Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a female dobie who is only 9 months, and this is her 2nd rash. She first started off with bad dandruff, so we got the derma caps that took care of that, but then I noiced there were a few bald patches on the back of her neck. The vet said that she had another rash. I'm not usre what is causing this, I just too her off of her puppy food and put her on adult food. Could the puppy food have done that? I had 2 dobies when I was a kid and never experienced this, is this a new thing?

If the bald spots are dry and not itchy, there's a good chance it's demodectic mange. Minor, localized cases are VERY common in adolescent dobermans, the result of temporary breaks in the immune system caused by hormones. Once the dog matures, and the hormones get regulated again, the immune system stabilizes.

Demodex is diagnosed by the vet taking a skin scraping and looking at it under a microscope. You could have that checked..but I'd probably wait and see if the problem resolves itself..as I said, minor localized cases are usually self curing.

Thanks for the information! Her skin rash has gone away and her hair has come back rather quickly. I'll keep watch and see if it happens again and then maybe ask for a skin scrapping. Thanks again!