such as cleaners and soaps can be a cause. Any one of these may not be enough to trigger the breakouts, depending on how sensitive your pet is, but a combination can be enough to start the itch-scratch cycle. Finding out the cause and eliminating it is the best course of action. With flea allergies, if your pet is sensitive enough, a single bite can cause them to break out scratch enough to tear their skin. Check for fleas with a flea comb. Look for fleas and/or tiny black granules, like coarse black pepper. This is flea feces, consisting of digested, dried blood. You may find tiny white particles, like salt, which are the flea eggs. Applying a good topical monthly flea treatment and aggressively treating your house and yard will help break the flea life cycle. If you use plastic bowls, this is a possible cause for hair loss, though this tends to be on the chin, where their skin touches the bowl while they eat. If you suspect this to be the culprit, try changing the bowls to glass, metal or ceramic. Food allergies are often caused by sensitivity to a protein in the food. Hill's Science Diet offers some non-prescription options for sensitive skin as well as prescription hypoallergenic foods for more severe cases. Royal Canin carries limited protein diets that may also offer some relief. Your vet can recommend a specific diet that will help. If there is no relief or not enough, consider getting your pet checked by a veterinary dermatologist and having allergy testing done.

The most common cause for hair loss and itching in this particular area is flea allergies. I would recommend that you have Shi Shi examined by a vet. The vet will examine all of her skin and discuss her medical history. The vet may need to take a sample of the skin for examination under the microscope. Once they have a better idea as to the cause, as in fleas or flea allergies, mites, or bacterial infection, they can recommend an appropriate treatment plan. https://www.petcoach.co/article/flea-allergy-dermatitis-or-flea-bite-hypersensitivity/