Hair loss

Question
Hi Hope your doing great ,

My Dog (German shepherd long hair ) Male 11 years old   .. has lost hair on the tips of the ears  and above the left eye, the skin is bare  and white and  not itchy .. is it coz of his age or what ?

thanks a lot

Answer

Hi Osman,

Nobody can diagnose your dog over the Internet, but I can tell you that this doesn't sound like an "age related condition". If your dog isn't itching, and there aren't any signs of insect bites or crusting over scabs on your dog's ears or face he probably doesn't have scabies (mange), ringworm, or an allergy (though poor nutrition and mineral deficiency weakens your dog's immune system and can lead to some skin disorders).

Your dog may have a hormone deficiency, or possibly a fungus infection. The only way to find out what's going on with your dog, and to get proper treatment is to have him examined by a veterinarian.

If you are having trouble affording veterinary care, first talk to your regular vet. Ask your veterinarian if he or she will let you work out a payment plan. Many veterinarians are willing to work out a weekly or monthly payment plan so that you do not have to pay the entire cost of veterinary care up front. Another option is to contact your local animal shelter or Humane Society. Some shelters operate or know of local subsidized veterinary clinics or veterinary assistance programs. Yet another option is to contact friends and family and ask for a loan. If you happen to live within driving distance to a veterinary school, check with them to see if they offer discount services to the public. There are two special credit cards to apply for, which help with medical bills (including veterinary bills) read about them here:

http://www.carecredit.com
http://www.healthcard.citicards.com

Best of luck,

Patti