Hair thining on a cairn

Question
QUESTION: Hi Beth
I realize that you are not a vet but I'm just wondering if you have seen or heard of thinning hair loss on a cairn? Casey's hair started to thin at the sides of her body about two months ago. The vets say they don't know what it is. There is no itching, rash, bites, fleas etc. She was also clipped and groomed and checked thoroughly then. Her undercoat is still there and she has a thin overcoat on one strip on each side side of her body. Her food has not changed (she is eating dry Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover). She is not a great fan of dog food anyway and much prefers human food. I'm wondering if this could be affecting her coat? Ever heard of this? Any thoughts anyone?
Thanks!
The vet I think is going to test now for thyroid although she is ceratinly not a quiet sluggish dog-she is usually happy and active. She only weighs 10 lbs and is 7 years old
ANSWER: Patti -

Your poor kiddo !  I think that the thyroid test is a very good idea.... You're feeding a good quality dog food, so it's not likely that it us a sensitivity - especially if she's been eating it for a while. Be careful about human food only because it's hard to balance it nutritionally... but things like meat and most veggies should not pose a problem.

How is she groomed ?  Hand stripped or mars coat kinged, as opposed to getting done like a westie ??  How long is the overcoat hair ??  Sometimes that will be really long and dead and seem stringy, I've seen some weird looking dogs just because they have or have not been groomed much.  I keep my fosters' hair down to about 1 1/2 inches most of the time.

Jeez - beyond that I am at a loss... is she an anxious dog perhaps ??  anything change in your & her life lately ??

Please let me know how you make out

-Beth

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

QUESTION: Thanks Beth
She is groomed like a westie-short haired most of the time. She is a VERY VERY anxious dog and always has been (even as a puppy!!!). She is even afriad of her own water bowl, new floors, loud noises, thunder storms (nightmare city). Could that be part of the problem-stress? I have read conflicting reports on that. She hides under the bed or under chairs (I think for security) but she's vrey brave and happy outside?
The throid doesn't make too much sense because she is sooooooooooooo tiny but eats well?  

Answer
Cairns are supposed to have hard coats - which often gets messed up if they get shaved in grooming. the outer coat is supposed to be pulled out (stripped) or there is a tool called a mars coat king that makes it easy for all us amateurs.

I would guess than anxiety could play into her problems. You got her as a puppy ?  Where did you get her ?  Thyroid can never be ruled out without testing. I have a friend who's cairn was shown at Westminster before he was retired - so he's very well bred and cared for - and he turned up to have a thyroid problem and is a totally different dog now that it's managed with medication...

I'm really sorry I can't say - Voila ! I know the problem and we can fix it by doing X, Y and Z... Poor kiddo

Have you taken her to obedience classes ??  I often take shy or nervous dogs to a series of classes - not because they necessarily learn to be obedient, but because there's something about it that works wonders in building confidence !

-Beth