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Puppy with bald spot and perfectly healthy skin

boysenme posted:

Maggie (my Maltese/Havanese...10 months old) has a spot on her thigh about the size of a nickel that has no hair. The skin is rosy and healthy...not red or flakey. No bumps... as smooth as a baby's bottom! She's had this bald spot for about 2 months now and I've searched online and on this site for possible causes and treatments, but everything I've seen talks about red, irritated skin. No bumps, no licking, no scratching... it's as smooth as a baby's bottom! Aside from this one small area, Maggie's coat is full and healthy. The spot hasn't changed in size at all.

I even called her groomer to ask if she had shaved her for some reason, but no.

Any ideas?

7 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Puppy with bald spot and perfectly healthy skinMaggie (my Maltese/Havanese...10 months old) has a spot on her thigh about the size of a nickel that has no hair. The skin is rosy and healthy...not red or flakey. No bumps... as smooth as a baby's bottom! She's had this bald spot for about 2 months now and I've searched online and on this site for possible causes and treatments, but everything I've seen talks about red, irritated skin. No bumps, no licking, no scratching... it's as smooth as a baby's bottom! Aside from this one small area, Maggie's coat is full and healthy. The spot hasn't changed in size at all. I even called her groomer to ask if she had shaved her for some reason, but no. Any ideas?

KittyKatJenn responded:

Maybe ringworm? My cat got ringworm from another kitty he had some in contact with. The skin was smooth. Get an anti-fungal cream from Wal-Mart or something and put some of that on it. See if it helps. If it doesn't go away then it wasn't anything fungal. The cream started clearing my kitty up in a week or so. He started growing his fur back.

Report This| Share this:Puppy with bald spot and perfectly healthy skinMaybe ringworm? My cat got ringworm from another kitty he had some in contact with. The skin was smooth. Get an anti-fungal cream from Wal-Mart or something and put some of that on it. See if it helps. If it doesn't go away then it wasn't anything fungal. The cream started clearing my kitty up in a week or so. He started growing his fur back.

boysenme replied to KittyKatJenn's response:

Thanks... I'll give it a try. I always associated ringworm with itchy, scaley skin, but maybe that's not always the case.

Report This| Share this:Puppy with bald spot and perfectly healthy skinThanks... I'll give it a try. I always associated ringworm with itchy, scaley skin, but maybe that's not always the case.

KittyKatJenn replied to boysenme's response:

It usually is. But when my kitty had it he really just lost his fur. Hopefully the cream will clear it up. And try to maybe hold him for a few minutes after. He will probably try to lick it off right away. I got some of that sport gauze stuff and wrapped the area where I put the cream on my cat.

Report This| Share this:Puppy with bald spot and perfectly healthy skinIt usually is. But when my kitty had it he really just lost his fur. Hopefully the cream will clear it up. And try to maybe hold him for a few minutes after. He will probably try to lick it off right away. I got some of that sport gauze stuff and wrapped the area where I put the cream on my cat.

AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Bonnie Beaver, BS, DVM, MS responded:

There are a number of possible causes for hair loss in a young puppy. Ringworm is a possibility but there are other things too. Some dogs are born with an area of skin in which hair follicules did not develop. This is not common but can happen. Some external parasites (particularly demodex) can give you a not itchy, hairless area. With this there may actually be other areas that are mildly affected, or a single spot. Some dogs will actually lick a spot until it is bald, typically from stress, since the skin in the area is healthy. There is also a young dog tumor (not a dangerous one) that can look like what you described.

Having a veterinarian look at the spot is the only real way to figure out what Maggie has. It may be insignificant but it might need medical attention too. Maggie's veterinarian should be able to help.

Report This| Share this:Puppy with bald spot and perfectly healthy skinThere are a number of possible causes for hair loss in a young puppy. Ringworm is a possibility but there are other things too. Some dogs are born with an area of skin in which hair follicules did not develop. This is not common but can happen. Some external parasites (particularly demodex) can give you a not itchy, hairless area. With this there may actually be other areas that are mildly affected, or a single spot. Some dogs will actually lick a spot until it is bald, typically from stress, since the skin in the area is healthy. There is also a young dog tumor (not a dangerous one) that can look like what you described. Having a veterinarian look at the spot is the only real way to figure out what Maggie has. It may be insignificant but it might need medical attention too. Maggie's veterinarian should be able to help.

boysenme replied to Bonnie Beaver, BS, DVM, MS's response:

Thanks, Dr. Bonnie... I have a vet appointment today.

Report This| Share this:Puppy with bald spot and perfectly healthy skinThanks, Dr. Bonnie... I have a vet appointment today.

boysenme replied to Bonnie Beaver, BS, DVM, MS's response:

My vet did a skin scrap and saw...... nothing! No mites, nothing. She prescribed an antibacterial topical cream to apply twice daily, and suggested I also continue applying the anti-fungal cream twice daily. She measured the area, so that at Maggie's recheck she can determine if the area changes in size.

Report This| Share this:Puppy with bald spot and perfectly healthy skinMy vet did a skin scrap and saw...... nothing! No mites, nothing. She prescribed an antibacterial topical cream to apply twice daily, and suggested I also continue applying the anti-fungal cream twice daily. She measured the area, so that at Maggie's recheck she can determine if the area changes in size.

Jlyons1 responded:

Ollie, My 10 month old Haverenese has the same thing it is on right side same as you described. It is aprox. 1 and 1/2 inch in size. Vet gave me some Epi-Otic a cleaning solution used for ears to clean and then some Tresaderm -15mi to apply twice a day. Does Not seem to be helping. Have another vet appt next week. Have you had any luck in finding out what it is or any effective treatment. Let me know. Thanks Joe

Report This| Share this:Puppy with bald spot and perfectly healthy skinOllie, My 10 month old Haverenese has the same thing it is on right side same as you described. It is aprox. 1 and 1/2 inch in size. Vet gave me some Epi-Otic a cleaning solution used for ears to clean and then some Tresaderm -15mi to apply twice a day. Does Not seem to be helping. Have another vet appt next week. Have you had any luck in finding out what it is or any effective treatment. Let me know. Thanks Joe

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