boston terrier skin problem

Question
I have a female boston who had pups seven weeks ago.
She now has bold spots and wont gain weight. Someone said might be mange but not smell or crusty just loss of hair. Now the pups are losing hair on top of head . Do you have an idea what it is?


Answer
Hi Jo Ann.  At first I thought your mommy dog might have hot spots, but when I read that the puppies are not loosing their hair in spots also, it sound to me like they have mites.

Don't panic, all animals have mites (yes, even humans.)  It's only when the become overactive and cause symptoms such as inching and hair loss, do we become aware of them.

Most cases of mites (or mange as it is also called) will go away on it's own, but it's good to have your vet examine them (or at least one of them) to be sure that it is mites and not something else.

Mites are too small to see with the naked eye, so your vet will need to do a skin scraping and look under a microscope to make a proper diagnosis.  

If mites are discovered, a topical antibiotic ointment will help keep the skin from getting infected due to scratching.  You vet might also prescribe a medicated dip.  It normally takes a few weeks to clear up, so don't get in a hurry.

Good luck, and please don't hesitate to contact me if you have additional questions.  Sincerely, Penny D.