hair loss

[fimckenzie]

Kenzi is now 18 weeks and doing well. We were at friends in Somerset (who own a grown up GSD) this past weekend and so we had lots of walks and good fun. On Saturday I felt an area on Kenzi's forehead a couple of inches long of rough spots. My hubby thought that she had scratched her head during one of the runs in the orchards, I thought it may be something to do with the badger/fox poo she rolled in (all over but a lot was on her head). Now 3 days later the spots have become rougher, almost feeling like they are healing but the fur is coming out around the area. There is no associated itching, I suppose the whole affected area is about 3 x 1 ins, it does not appear to be spreading and it is only the spots which are a bit red, the skin around is not. Anyone got any ideas what it may be?
We have booked in with the vets tomorrow.

Thanks

[Caryll]

Could well be demodex mite. They're present in tiny quantities on all dogs, but sometimes they seem to increase & cause little bald areas, typically on the top of the head & the tail. If it's just a small area that doesn't become itchy or infected it'll probably go away on its own. Sometimes, though, the vet will recommend a special shampoo to help.

Both Dempsey and Pneuma had these when they were about the same age as yours & both have long sonce cleared up, although Dempsey's occasionally crops up again, but just in a couple of very small areas.

[fimckenzie]

Just to let you know, the vet checked for any kind of parasite/mites and thanks goodness there was nothing. He believes the fox/badger poo has caused an infection on the thin skin of her forehead and has caused the hair loss, it could be a kind of scorching? So she is on antibiotics and is improving already. Luckily it has not caused her any problems so hopefully the fur will return swiftly.

[wildmoor]

Hi the only ways to diagnose mites is either by a blood test or skin scrape.

[fimckenzie]

He did a skin scrape and inspected under the miscroscope!! so I am confident in the diagnosis.