Guest DeweytheGreyt Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 When we adopted Fallon in April we knew that he had some sort of skin condition on his side. Our regular vet did scrapings and a biopsy and it was determined that he had foliculitus and forunculosous. Basically an infection of the hair folicles that causes them to erupt in a particular area. He was on antibiotics for almost 2 months with no end in sight as the area on his side wasn't getting any better. We took him the the UW Vet school in June for a more comprehensive exam. At that time I was told that he did indeed have foliculitus, a yeast infection on his side, another bacterial infection on his side and he was low thyroid. So we were prescribed more anitbiotics, an antifungal, thyroid medication, and Malaseb shampoo. His side is looking MUCH better, but now the rest of him is looking terrible. He went from being bunny soft and furry all over to huge bald areas with dry coarse hair everywhere else. This is what his side looked like before treatment, you can see how thick his hair is around the affected area. And this is what the rest of him looked like... This is what he looks like now... His side is so much better, but I'm not sure what to think about all this crazy hair loss. We go in for our follow-up appointment on July 25, but I was wondering if within all of this board's great knowledge someone else has been through this or has any suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 I'd email the pictures to Ohio State for an opinion. Has he had a TBD panel done? Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DeweytheGreyt Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 Ok, stupid question....what is a TBD? His thyroid testing was done in Michigan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZoomDoggy Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 Tick Borne Diseases. Poor bald boy! I hope you have lots of sunscreen! Quote ~Aimee, with Flower, Alan, Queenie, & Spodee Odee! And forever in my heart: Tipper, Sissy, Chancy, Marla, Dazzle, Alimony, and Boo. This list is too damned long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SillyDog Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 You said he was hypothyroid, well that can cause hair loss. Plus, it looks to me that the areas he's lost his hair from are either where the infections were or normal grey pattern baldness: neck/waddle area, chest, tummy, inner & back thighs, inner front legs. I've got a perfectly healthly black girl who's just as bald. Although I'd ask your vet, I wouldn't be super concerned, especially if his thyroid levels are checking out ok. At least the infection sites look much better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DeweytheGreyt Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 No, we have not had a TBD panel done. I guess I was just so suprised that the hair loss happened AFTER we started him on the thyroid meds. Could the hairloss be caused by the thyroid meds or the shampoo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytlady94 Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 I think I would do allergy testing. Just thinking that in addition to the thyroid and hair folicle problems, he might also have some allergies, either food or environmental. My girl Lucy has food allergies that affect her skin. Quote Greyhound angels at the bridge- Casey, Charlie, Maggie, Molly, Renie, Lucy & Teddy. Beagle angels Peanut and Charlie. And to all the 4 legged Bridge souls who have touched my heart, thank you. When a greyhound looks into you eyes it seems they touch your very soul. "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more then he loves himself". Josh Billings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeylasMom Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 The hair loss doesn't seem normal to me although I don't have any solid suggestions on what's causing it. Fallon might be a dog who would benefit greatly from a special diet. I would recommend raw feeding, but if you're not comfortable with that there may be a home-cooked option. When I see stuff like this, including your original problem, I immediately think about changing the diet. Diet has a lot to do with overall immune health, and particularly with allergy issues, which this may be. Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytlady94 Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 The hair loss doesn't seem normal to me although I don't have any solid suggestions on what's causing it. Fallon might be a dog who would benefit greatly from a special diet. I would recommend raw feeding, but if you're not comfortable with that there may be a home-cooked option. When I see stuff like this, including your original problem, I immediately think about changing the diet. Diet has a lot to do with overall immune health, and particularly with allergy issues, which this may be. Changing Lucy to raw took care of her food allergies. Quote Greyhound angels at the bridge- Casey, Charlie, Maggie, Molly, Renie, Lucy & Teddy. Beagle angels Peanut and Charlie. And to all the 4 legged Bridge souls who have touched my heart, thank you. When a greyhound looks into you eyes it seems they touch your very soul. "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more then he loves himself". Josh Billings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DeweytheGreyt Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 The three vets that we have seen do not believe that his condition has anything to do with his food. We have considered changing it however, but were told to wait until his side had cleared up. Could the thyroid meds cause the hairloss? He was furry as a rabbit before then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 What were the readings on his panel? Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DeweytheGreyt Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 (edited) As for his thyroid panel this is what the numbers looked like on his printout: Fallon's #'s TT4 = 3 TT3 = 1.1 FT4 = 4 FT = 3 T4 Autoantibody= 3 T3 Autoantibody= 3 Reference Range TT4 15-67 TT3 1.0-2.5 FT4 8-26 FT 4.5-12.0 T4 Autoantibody 0-20 T3 Autoantibody 0-10 Edited July 13, 2007 by DeweytheGreyt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 No TSH? There is a thing known as a "sick thyroid" which means the thyroid (which is the engine for the body) is low because there is something else going on. Email Ohio State and ask their opinion. I think, if he is getting thyroid meds and doesn't need them, that anything could happen. Ohio State is very good about getting back to people. Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DeweytheGreyt Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 I just sent an email to Ohio State. I would have called our vet at UW, but she is out until the end of next week. Our appointment on the 25th just seems too far away to wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 Did you include the pictures? If not, send a follow up. Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DeweytheGreyt Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 Just sent pictures. Thank you for your help. I feel so terrible for the big fella, I can tell he feels "off". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 Interesting page on thyroid: Thyroid Info Can't find over supplementing long term! Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DeweytheGreyt Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Fallon's TSH is 12 and his Thyroglobulin Autoantibody is 13. I'm not quite sure what either mean. I faxed over Fallon's lab work to Dr. Couto this morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DeweytheGreyt Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 No word back from Ohio State yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuvEarsies Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 any response yet? Quote Bernadette with Jak, Horizon, Kota, Barnaby, Madison, Earl, Tiggy, Finney, Tommy, Woody, Tyler and Lincoln all at the bridge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DeweytheGreyt Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 (edited) I haven't heard a word back from Ohio State. I am really confused as to what to do here. My regular vet says that he is in the "low/normal" thyroid range for a greyhound and doesn't recommend medicating him. I should add that her practice is made up of primarily greyhounds and does the vetting for dogs in our program. The dermatology specialist at the University of Wisconsin Vet school that we have been seeing not only prescribed meds after seeing his thyroid test, but called me back this week after last weeks blood test and wants me to increase his meds. I have looked all over the internet for some answers. Do I medicate or not? Everyone seems to have a different opinion as to whether or not I should medicate Fallon. He NEVER showed any of the classic low thyroid symptoms before medicating (hair loss, anxiety, etc). He HAS shown these symptoms after medicating him though. I am so frustrated! I want to do the best thing for my boy and don't want to medicate him unneccesarily, but which vet is right? ETA: Fallon has been on Cipro and Cephalexin since January. I can't imagine being on antibiotics for that long can be good for him either. Edited July 31, 2007 by DeweytheGreyt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 That is very unusual for Ohio State. Please email them again. Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DeweytheGreyt Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 I have emailed twice since last week and haven't heard anything since July 14th when Dr. Couto emailed asking me to fax him Fallon's records. I don't want to be pushy, but I am dying for some sound advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahicks51 Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 You know, there's a group in the UK studying greyhound alopecia. They are not interested in all with the problems we Yanks are having, but when I requested a copy of the survey form (not knowing they were only taking British dogs), they were kind enough to send along a copy by email and let me know they sent it as a courtesy. Anyway- you might be able to reach the folks working on the problem there to see if they have any suggestions. http://www.rvc.ac.uk/Hospitals/QMH/Referra...tology.cfm#alop There's an email address for their nurse; they might be good enough to pass along an inquiry to the vets at work on the problem. Quote Coco (Maze Cocodrillo) Minerva (Kid's Snipper) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DeweytheGreyt Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 I just heard back from Dr. Couto. This is what he had to say: I did look at the materials you sent me on Fallon. I agree with Dr. ***** in that it is a pyoderma, but I am not sure as to what the cause is. The thyroid values are normal for a Greyhound; if he were hypothyroid, his TSH would be high. We see few Greyhounds with primary recurrent pyodermas, but they usually respond to a long (-608 week) course of antibiotics. I emailed back asking if he truly meant 608 weeks of antibiotics and to confirm that based on Fallon's results and his opion that he would NOT medicate Fallon for low thyroid. I am so grateful to have heard back, like we are finally getting somewhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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