How To Reduce Coat Loss Due To Phantom Pregnancy?

[poppop]

Ok, please help! We mated my bitch last year and she did not take - but she then had a shocking (much worse than her usual) phantom pregnancy and lost about 50% of her coat - patches of baldness plus general severe thinning all over. She also did her usual hiding under tables with toys and growling at the others when they came near, and also her usual big boobs. The coat loss was the worst though, and it took 6 months to grow back to normal and look mostly ok for the ring.

We recently mated her again and unfortunately again no pups. Her coat is now already falling out again, and I am worried we'll go down the same path as last time. She's a coated breed so it's a real pain.

Any tips on what we can give her to help with the hormone flux that I assume causes the hair loss would be amazing, or any supplements you have used and would recommend to help. The boobs and toys thing only lasts a few weeks and we can cope with that if we have to, but it's the coat loss that is the big issue here. Any tips or advice greatly appreciated.

Thank you, DOLers!

[Dogsfevr]

I would be heading of to a repo vet & looking at why she is missing & addressing that area.

[LizT]

I would be heading of to a repo vet & looking at why she is missing & addressing that area.

A reproduction Vet is an excellent idea. The moult you describe sounds too severe even for a true pregnancy. I have seen bitches that looked like they have been clipped, they moulted so hard, but bald patches are a great concern. Sounds like she has some "hot spots'. Clearly something is going on, hence the two missed matings, the sooner you can find this out the better. Sadly, desexing may be your only option if unable to prevent this from happening again.

[dancinbcs]

Where abouts are you located. My doctor of Chinese Medicine at Austrl NSW, has some remedies for the coat loss and for the hormone imbalance that is causing her to miss as well.

One of my bitches had 2 false pregnancies every year, mated or not, and dropped her entire coat after each one. She was only showable for 6-7 weeks twice a year but this was before I knew about the chinese medicine. Another bitch we bred was having fertility problems, phantoms and coat loss that meant that every time her owner thought about entering a show, she dropped her coat. Chinese medicine fixed both the fertility issue and the coat loss.

[Fordogs]

I would have her Thyroid checked for a start.

[LizT]

Where abouts are you located. My doctor of Chinese Medicine at Austrl NSW, has some remedies for the coat loss and for the hormone imbalance that is causing her to miss as well.

One of my bitches had 2 false pregnancies every year, mated or not, and dropped her entire coat after each one. She was only showable for 6-7 weeks twice a year but this was before I knew about the chinese medicine. Another bitch we bred was having fertility problems, phantoms and coat loss that meant that every time her owner thought about entering a show, she dropped her coat. Chinese medicine fixed both the fertility issue and the coat loss.

This is very intersting Dancinbcs. As I know of some women who have used Chinese Medicine for Fertility issues with great sucess.

[poppop]

Thanks for the replies. We actually did have her thyroid tested prior to the first mating, when we did hips and elbows, and it was in the normal range, but I think we should look at getting it done again now to make sure it is still ok.

DANCINBCS - we are in the northern suburbs of Sydney. I will do a search on Chinese medine up our way - thank you for the recommendation. Did you ever breed from your girl again after using the herbs? Basically, as we plan to try again next time we can't use anything that might interfere with that.

Thanks you all.

[oakway]

It depends on what type of Thyroid test you do.

I think the one you would need is a T5. ( ???).

Try this site for correct information.

http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/THYROID-ARTICLES.HTM

[dancinbcs]

Thanks for the replies. We actually did have her thyroid tested prior to the first mating, when we did hips and elbows, and it was in the normal range, but I think we should look at getting it done again now to make sure it is still ok.

DANCINBCS - we are in the northern suburbs of Sydney. I will do a search on Chinese medine up our way - thank you for the recommendation. Did you ever breed from your girl again after using the herbs? Basically, as we plan to try again next time we can't use anything that might interfere with that.

Thanks you all.

Yes our girl was successfully bred after using the chinese herbs and finally grew a decent coat after many years of trying. We use Lyn Pinosa from Alternative Therapies in Austral 02 9606 8922 and I have breeder friends that travel from as far away as Dural to go to her. She has a particular interest in fertility in both dogs and humans and is proving successful with both. It is a bit of a drive easy now with the M7.

[poppop]

Thank you so much, dancibcs. I really appreciate your advice and telling me about your experience. I will talk to hubby and take it from there. Many thanks for taking the time to reply with the info you gave.