I'm so lucky to have so many furiends!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Can you help me?

So, Mom and Dad were in the kitchen talking about me and didn't know I was awake and listening. I wasn't liking what I was hearing either.
I peeked out just the tiniest bit to make sure I was hearing them correctly and not having a nightmare.
Are you kidding me? I can't believe they are gonna make me go. One time I went there I had to stay for a whole week.
I have to go to the V.E.T. on Saturday!
Actually, it is time for my yearly check up and shots (ouch!). But Mom has some other concerns that she is gonna talk to the V.E.T. about. Mostly, she is worried about my hair loss. If you look at my snout in my header picture and then compare to this picture you can tell that I don't have much fur on the top by my nose anymore.
I have always had some hair loss ever since I was a puppy. After I had my tubes tied (;o)) it took forever for my hair to grow back on my tummy....months and months.
Mom addressed this when I was young and was told that it was allergy related and I needed my allergies tested. She forked out lots of $$ and they took my blood. She got a report that said I have loads of food allergies. I have been on special food for years and years and I was on allergy shots for a long time too.
And that seemed to help some, not much. For the past couple years it seems that I have been losing more hair. When I had to stay in the hospital that one time the vet (a new one) asked Mom about my hair loss and she told her the story. She said those blood tests were not very reliable. While I was there they did some extra tests on my thyroid and such and everything was normal.
I have recently really lost my fur on both of my sides as shown in these pictures. Mom tried to get a good photo for you but it was hard. My fur on my sides is so thin you can see straight to my skin. Mom tells me I have a rat's tail cause it doesn't have much hair on the end either. You might have noticed that in some of my photos. I don't have a lot of fur on my ears either.
As you can see I have good fur down the center of my back. That's a good thing...at least I can still raise my hackles when I need to! Needless to say, I am always cold. Mom took this video this week when she got home from work. Now, it has been really hot here this week and Mom turns the a/c up when she leaves every morning. I also stay in a crate with blankets during the day. It is hard to see in the video but I was shivering like a leaf cause I was so cold.
I guess if the V.E.T. can help me out some, which I doubt because they have never figured it out yet, it will be worth the pain and anguish. Mom has mentioned Dachshund Pattern Baldness but she doesn't think that is what this is.
Do any of you guys have any ideas?
By the way, how come sometimes when I upload photos they are clickable and other times they are not? I wanted these to be clickable so you could make them bigger and see better.
(I think Mom has no clue what she is doing and that is the biggest problem!)

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gosh Twix, I could see you shivering. I hope you get some answers this time around.

kalyxcorn said...

hi twix! as Kep and Padua got older, their coats were less than stellar and they definitely lost fur on their ears, but it'll be interesting to see what the vet says. seems like the thyroid test would have told u if it was cushings disease, right? i am not sure why your pics aren't always clickable, but you might try adding the target="_blank" to the section of html that contains the a href part - put it at the end, after the link's last " but before the ending greater than sign (I apparently can't use the actual keys cause my post gets rejected). that makes the picture open up in a new window/tab. it might help! good luck at the vet! we racked up many a bill with our seniors...

DoMoFi said...

Hi Trix,

Doxie pattern baldness usually is at the chest/neck area like me(DoDo)!

Pawrents said going raw(b.a.r.f) helps a lot of on our skin and coat! ^^ We are not sure if it works on you.

kalyxcorn said...

here's a link to the html stuff i was talking about. it explains where to put the code.
http://www.w3schools.com/tags/att_a_target.asp


by the way, friday's post will be sorta flower friday so do drop on by when u can and be sure to click on the picture to enlarge it for a surprise!

hugs, B

sadermaxx said...

I don't know Twix, But I bet the VET can fix you up. He's not so scary.

Ms. ~K said...

Poor Twix,
I hope the VET can give you some help...in the meantime, maybe you should wear a sweater to keep warm...
Hugs and Rubs

kishiko said...

Ohhh poor Twix,
I used to have a bald big spot on my back.
My mom and dad and my vet took care of me a lot. So it got well.
Do not worry Twix, the VET can help you.
Take care.
Hugs
Matilda

lowdogs said...

Doxie Pattern Baldness! Oh, Twix, I'm sorry to laugh but that's funny! We get cold, too, and when we do our humans just toss a towel over us until we get warm. Don't worry, little Twixie. Let us know how it turns out at the vet....uh, I mean AT THE SPA.
xo lowdogs

Martha said...

Oh poor Twix, you gonna need to get yourself a sweater!
Martha and Bailey have anti allergy food as Martha used to scratch all the time and when she came here here tail looked very rat like!
We think she also chewed it!
Let us know how you get on at the vet - perhaps you need a supplement.
The pics we have the same problem with - we load them all the same way and some click and bigify and some dont!
The collage we explained in the garden collage above - you just download Picasa and you can pick a collage - different shapes and sizes - they are quite cool!
Our mum liked them cos she takes so many pictures - a lot of them are nice but nothing special - however grouping them all together kinda works better.
Get your mom to download Picasa and away you will go.
Stay warm Twix.
love
Martha & Bailey xxx

Tee said...

Hello Twix!

We're from Kuching, Malaysia. We all suffer from baldness from one form or another ... I've got a spot on my head that I've lost and regained. Baldness I daresay is rather handy in our tropical heat - helps keep cool ... though am not sure about getting sunburnt! :P

Licks and wags

Tuffy and the Dog Woods Pack

Cocorue said...

i too suffered hair loss before mum changed the food and gave me cooked fresh lamb....i look better now but still not as hairy as i'd like to be...
don't worry about the vet ( i don't like mine at all...) just imagine i'm there with you holding your paw k?

have a great weekend
chikisses

sienna said...

Hiya Twix.

My name's Sienna, and after I'd had my babies last year, I lost some hair on my back too. Mom was concerned enough to scour the internet for possible reasons/cures, and came across the raw feeding debate - have you seen it? There's lots of info at www.rawmeatybones.com if you want to have a look, and one of the benefits of this diet is improved coat condition.

She eventually decided to feed all of us on this diet starting last January (I've got a son called Michael - something of a thug I have to admit - and an adopted sister named Pagan living here with me and mom) and though I wasn't that interested in food before, boy do I look forward to mealtimes now! And my coat is as thick as it can be.

We eat mostly bones like chicken wings, lamb necks, pork ribs, and beef bones and sometimes minced lamb, pork, beef or even fish and eggs, the only thing mom insists on is that it all has to be raw and NOT cooked because cooked bones splinter and might cause us problems, raw ones are quite OK though and Michael almost gulps them down whole - the pig

Honestly we've never looked back, and even if he is a bit of a pain sometimes, I have to admit that my son Michael looks MAGNIFICENT!
Ask your dad to give it a try, it just might help you too.

hope this helps you get better
love and licks

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Twix, have no fear, between Phantom and me we can get you lots and lots of fur, it might not match the color but it sure will keep you warm.

Good luck with your appointment and be sure they give you lots and lots of hugs and treats.

woos, the OP Pack

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

I'll help too!

Phantom and Thunder Dunder khan send woo some boy hair...I'll send some girrrrrl SibeFiber!

Don't fight the vet visit too much...me thinks you'll be able to work some EXTRA treats from your 'ordeal'!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Tiffany and the Munchkins said...

Hey Twix. We know going to the V-E-T is never fun, but it is a necessary evil. We don't like it very much either. We don't have much experience with hair loss, other than minor shedding, so we aren't of any help. We do hope that the V-E-T figures out what is causing it and that it is minor and easily treated. We will be thinking about you while we are shopping for Paw It Forward gifts on Saturday.

Chihuahua kisses,
Bentley & Lexus

Nadine, Chewy and Lilibell said...

Twix, I can sympathize with you about the VET, I hate going there too!

My brother has pattern baldness, but it only affects his chest area, he has some bald spots on there, hehe!! But Mom always puts this stinky salmon oil in our food, but it does make our fur shiny and soft! And I'm always cold, that's why Mom has lots and lots of hoodies and sweaters for me!

I do hope they find out what is wrong and you don't have to get poked too many times.

Kisses, Lilibell

Charlotte said...

Oh, Twix - we sympathize with you going to the V.E.T! We hope everything goes smoothly!
Oskar says if it's heair you are needing, he is shedding like mad & can send you some (you don't mind with, do you?)

((Hugs)) your friends
Oskar, Schatzi & Xena

Nibbles Treats said...

Twix, we are going to keep our paws crossed for you. Allergies are no fun and losing your fur just makes it worse. Let us know what the vet has to say. Sometimes, going to see the vet is a necessary evil. Our oldest girl, who is going to be a vet, assures us that they only want to make us happy and healthy.

Lots of treats,
Tinkerbell, Oscar and Tucker

Woodrow, Luna, MJ Campanella said...

yes the blood allergy test are not very accurate you need to do the scratch test - but they are equally expensive and are mostly for enviromental allergies

good luck at the vet

Woodrow - Sweetie - MJ

ps - wood has fur loss from his allergies and it is easiyl reversed with fish oils and vit e

Unknown said...

Hi! Doxie Mommy here.. my Andy has small bald spots that itch and are food allergy-related. VET says they develop and change over time, so the tests you had before may not be accurate now. Sorry that this will probably mean some discomfort for you, Twix, but good luck with the answers! Wheat germ is our latest nemisis!

Bijou said...

Hi Twix,

We have no clue what could be causing your hair loss. I hope the vet can help you this time without costing your mo so much money.

As for the picture problem. Mom says she read somewhere on one of those blogger helper sites, if you use IE and drag and drop your pictures while making a post, they won't be clickable. I don't know if that is true or not but thought she'd mention it.

Wags & wiggles,
Bijou

Lucy-Fur, as typed by Dr. Liz said...

Hi! TaiChi (my little big sister, who is Quite Venerable - and almost 18) is pretty bald on her nose - apparently it's just from age. Mr. Bufus the cat (who is also venerable at almost 19) is diabetic and when he gets shaved (he's a Maine Coon and in our hot weather, well, let's just say that long thick hair and heat don't work so well together), it takes a while to grow back - and just doesn't grow back in some spots. Apparently it's a combination of being diabetic and being old. All that said, you're not old, so I hope your V.E.T. can figure out what is going on. And if not, my Granny can knit you a sweater!

*kissey face*
-Fiona

Ziggy Stardust said...

Twix, I just had a trip to the vet and survived, I wish you all the best. I am sending good vibes your way very very hard. Perhaps your family had a history of baldness, my Dad is almost bald. Did you hear about those new snuggies they have for dogs? I hope they find out and everything is ok Twix. You look beautiful no matter what.

licks and sniffs, Sasha

The Army of Four said...

Good luck at the vet's, Twix! Ammy and I have to go this week, too. :(
Play bows,
Zim

SEDONA said...

Hey Twixie, I'm sorry to hear you're losing hair...I hope the V.E.T. figures out what's going on. I loved seeing you "live" despite your shivering! You are like a little bon-bon with those melting eyes of yours :-)
Paws crossed for you!
Your pal,
Sedona

Lorenza said...

Hi, Twix!
I will have my paws crossed for you! Yes, visits to the Vet are not funny but necessary!
After my surgeries I lost the fur in my butt and behind my ears. Its been almost 3 years since that and my hair has grown just a little. My Vet says this is because of my thyroid problem.
I hope your Vet helps you.
You look adorable in the video. I am sorry you were shivering. I like to feel warm all the time. Our winter here is not too cold but I always wear a t-shirt and sweater!
Take care
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Anonymous said...

Ali and I battled her hair loss for 14 years. We went through everything that has been mentioned. What we finally did was change Vets. The new Vet put Ali on antibiotice for 28 days. She had had them before for 10 days but never longer. Special shampoo once a week and more often if she starts getting itchy or look splotchy. Antihistamine 2 times a day.
No more bald spots. She has a beautiful coat now. Some of the places I didn't realize were thin, they looked fine compared to bald, came back in extra lush fashion. This is the first Summer she has not been itchy. Her diet is high fiber.
Ali had Mange as a puppy. This is related to immune system weakness or problems. I assume your dog has had skin scraping for Mange. I therefore believe all her problems are connected to a weakened Immune system. I did not need to know the cause unless it was something I could control. Therefore we did not do allergy testing figuring that she was probably allergic to dust, mold, grass etc. etc. Things I could not control. Treating the symptoms was the answer for her.
I am not a Vet. My statements are my own opinion not to be taken as Medical advice. Maybe check out a Vet with a specialty in Dermatology. Good luck. Don't jump at all the expensive stuff. Be logical about what you can really find out from a test and if it is anything you can control.

Anonymous said...

Oops I forgot -- Ali does take Thyroid. Her levels are not very low but it seemed to help and brought her Thyroid level into a mid range.

Cole said...

I hope that the V.E.T fixed you up today!

Mochi and Bali said...

Poor Twix! I hope the VET can figure out what's wrong with you.

Mochi