Pugsley is losing her fur!

[nsweezie]

I have a pug who is about 11 or so. She has had a number of health problems over the year, including bladder problems and a hernia. She was a rescue, as her original owners refused to have her bladder problem treated.
The latest problem is that her fur is falling out in patches. The vet originally thought that it was some kind of bacteria infection, and put her on antibiotics, but they did not help. Now the vet thinks that it may be hormonal, but Pugsley was neutered years ago.
She doesn't seem bothered at all by her fur falling out, and she isn't scratching it. The only thing she doesn't like is that she now has to wear a coat when we walk her. That she just HATES! Has anyone experienced something like this with their dogs? Pugsley is my first dog, so I don't really have any experience with dogs, just with cats.

[KYS]

Sorry to hear about your pug.
Did your vet run any tests?
Hair loss can be related to so many things,
such as Allergy,Thyroid deficiency,estrogen,
steriod medication, zinc deficiency etc. etc.
I am glad that pugsley is not in any pain and
hope she gets better soon.

[Dogz]

I have had problems with this with my dogs and cat. It was called Mange, and there fur fell out. If it gets bad enough it can be deadly. My cat licked her fur, and it started coming out in big hair balls. My dogs didn't bother it like Pugsley. Ask your vet about Mange. It is common. Good Luck,
Dogz

[lordgoliath]

It might be seasonal alopecia. I am not sure how likely this condition is for pugs but it can happen to Bulldogs. You may want to try lipiderm capsules (Petco or Petsmart should have them). They basically supplement fatty acids and oils that are great for the skin and coat. In many cases using the lipiderm capsules can speed up hair regrowth.

While the capsules can't really hurt, I would still check with your vet about the condition of your pug.

[mruffruff]

I'll second that! My GSD/Hound mix came to me with a lot of hair loss----His rear and top of tail was bald. I put him on Lipoderm capsules for about 6 months and his hair has grown back a lot. His vet said she thought he would never have hair again, so it really does work.

Do check with your vet for other possible causes. Mange is a sneaky mite to diagnose, and other things do cause hair loss, including thyroid problems.

Mary