Bald chow ??

[lola chow]

thats great news do you think its the one a day tablet if so i will give it a try xx

[Coco Chow]

Hi Kim, sorry for a reason I totaly miss your thread .
I'm happy Milo feels a little bit better though, poor chow...

Coco my chow is allergic too. She's been diagnosed allergic to acarids and to flea bite by a blood test. I now give her shots to desensitize her every month.
Coco is also food allergic, but she stopped the scratching and biting since I only give her a diet for allergic dogs (Z/D by Hills Prescription Diet) with nothing extra.
Allergies in dogs can be tested by a blood test or a skin test (skin test didn't work on Coco, we had to do blood test), but food allergies cannot be found in the blood test. You have to find a diet that doesn't make him scratch first (like horse meat and potatoes if it has to be), give the diet only for a few weeks, and if the chow has a food allergy (to something else than horse & potatoes of course), the scratching will stop in 3 or 4 weeks. It worked really well with Coco. Then you add some extra food, like salmon, to his diet and you wait 3 more weeks, if you still have no scratching, you add something else, etc, until the scratching starts. For Coco, I just tried with fish, it doesn't makes her scratch, but I don't want to try anything else, I finally found a good diet for her (the Z/D I mean, no horse meat in my house!), I keep it the way it is, I'm too grateful it works.
If Milo has food allergy, he can be allergic to chicken, or corn, or rice, or meat, or fish, or something else, or he can also be allergic to all of them.
If he has a food allergy, it doesn't mean that he doesn't have another allergy, like some herbs, pollen, bug bite, etc... as well.
But he can also be allergic to a product you use to clean your floors i.e.

Think about supplements, like the omega 3 in fish oil, they can help him have a lower response to the allergen, but it will not stop the allergy.

The cone for when you live the house is a great idea. I sometimes use it when Coco ate something she shouldn't have, or has been bitten by a bug, and start to scratch again...

I wanted to say, I would be quite surprised if Tesco would make a food that would be good for Milo by the way, as supermarket brands tend to add a lot of fillers and low quality meat to their food... Even if Milo doesn't have a food allergy, low quality food is not good because he needs a food that will help him build a good body in order to resist the allergen he reacts to. Now, maybe Tesco produce some organic dog food I'm not aware of, I'm just guessing, from my memories from when I lived in London, because I sometimes shopped at this shop when I lived there.

Because Milo's problems start every May, I tend to think he has, at least, a strong seasonal allergy. If you cannot show him to a dermatologist, can you ask your vet to do a blood test (to test different allergens)? Even if your vet is not a skin specialist, it's easy, he just takes the blood and sent it to a laboratory. Of course, Milo cannot be under any antihistaminc or corticoids treatment when you do the test. He has to be med free for a few weeks (I don't remember exactly, maybe 3?).

You obviously take good care of Milo and wants the best for him. I really hope you will find soon what the problem is.
You can PM me anytime if you feel like it. I know how terrible it is to watch your baby rip his fur to pieces too...
Best of luck,


Elodie

[Mika&Suki]

I am sorry to read about your trials with itching. It does seem to be such a problem with chows and there doesn't seem to be one answere that helps all of them. They are such a beautiful pair your girls it is sad that their life should be miserable because of itching. I am begining to wonder if this is something more common with our UK chows and would be interested what other folk think. I am lucky that so far it is only Brambles feet that are a problem now and then. (Touch wood)

I just looked back at your previous posts and saw the one about which food to choose and I wonder if you ever tried a grain free diet for Suki and whether that might help?

Hi Sirchow! Sorry about the delay in responding. Thank you so much for the compliment on my girls. They send 2 big blue kisses for you!

I have just switched their food over to the James Wellbeloved Fish and Vegetable kibble instead of the duck and rice, as I was thinking that the rice may be causing the problem. I haven't seen any results as yet, but they have only been on it for 4 days so I guess it will take time to get into their system.

I'm starting to think that Suki may be allergic to grass though. We don't have grass in the back garden, which is where the girls spend most of their days (weather permitting of course!). We have grass in the front garden but we don't let them play in there usually as it's not secure enough. When we went away to Scotland for a weeks holiday, Suki's rash totally flared up and was the worst I'd ever seen it. I didn't think about it at the time, but the girls were spending a lot of time walking on grass as we were out on different 'adventures' every day. Since we came home we've managed to clear it up again with the antibacterial shampoo and antiobiotics. She still scratches though so it's a viscious circle. Anyway, her tummy was fairly clear a couple of days ago, but my partner was working in the front garden while I was at work so he'd had the girls in their with him for most of the day. Yesterday Suki's rash has totally flared up again and she's biting and scratching until she bleeds. I'm starting to see a pattern forming from whenever she's been laying on grass. I have tried her on Piriton allergy tablets though, so I would've thought that if it was an allergy to grass that the tablets would've helped?? Oh well, I guess I'll just have to wait until September 1st when she has her appointment with the dermatologist. I really hope that they can help my poor baby get back to normal

Nicki
x

[TIMI]

Hello, I search on the web looking for an answer to what is going on with my Chow Chow, Nakita, I found this site and the posting said bald chow? I found a forum that can hopefully help me with some questions. She will be 6 in November and about 3 weeks or so ago she started itching her fur out, I thought it was just the undercoat coming loose and it normally gets scratched out, but then started seeing bald spots and of course all the clumps around the house. My first question is how old is your dog and if you know why or anyone would know why this would start now, her food has not been changed anytime resently. Can they get a allergy all of the sudden. I took her to the vet, no fleas, got a round of antibiotics and steroids, it has helped but she is still itching occationally, her once pink skin that was healthy is now looking more red. There is also a slight odor, the undercoat has what appears as flaking in it and a little greasy. She in now licking her *Censored Word* and it is red and I noticed a skunk smell. The vet didn't know either only guessing and ruling out things. It's makes me very sad to see her like this and feeling helpless to help her. I would appreciate any comments or answers. Thank you.

[*milo*]

Hi,

Just sending you a big doggy kiss from Milo, and a massive thank you for all your helpfull advise.

Milo is continuing to improve and every inch of his body is now covered in a nice thick layer of fur, obviously he still looks no where near like a chow should as this fur is still relativley short( about 3/4 of an inch) but his general apperance is now greatly improved. I can now take him on walks without having to answer a million questions from other dog owners and being made to feel like it was my fault he had lost all his fur. Even the fur on his face that the vet shaved off when his ear was not too good has now started to re grow so my boy is getting there.(HOPEFULLY)

I will get some pictures posted of him soon so you can see how he is improving.

Thank you all again, take care Kim and Milo xx

[*milo*]

Just forgot to add that he now dosent shows any sign of itchyness, other than the odd normal doggy scratch/wash he seems to have lost all interest in pullin his own fur out or scratchin himself to bits.

[lola chow]

what do you think has stopped the itching ? x

[lola chow]

hows milo doing now xx

[*milo*]

Hello everyone.

Just an update on Milo, got loads of problems with my computer so haven't been on for a while.

Milo is doing great, is now a proper little fur ball again, his fur is back to about 90% of what it was before he had the problem. just has a few little patches wer its shorter than it should be but to look at him now you would never tell how poor his coat was a few months ago.

Thank you for all your help and advise.

Kim n Milo xx

[ddepechee2009]

my 7 year old had itching problems,went to the vets sevaral times,pills with side effects from the vets pills,tried benadryl but gave my chow the panic attacks so the best solution i know is baby powder,seems to be working for goldey

[Red Dragon]

Can anyone help me or offer any advise as the vets do not seem to be helping at all. I have a 21 month old male rough coated red chow chow called Milo (Beloved Cyril).
Firstly ill apologise if this is a bit of an essay but i wanted to give as much information as possible.

In may last year (08) he stripped most of his coat(by mouth) in a matter of hours except for his head,neck,belly and lower legs. His skin looked healthy (no hot spots etc) at the vets i basically got told he was fine just has a possible air bourne/food allergy and was given a shampoo called Malaseb to bath him in(i got a few opinions) he had clear skin scrapes on three occasions and showed no signs of fleas(he's been treated to prevent them since a pup) etc . His fur started to grow back very quickly(although he seemed very itchy and sometimes by exsessive scratching irritated his skin) also his skin often seems damp to te touch although there is no unpleasent smell coming from him. it took till March this year for his coat to look anywhere near what a chow's should look like. then last month he did exactly the same again .

I feel with the vets i am banging my head against a brick wall as they cant even give me any real explanation as to why he as done it again except to say it looks possible that its a seasonal allergy (so every year im going to end up with a bald chow )

In himself he is still exactly the same personality wise,still is eating/drinking etc as normal he acts totally fine still loves his walks,playing, etc still wags his tail so much his whole body quives every time you call his name.

I just feel so sorry for him as i really dont know what i can do to ease the itchness he seems to have(the vets have told me well if you itch you scratch and that is what he is doing)

Has anyone experienced a similar problem. Can anyone suggest anything i can give him to ease the itch,also a different type of food that may be good for his sensative skin. im open to any suggestions that may help my baby.

thank you


(please bare in mind that live in the UK as i have in the past had remedies given to me that can only be got hold of outside of Europe.

Many of them will pull on their coat when the puppy coat is coming out, but that is usually over by 18 months of age or sooner, unless they have a thyroid problem. It could be thyroid related even if the puppy coat is long gone. You might have them do a full thyroid panel and see how that looks.

The Salmon Oil will help the skin and coat, and the immune system, if there is a thyroid problem it will help with that as well.

[kremmick]

Hi I am new to this site. I have a chow named "Sasha". She will be 5 in Jan. She does not bite or pull her fur out but it is a yearly ritual that seems to start in the spring and ends about now every year. When she was about l year old I took her to be spayed and they shaved her stomach her fur has never grown back to this day. She starts to lose her hair on the top of her tail first right now it is totally bald, then her chest, around her neck thins her underarms, her entire coat thins out she looks horrible. I wouldn't say she is overly itchy she does like her rear scratched like most dogs do. I have taken her to the vet and they have done skin scrapings etc. but no answers. They suggested a food alergy so I changed to a food with no corn, I thought I had the problem beat but as it turned out it was just the timne of year that her fur would begin to grow back any way. I live in California. I hope your chow continues to improve. Best of luck to your baby. Karen

[Red Dragon]

Hi I am new to this site. I have a chow named "Sasha". She will be 5 in Jan. She does not bite or pull her fur out but it is a yearly ritual that seems to start in the spring and ends about now every year. When she was about l year old I took her to be spayed and they shaved her stomach her fur has never grown back to this day. She starts to lose her hair on the top of her tail first right now it is totally bald, then her chest, around her neck thins her underarms, her entire coat thins out she looks horrible. I wouldn't say she is overly itchy she does like her rear scratched like most dogs do. I have taken her to the vet and they have done skin scrapings etc. but no answers. They suggested a food alergy so I changed to a food with no corn, I thought I had the problem beat but as it turned out it was just the timne of year that her fur would begin to grow back any way. I live in California. I hope your chow continues to improve. Best of luck to your baby. Karen

She sounds like she has a thyroid problem.

[brianw]

could you please read my posting under self harming brianw

[maggiechow]

hi my chow is just turning one and for the last three months she has been pulling her fur out. it drove me mad people used to assume it was me mistreating her.She had a bald backside and she looked magnificent from the front. Id read somewhere that chows were originally fed low protein diets and had tried many dog foods trying to fix the chewing i was distraught as her father was a crufts campion and my chow was bald !!!!!!! after speaking to the breeder and trying several foods we reached james wellbeloveds turkey mix.After just two days feeding on a combination of this and wholegrain rice she has stopped chewing. I called the vet yesterday to tell them and they said that they had seen several cases of chows being fed on diets that were usually fine for other dogs breeds being far too high in protein. They advised me to stick with the food shes on now but to keep checking that the ingredients dont change. maybe try sticking to a food with protein around 20% its worked for maggie and my nerves are alot better now too

regards ste and maggie

[*milo*]

Well im back. Milo had been doing so good but over the past few days his fur has been coming out in handfulls yet again.
Trip to the vets last nite and £118.45 vet bill later we are returning to where we were last year. Same tablets, shampoo, etc etc etc

It seems that as it always happenes at this time of year it could be a seasonal allergy,

Poor Milo, is my poor chow chow ever going to have a year where he looks good and dosent itch

Also with how much the premium of his insurance is going up each year im at the point where i may have to consider giving him up

[khan]

Laughing dog mixer and Butchers tripe meat loaf is worth a try.