seeh2o Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 While I was with Carl at the ophthalmologist last week they were fascinated by his baldness. In a follow up phone call they were still fixated on it and had been researching it. I assume that some of Carl's baldness is due to being hypothyroid, but he was bald before he was hypothyroid. Quite honestly, I'm not all that bothered by it. When I spoke with the vet he said that there had been some (more than 50%) success in helping the greyhounds grow back their fur with the use of - Melatonin. If that is true, what a cheap and easy fix with no long lasting side effects. I Googled it and here is an article that mentions it. Page 3, top of second column "Canine Pattern Alopecia". Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RocketDog Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 I wonder if the melatonin would change their sleeping schedule at all - mine sleep A LOT already - but this may be something I should bring up with my vet next time we're in. I don't mind the baldness, but if there's an inexpensive and harmless supplement I can add to their food that might help, I wouldn't mind giving it a try! We have a big container of melatonin caps we got a few months ago when my fiance was having sleeping troubles anyways... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindles Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 Eek, I don't know about that. Messing with hormones is never a good idea. I'd rather my dog just stay bald. Quote | Rachel | Dewty, Trigger, and Charlotte | Missing Dazzle, Echo, and Julio | Learn what your greyhound's life was like before becoming part of yours!"The only thing better than the cutest kitty in the world is any dog." -Daniel Tosh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MZH Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 Very interesting article! I gave Cullen 3 mg melatonin twice a day to deal with high estrogen levels caused by his Atypical Cushings It seemed to help but as with anything, your mileage may vary. Marcia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 Somebody scientific actually studied greyhound baldness and hypothyroidism. They found that there was no correlation. IIRC the leading theory -- still a theory, no proof -- is that it has to do with cortisol levels, at least initially. And of course, follicles that aren't active for a long time might never be active. I take the bald with the fuzzy with the patchy -- love 'em all . Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 Somebody scientific actually studied greyhound baldness and hypothyroidism. They found that there was no correlation. IIRC the leading theory -- still a theory, no proof -- is that it has to do with cortisol levels, at least initially. And of course, follicles that aren't active for a long time might never be active. I take the bald with the fuzzy with the patchy -- love 'em all . This is interesting, Misty's cortisol levels are high because of the Cushings and she has the fullest thighs I've ever seen, with fur that is. Quote Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeh2o Posted December 20, 2008 Author Share Posted December 20, 2008 (edited) My Sheila, non-grey, lost her eyesight from SARDs, during the months long build up of the "disease" (the crescendo being the loss of eyesight) she had extremely high cortisol levels. She never lost any fur anywhere. From what I've been reading you're right, it's not clear cut, but there are studies confirming that there are subsets of greys with BTS do have thyroid deficiencies or other endocrine problems. Edited December 20, 2008 by ckruzan Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunesMom Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 What would be the dangers (if any) of trying melatonin? I ask because DH & I used to use it for jet lag before the invention of Ambien (insert Hallelujah chorus here). If the side effects are minor or rare, I might try it for Baldy Boy, aka Kipper, who is missing about half his body hair (and is not hypothyroid, just right off the track). Quote Dash (Mega Batboy), & forever missing Kipper (RD's Kiper, 2006-2015) & Souldog Dune (Pazzo Otis, 1994-2008)"..cherish him and give him place with yourself for the rest of his but too short life. It is his one drawback. He should live as long as his owner."James Matheson, The Greyhound: Breeding, Coursing, Racing, etc., 1929 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 No one has done much serious study of melatonin in people except for jet lag and sleep aid studies, let alone animals. I wouldn't give an untested drug to one of my pups. YMMV. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizjaye Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 This is so timely. I am fostering a black grey, Lulu and she is 4 with a very bald backside and thighs. I will ask the adoption group about Melatonin. Wow amazing, have a problem, turn on greytalk, get a possible solution. Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeh2o Posted December 25, 2008 Author Share Posted December 25, 2008 This is so timely. I am fostering a black grey, Lulu and she is 4 with a very bald backside and thighs. I will ask the adoption group about Melatonin. Wow amazing, have a problem, turn on greytalk, get a possible solution. Liz Just do a Google search of: greyhound + melatonin, and you'll find some interesting articles and some veterinary text books referencing it. It's very interesting. Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chaoran22 Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 i also have a lulu (well technically she's a lula) who's bald i just got her a few months ago - i think fish oil is helping so we'll keep doing that as long as it works but i was very interested to hear about this - i might ask my vet if the fish oil stops working (i think it's working but it's hard to tell since i see her day to day and can't really tell if the hair is growing in...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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