Hair loss
by Frelyn
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
My Maltese, Nancy Pearl, who is older (not sure how old-we found her) has lost most of the hair on her back. I first thought the groomer may be a little too rough when brushing her but our vet dismissed that idea. After multiple lab tests her free blood cortisol level was found to be SLIGHTLY elevated. He said that 85% of these problems in dogs were due to malfunction of the pituitary. We have had her on Anipryl for several months. I can't tell much difference in the amount of hair on her back. Other than the hair loss, she seems fine. Any thoughts or ideas??
DISCUSSION:
Frelyn, I have never heard of this. I hope Nancy Pearl will be alright. By the way, that is a cute name. I giggled because I happen to work with someone named Nancy and someone named Pearl. Nancy Pearl is sure lucky to have you for a mom.
Felicia
This must be really rare as I have been associated with Maltese since the late 60's and never heard of that type of hair loss. When I had a very sick young Maltese once who needed IV's every day for a week, with a high fever, and when she was recovering she started shedding ALL her hair. First and last time I had a Maltese actually shed (as opposed to getting matted and having to be clipped back) If your baby doesn't respond I would go back to the vet and then maybe seek a second opinion. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Mary Lou
Frelyn- Sounds like Cushings disease to me. My maltese Murphy developed Cushings a year ago. I noticed that he was overeating, gaining weight, thirsty all the time and had slightly thinning coat. Took him to the vet, they did some tests and told me he had Cushings. Which is an overproduction of the hormone cortisol. He was put on Lysodren daily for a week and then once a week after that. He was fine then. It's like a chronic disease like Diabetes that has to be managed the rest of their life, but it need not be life threatening or debilitating. The vet told me that smaller older dogs are the most prone to this disease. But the good news is Murphy really did fine after his diagnosis. He subsequently developed heart problems and died recently. But they tell me that had nothing to do with the Cushings. Hope this helps.
Beth
Thanks for all the words of encouragement and advice. I knew that her condition was Cushing's, thus the slightly elevated cortisol level and that is why we have her on the Anipryl. It is a relatively new drug that acts on the pituitary and doesn't cause destruction to the adrenal cortex as most other medications for Cushing's in dogs do. I have never heard of Lysodren before but I am going to call the vet in a little while and check this other medication out. I would like to give it a try since the Anipryl doesn't seem to be working. Thanks again.
Frelyn
Frelyn, Our poodle had Cushings and we kept her alive for two years on the Lysodren too. I was interested in Beth's vets statement that her dog's heart problems had nothing to do with the Cushing's. Funny coincidence maybe, but our dog also died of heart disease (congestive heart failure) . I'm wondering now if it was the Cushing's or possibly had something to do with the medication. The vet we had (a trusted vet) said it was caused by the Cushing's. Other symptoms of Cushing's is excessive thirst and urination, bloating up, joint problems and general lethargy. It is a very serious disease. I don't mean to scare you but I'd get a second opinion.
Nancy
Nancy - I was suspicious about the Cushings not being related to the heart failure, too. And it's interesting to hear that your dog also developed heart failure after Cushings. I asked every vet I talked to (the 3 vets in my regular vet's practice, the specialist who did the heart ultrasound and the emergency vet) and they all said they didn't think they were related. But I still felt like you did, that it was an awfully strange coincidence. Maybe they were just humoring me.
Beth
| Please bear in mind when reading topics pertaining to health issues, that most of these questions were answered by helpful Maltese owners with no formal education in veterinary medicine. When in doubt seek a professionals advise. |
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