Pinches of hair and big flakes of skin?

Carlos · 01-02-2012, 08:22 PM

So my dog tawnie (aprox 5 years old) has been shedding A TON. so much so, that you can pull out pinches of her fur. A couple of weeks ago I pulled off a flake of skin about the size of a quarter(on her hip). This is the worst on the top of her hind legs.

Also, it may be unrelated but when we try to brush her back leg she snaps as of she where in pain. But when I press against it with my bare hand she does nothing. No real limping.

Any ideas? I'm taking her to the vet on Saturday though.

**MaggieRoseLee** · 01-03-2012, 06:38 PM

Could be a bunch of things. Do you commonly brush/comb her out? I know I can get patches of fur when my dogs shed but the skin thing wouldn't be normal with a healthy coat.

Have you given her a bath lately?

msvette2u · 01-03-2012, 07:02 PM

What type comb/brush are you using??

onyx'girl · 01-03-2012, 07:25 PM

Welcome, Carlos!
Have your vet do a thyroid test or skin scraping, if you are already feeding a good diet and supplementing. Diet or dry air play into skin/coat...but if this is something new, then I'd get some tests run. Hips have already been x-ray'd? Could be an alignment issue, too. Is she licking/ chewing?

Carlos · 01-04-2012, 01:19 AM

Thanks for the speedy replies, guys!

Her diet is pretty healthy and her food has no by products Or corn. I am not supplementing though. Is there something in particular I should give her?

Her snapping at me when I brush her hind leg is new. She's never snapped at anyone or anything.

I use a brush that was recomended to me by my vet. It's never hurt her before nor has she ever seemed uncomfortable around it.

She is not licking or chewing and I have not had her hips x rayed. I had an appointment a month ago for her x rays but my vet canceled and I don't have the time to reschedule.
Once again, thanks!

paulag1955 · 01-04-2012, 01:46 AM

I can pull out handfuls of Shasta's fur when she's blowing her coat I'd have the flaky skin checked out for sure.

msvette2u · 01-04-2012, 02:15 AM

If its an undercoat brush or slicker and her undercoat is gone it could be hurting her which is causing her to snap. Do you have a pic of this brush?

Carlos · 01-04-2012, 10:06 PM

@MS, it's a slicker brush, and I think your suggestion may be right.

I made an appointment for saturday to get her hips xrayed and to talk to the vet about her skin, however, her skin hasnt been causing problems for a couple of weeks.

01-02-2012, 08:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Carlos New Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 3	Pinches of hair and big flakes of skin? So my dog tawnie (aprox 5 years old) has been shedding A TON. so much so, that you can pull out pinches of her fur. A couple of weeks ago I pulled off a flake of skin about the size of a quarter(on her hip). This is the worst on the top of her hind legs. Also, it may be unrelated but when we try to brush her back leg she snaps as of she where in pain. But when I press against it with my bare hand she does nothing. No real limping. Any ideas? I'm taking her to the vet on Saturday though. Last edited by Carlos; 01-02-2012 at 08:25 PM.

01-03-2012, 06:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
MaggieRoseLee The Agility Rocks! Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bushkill, PA (The Poconos!) Posts: 22,215	Could be a bunch of things. Do you commonly brush/comb her out? I know I can get patches of fur when my dogs shed but the skin thing wouldn't be normal with a healthy coat. Have you given her a bath lately? __________________ MACH2 Bretta Lee Wildhaus CGC TC TQX Glory B Wildhaus NA, NJ, NF + LOL (still) "*Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde*

01-03-2012, 07:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
msvette2u Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 5,533	What type comb/brush are you using?? __________________ Ruger v. Sunnyside Stray 4-11-11

01-03-2012, 07:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,608	Welcome, Carlos! Have your vet do a thyroid test or skin scraping, if you are already feeding a good diet and supplementing. Diet or dry air play into skin/coat...but if this is something new, then I'd get some tests run. Hips have already been x-ray'd? Could be an alignment issue, too. Is she licking/ chewing? __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

01-04-2012, 01:46 AM	#6 (permalink)
paulag1955 Knighted Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Western Washington Posts: 2,781	I can pull out handfuls of Shasta's fur when she's blowing her coat I'd have the flaky skin checked out for sure. __________________ Paula Shasta - GSD (4/30/10) RIP Duchess - Shetland Sheepdog (12/25/88 - 2/14/04)

01-04-2012, 01:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
Carlos New Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 3	Thanks for the speedy replies, guys! Her diet is pretty healthy and her food has no by products Or corn. I am not supplementing though. Is there something in particular I should give her? Her snapping at me when I brush her hind leg is new. She's never snapped at anyone or anything. I use a brush that was recomended to me by my vet. It's never hurt her before nor has she ever seemed uncomfortable around it. She is not licking or chewing and I have not had her hips x rayed. I had an appointment a month ago for her x rays but my vet canceled and I don't have the time to reschedule. Once again, thanks!

01-04-2012, 02:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
msvette2u Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 5,533	If its an undercoat brush or slicker and her undercoat is gone it could be hurting her which is causing her to snap. Do you have a pic of this brush? __________________ Ruger v. Sunnyside Stray 4-11-11

01-04-2012, 10:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
Carlos New Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 3	@MS, it's a slicker brush, and I think your suggestion may be right. I made an appointment for saturday to get her hips xrayed and to talk to the vet about her skin, however, her skin hasnt been causing problems for a couple of weeks.

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