TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 03/21/2010 9:21 AM |
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Tessa always had a very thin coat on her neck (front) and when she was about 5 months old it that area went bald. My vet checked her for mites, mange, scabies, etc all tests were negative, so his guess was it was caused by the friction of her collar or possibly an allergic reaction to the materials in the collar. She was on a quick-snap nylon collar then with a plastic buckle. Since then she's been on two different leather collars, one with brass, one with stainless steel hardware, and she also wears the plastic safety collar. The problem remains regardless of the collar - hair loss that comes and goes, and sometimes there are some sores that also come and go.
Pinch collar and e-collar don't seem to cause it (she was not on these until later on) but they seem to aggrevate it, mainly because they are tighter.
It's not itchy, she never scratches it.
Has anybody encountered this in there GSP? Any suggestions?
Here is a photo of a flare-up:
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4448
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| 03/21/2010 11:26 AM |
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Several things you can do - I would give it about 2months to allow for hair growth.
1) only wear a collar when on walks
2) look to see where the collar lays when on walks
3) try and use a collar that will less likely do damage and keep it loose
4) I like to rub skin conditions with rubbing alcohol(sp?) daily for a week or 2
I would guess it is due to rubbing of a collar.
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 03/21/2010 12:43 PM |
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She never wears a collar at home. The collar is fairly loose and sits low on her neck (see photo). The pinch collar sits above it. If I walk her without the pinch, the leather collar sits higher about where the bald spot is. The collar is high quality so there are no rough edges or seams inside (that was my first thought).
Do you have any suggestions as to what collar I should try? I know a company that lines them either with very soft leather or sheepskin (as in agitation collars). Of course, it would still be rubbing...
I wonder if I should add a link to the pinch to loosen it up some?
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4448
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| 03/21/2010 1:19 PM |
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I don't think it's a collar issue per say. I think it is the collar rubbing when you walk her on lead.
Pulling and straining on walks or if the collar is to loose it may just rub up and down.
The hair in this area is softer to begin with and the slightest but constant rub can cause hair lose.
Just an idea - is this where the e-collar sits? Do you think thee may be a connection? |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7835
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| 03/21/2010 1:21 PM |
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| Looks to me like the collar is rubbing her. I would keep the leather and nylon flat collars off of her altogether to see if you can get the hair to grow back. If you can, walk her in a harness with no collar. Otherwise use a pinch or chain without any other collar and keep it up under her ears (well above the worn area even if that means frequent stops for collar adjustments). I think I would also rub vitamin E into the area every evening. You might also look at a leather braided collar for future after the hair has grown back. With braided collars you don't have the solid flat surface rubbing on her, or maybe one of those round leather collars. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
   
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 03/21/2010 3:12 PM |
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Francine: yes, that's where the e-collar sits and its two "prongs" I know aggravate things. However, she rarely wears the e-collar (only during off-leash training) and we had this problem before she ever wore the e-collar.
Bev: I hate to walk her without a collar as it has my phone numbers and her rabies tag...but will try to figure something out. Yeah, maybe one of those round collars (fur savers), if only to hold her tags...
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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carlower1
Kansas
MH
Posts:1253
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| 03/21/2010 5:48 PM |
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try doing a looser "chain" collar that would hang down her chest for her ID's .. That looks more like wear than any other sort of reaction. The skin color underneath is not patchy or spotty which is signs of allergies, mange, mites etc... ALSO .. check her bedding, how does she lay down. We had an issue with a dog that would "run" in his sleep and wear his fur off on one section of his body during his dreams.
Carrie |
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CL66
MH
Posts:419
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| 03/22/2010 1:29 AM |
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Hi Tessa
My 13 week pup has got this too, he has very short rough hair. I only noticed it the other day under the collar and he now doesn't wear a collar as we're trying to get it to heal. Has two scabs but they don't seem to irritate him at all.
He was wearing the exact same collar rupert had at that age and he wore it with no problems. So it has to be the difference in coats that is causing it.
I'll wait til it heals and then see if we have future problems.
I'll try and get a photo up for you later. |
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 03/22/2010 5:44 AM |
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13 weeks, that's exactly when Tessa started with this. I guess that's about the time they start wearing collars and are being leash trained (lots of pulling and corrections).
I dug up Tessa's old harness and would you know it she has NOT outgrown it, so we used it this morning. Not ideal as I can't correct her with it but it actually worked better thanI thought.
Francine, I tried the rubbing alcohol but it seems to irritate things so I switched to a white vinegar/water soak, and that worked well for the inflammation.
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3130
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| 03/22/2010 5:48 AM |
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I would almost think the alcohol would dry it out too much...
Can you write on the harness? Cuz then you could put a phone number on it.... |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7835
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| 03/22/2010 6:42 AM |
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| I would be careful with anything astringent like alcohol. You might want to try witch hazel and then maybe the vit E oil or if the inflamation persists some cortizone cream. I would be careful about anything that might dry the skin on her neck though. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 03/22/2010 6:58 AM |
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Well, she has two spots that are a little moist - I find the vinegar solution perfect as it is anti-fungal etc and dries things out without overdrying if not used more than once or twice a day. Used it on my incision post-op, worked well and was very soothing.
Splat: good idea, or I can attach a tag to it.
Of course, I wonder, what would be the long-term solution for this recurring problem? If she would only perfectly heel the entire walk... |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 03/22/2010 7:12 AM |
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I went through my archives and here are some more photos:
Age 14 weeks - first time I notice:
17 weeks - no scabs, no inflammation, just no hair:
A month later, totally healed with a nice thick coat!
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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CL66
MH
Posts:419
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| 03/22/2010 7:12 AM |
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I'm hoping that Dex's isn't going to be an recurring problem too. it's amazing how different his fur is from Rupert's. So short and bristly like a scrubbing brush. Maybe that's what their hair is meant to be like, i always though Roo was a bit silky.
I was going to use betadine spray on his neck, same as i use to clean wounds on my horses, do you think that would be ok? Or a weak chlorhexidine solution (hibiscrub etc).
Tessa, what dilution of vinegar are you using? |
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 03/22/2010 7:31 AM |
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| I am using two tablespoons of vinegar in an 8-ounce glass of lukewarm water. BTW if there is any itch it will take care of it. My incision was itching like crazy and I was always looking forward to those vinegar soaks - immediate relief. |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4448
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| 03/22/2010 7:42 AM |
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the white vinegar would definitly be more soothing,especially if you apply a cream, I use;
Medline REMEDY w/ Olivamine - Nutrashield w/ silicone blends
the only way to re-grow the hair is to keep away from the area with anything that will rub.
I thought of the e-collar b/c many people condition with it on 24/7 for a month. Didn't know if this could have added to the problem.
She's still a cutie girl!
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3130
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| 03/22/2010 8:16 AM |
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| I think the betadine sray would work, but I know mine is orangeish so you might not want that color stained on him....I use apple cider vinegar mixed with water for lots of stuff since it gets rid of bacteria...I clean the bird cages and their food and water dishes and I use it to dust the house with....you can use it for so much stuff! |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4448
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| 03/22/2010 8:26 AM |
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Apple cidar vinegar is SO,SO,SO very healthy for humans! We drink it daily.
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3130
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| 03/22/2010 8:55 AM |
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| I have heard that too about it, but not sure I could get past the smell, I can only imagine the taste (I know you added it to water or something) |
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erikacarrillo
La Honda, CA
MH
Posts:229
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| 03/22/2010 10:21 AM |
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Koda has some hair missing from her collar rubbing up against her neck when she pulls. We are working a lot on loose leash walking, but leash corrections increase the rubbing. I try to take her collar off inside. She normally wears a leather collar and sometimes a nylon martingale collar or the pinch collar. If I don't have those on me, sometimes I'll wrap the leash around her waist, which seems to reduce the rubbing.
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