Go Back   Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca > Discussion Groups - mainly cats and dogs > Dog health - Ask members * If your pet is vomiting-bleeding-diarrhea etc. Vet time!

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old July 14th, 2013, 05:50 PM
AimeeA AimeeA is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: OH
Posts: 18
HELP-Our Dog is Tearing out all of his hair!

We have a 12 year old German Shepard with no major health problems. He used to be a K9 for our local police force. He is a great dog but has recently decided to tear out ALL of the hair he can reach on his body. Resulting in large sores. His vet originally thought it was from a cheap bad flea medicine (Vectra 3D) but after several baths with a vet recommended soap we have no clues as to why he keeps ripping out his hair! We would love to avoid putting him down but he is miserable.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old July 14th, 2013, 06:43 PM
Barkingdog Barkingdog is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 4,371
Is something causing your dog to be stressful ? An oatmeal bath may help if his skin is the itchy.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old July 14th, 2013, 08:32 PM
AimeeA AimeeA is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: OH
Posts: 18
Nothing that we could pin point. Right now we think it may be a skin allergy to some treats but he will rip his hair out until his skin is raw. Even if we put a cone on him. I will try an oatmeal bath. Thank you.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old July 15th, 2013, 07:11 AM
Barkingdog Barkingdog is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 4,371
I would try not to feed your dog any treats that come in all kinds of colors, the dyes are not good for pets.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old July 15th, 2013, 09:21 AM
Winston's Avatar
Winston Winston is offline
Mom of 3 precious Angels
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Hamilton Ontario
Posts: 7,300
have you changed your food recently? some dogs have allergies to chicken products? any new cleaning products?
__________________
Tabitha April 10, 1995 - August 23, 2013
Bomber April 10, 1995 - July 12, 2010
Winston Nov 15, 1999 - September 15, 2011
Sophie Aug 30, 2011

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
-Unknown
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old July 15th, 2013, 10:08 AM
Longblades Longblades is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,528
Have you been back to the Vet to say the dog is still ripping out hair? Try the oatmeal bath (vinegar and water helps my dog, but the effect is short lived) but I'm afraid for such a severe reaction you are going to find the oatmeal bath does little good. Your Vet needs to see your dog again. So many different things could be the cause; allergies, mange, hormonal imbalance. Personally, to have my dog itchy and physically restrain him from scratching is, IMO, a kind of torture. Yes, you may have to do that but couple it with trying to find out the cause and eliminate the cause too, if you can. Good luck. It's awful to see them in such torment. My boy does have seasonal allergies and is now on Atopica, which works for him.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old July 15th, 2013, 01:30 PM
AimeeA AimeeA is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: OH
Posts: 18
He is an outdoor dog and always has been. He gets agitated inside but he had never had a problem outside. His food has always been the same but the treats are new and we've decided to stop them. They were "baked treats" you can get from a pet store that look like baked goods. Our vet is at an awe as to what it could be. His blood tests come back normal he has no signs of fleas or mange. We have tried Benadryl which suppresses some of the itching but even with a protective cone he finds a way to year at his skin.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old July 15th, 2013, 01:39 PM
Jull Jull is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 585
What about any non-food related allergies? plants, new carpet, etc? has there maybe been any recent changes in the family that could have trigger some stress? Sometimes even what we consider to be a "small thing" can mean a lot to them.

Does he get enough exercise? some dogs will pull their hair out if they are bored... what about parasites, has he been tested for any?
__________________
Dogs don't need to talk, their life is their message ~ unknown.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old July 15th, 2013, 01:46 PM
AimeeA AimeeA is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: OH
Posts: 18
He hasn't been exposed to anything unusual that we know of and we have tried to move him inside but he just gets angry and barks at the door until he is let back out. The only thing that has changed in his life is his retirement from working but that was over a year ago and he is out every evening for 2-4 hours.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old July 15th, 2013, 02:44 PM
Barkingdog Barkingdog is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 4,371
Maybe your dog is stress out from not working anymore . My hearing dog got very stress out when I took him to be groomed or if I tried to board at a kennel . He was not able to do his job for me and would keep jumping up and down on his hind leg. I was not able to take a trip as I was told my dog could end up from jumping for so long.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old July 15th, 2013, 06:59 PM
AimeeA AimeeA is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: OH
Posts: 18
Thank you all so much for helping us on this matter and giving some splendid advice. My dad informed me however that Max had passed last evening and an autopsy today revealed a brain tumor which may have caused his constant digging and evidently his passing. He was a great dog and valued member of our family and our police force.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old July 15th, 2013, 07:19 PM
Longblades Longblades is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,528
I'm so sorry for your loss. It would have been wonderful for Max to have enjoyed a longer retirement and for you too, of course, to have him with you longer. I'm very sorry.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old July 15th, 2013, 08:35 PM
pbpatti's Avatar
pbpatti pbpatti is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 2,874
I am so sorry for the loss of your wonderful furboy.
__________________
It Is What It Is
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old July 15th, 2013, 09:27 PM
Barkingdog Barkingdog is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 4,371
I am sorry for the lost of your dog , Max.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old July 15th, 2013, 10:49 PM
hazelrunpack's Avatar
hazelrunpack hazelrunpack is offline
The Pack's Head Servant
Chopper Challenge Champion, Mini KickUps Champion, Bugz Champion, Snakeman Steve Champion, Shape Game Champion, Mumu Champion, Mouse Race Champion
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Just east of the Hazelnut Patch, Wisconsin
Posts: 53,771
My condolences to you and your family for your loss, Aimee

Max
__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference."

"It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!"

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old July 16th, 2013, 07:16 AM
marko's Avatar
marko marko is offline
Administrator - Pet lover
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Montreal Quebec Canada
Posts: 12,651
Please accept my deepest condolences as well.
sweet max
__________________
Please tactfully EDUCATE or IGNORE posters you don't agree with.
Please PM me & Include URLs and post #'s for any issues and it's my pleasure to help.
I'm firm - but fair. Mind the Rules and enjoy your stay.
Newcomers FAQ - How do I post on this BB?
Pet facebook group
Check out the Pet podcast
Follow me on Twitter
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old July 16th, 2013, 09:02 AM
AimeeA AimeeA is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: OH
Posts: 18
Thank you all so much for your condolences. It means so much to our family. We are all missing him dearly and the police department was deeply saddened as well but we know that him not being in pain anymore is better for him.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old July 16th, 2013, 02:37 PM
Dog Dancer's Avatar
Dog Dancer Dog Dancer is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 6,667
At least Max passed knowing he was loved. You guys did all you could to try to help ease his discomfort. Clearly it must have been related to the brain tumour. RIP Max, you were no doubt a true Officer and loved pet. Run pain free at the bridge.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
dogs, fur, health

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Forum Terms of Use

  • All Bulletin Board Posts are for personal/non-commercial use only.
  • Self-promotion and/or promotion in general is prohibited.
  • Debate is healthy but profane and deliberately rude posts will be deleted.
  • Posters not following the rules will be banned at the Admins' discretion.
  • Read the Full Forum Rules

Forum Details

  • Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
    Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
    vBulletin Optimisation by vB Optimise (Reduced on this page: MySQL 0%).
  • All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:37 AM.