Thinning hair of english bulldog:

Question
QUESTION: Maria,
I have a female english bulldog that is 17 months old. in early summer she started having thinning of her hair on her sides. I gave her Nupro dog supplement and it seemed to go away temporarily. she now refuses to eat the supplement and the hair has started to thin again. I took her to the vet and had her thyroid tested this week. He just called me today and told me the thyroid panel was normal and he just thinks she has seasonal flank alopecia. I have researched the alopecia and she doesn't go bald or have darkening of the skin. Her hair just gets thin on the sides, her chest, and the inside of the back legs. can you help?

ANSWER: Hello Nikki,  Well, I am glad you had the vet check her out!  
Next, sure - I have had great luck with the following three :

1.  Vitamin C ( ESTER C) - give 1 per day - long term : VERY safe - great for reduced inflammation.  Vitamin C is great for healing.
HIDE it is a pill pocket treat or into some WET dog food.

2.  Please give a very small dosage of Vitamin E - just (1) of a 50IU per day of E.
this is very safe and a cat sized dosage.

3.  Please start her on 1 NuVET Per day - She will eat this wafer - Guaranteed or your money back - NuVET has a taste guarantee.
see my bulldog nuvet site:
http://www.apluspetcare.com/untitled4.html


I work with bullies all the time.  This is a very common problem.  The NuVET is an Allergy blaster and Immune system booster / Will help with her fur/hair re-growth.
Will help her to fight off the Seasonal Environmental allegens that are hitting her.

Keep me posted...
Marie Peppers
Ask the Pet Nurse...



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for the info. I am feeding her Blue Buffalo chicken and rice. After reading other questions on your site I have noticed that you suggest grain-free foods. I have read a lot of info on bulldogs. Some people say high protein and some say that high protein can cause kidney failure. Which do you recommend? Which brands? if it is high protein, do they get enough fiber? I am going to purchase the nu-vet wafers. i went today and purchased the vitamins. Thanks so much for your help!
nikki

ANSWER: Hi again .... Yes, glad you got the Vitamin C and the Probiotics!  Good for you.
Tomorrow, call the NuVET folks for your wafers... 1-800-474-7044 ( tell them that I sent you)

As for food, a grain-free food is a big PLUS for bulldogs.  I sure do like Innova EVO; Wellness CORE, or Merrick Before Grain.  I would mix the Blue Buff food with the New grain free food for 3 weeks and then, go to 100% grain free after the 3 weeks.

Only elderly or sickly dogs should not be on a high protein food.  If your bullie has healthy kindeys, this food will be wonderful.  YOU would know if she had kidney problems because she would have UTIs and kidney stones every year.

Looking forward to working with you and your girl.

Marie Peppers LPN MA
mtnmom@gci.net

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Maria,
Hi! I have been trying to switch Daisy to the Innova Evo dog food. Since the second day of mixing it with her old food she has had very loose stools. I have to clean her up every time she comes back in. I went back to the Blue Buffalo for a day to see if the loose stools would stop and it did. Any new suggestions? He coat is actually looking a little more sparse. I did have her thyroid tested and my vet said it was normal. I talked to her breeder and they still insist that it is a thyroid issue. They said they have been through this before with one of their dogs. I don't know what to do. I was checking the iodine levels on some food. It seems that some of the holistic foods do not have much iodine in them. I researched to find out what the amount a dog needs is and I found one place said .7mg and another said 2.2mg. Do you think any of this could be the culprit. Also I purchased her as a show puppy. She is almost perfect except for this problem with her coat. Another point I should add is that she had her first heat at 9 months and she is now 18 months and has not had another cycle. Let me know what you think. I appreciate your help. Nikki

Answer
Ok, let's still try the Innova EVO - How about 80% your food and just 20% the EVO-??
Also, give her 1/2 of a metamucil cookie wafer per day - it will bulk up her stool.
Metamucil makes a nice cookie of Apple or Cin flavored cookies.
I sure would like to see this gal go grain free.

Merrick also makes a nice grain-free food called Merrick Before Grain.
Some dogs take a longer time to slowly switch over to gain free.

Did you start the NuVET yet, and the other supplements?

I would have a complete blood panel done because of the missing Heat cycle.  
JUST have the Thyroid done again, too.......

Keep me posted.

Marie Peppers LPN MA
mtnmom@gci.net