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I have 20-month old miniature red dachshund named Ruby. She has gone just about completely bald in a clear pattern just behind her ears. Her vet tells me that is a common condition in dachshunds. She has also begun to get thinning hair on her chest and just above her ears. She also gets little bumps on top of her head and sometimes on her muzzle.

I know she has allergies, and recently she had a severe allergic reaction to a wasp sting in which she broke out with severe hives. I took her to the animal emergency room and they gave her cortisone shot and Benadryl shot.

I have asked her vet about the bumps on her head before, and he tells me that they are similar to zits on people and that all dogs get them. He said they were more noticeable on Ruby because of her short hair. He also says that the thinning hair on top of her head and chest is normal for dachshunds, and he gave no advice on possible treatment. The only suggestion he had was to give her baby-doses of Benadryl, which I have started to do.

I can't help but wonder if the bumps and hair loss are allergy related, especially after the hives incident. I've also read on this site about the possibility of thyroid problems. I'm planning on getting a second opinion, but I wanted to solicit some ideas from others about what to look for.

I'm sure something can be done about the bumps and thinning hair, but has anyone encountered pattern baldness behind the ears? Does anyone have any other observations or advice?

Kevin

>>I have 20-month old miniature red dachshund named Ruby. She has gone just about completely bald in a clear pattern just behind her ears. Her vet tells me that is a common condition in dachshunds. She has also begun to get thinning hair on her chest and just above her ears. She also gets little bumps on top of her head and sometimes on her muzzle.
>>
>>I know she has allergies, and recently she had a severe allergic reaction to a wasp sting in which she broke out with severe hives. I took her to the animal emergency room and they gave her cortisone shot and Benadryl shot.
>>
>>I have asked her vet about the bumps on her head before, and he tells me that they are similar to zits on people and that all dogs get them. He said they were more noticeable on Ruby because of her short hair. He also says that the thinning hair on top of her head and chest is normal for dachshunds, and he gave no advice on possible treatment. The only suggestion he had was to give her baby-doses of Benadryl, which I have started to do.
>>
>>I can't help but wonder if the bumps and hair loss are allergy related, especially after the hives incident. I've also read on this site about the possibility of thyroid problems. I'm planning on getting a second opinion, but I wanted to solicit some ideas from others about what to look for.
>>
>>I'm sure something can be done about the bumps and thinning hair, but has anyone encountered pattern baldness behind the ears? Does anyone have any other observations or advice?
>>
>>Kevin

>>>>>>>>>

She needs definitive thyroid blood testing. There are only 6 laboratories approved by the OFA to do this, and you want one of those labs. The values that need to be checked are Total T4, Free T4 by Equilibrium Dialysis, and TSH. Two of the labs on the list are Michigan State and Cornell. Don't accept testing from a lab that's not on the OFA approved list (www.offa.org), because it's likely to be inaccurate. Your veterinarian can take this blood and send it to the right place. Hypothyroidism is common in Dachshunds and would explain these symptoms. Untreated, it can cause much more serious problems. Treatment is simply blood tests to monitor levels, and daily medication that isn't terribly expensive. I have a larger dog who's been in treatment 4 years now. It's no big deal if you treat it, but it can be a very big deal if you don't.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

I would find a different vet.