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Expert: - 4/4/2011


Question
Hello,

I have a 12 week old rottweiler puppy. Approximately 1 weeks or so ago I noticed that she had like a line of missing hair on her head. Because she place around with my 8 months old bulldog and 3 year old rottweiler, I thought that it could be a scratch or something. Well the hair loss has continued and it is getting worse. she is missing more hair on her head and yesterday i notice that her back is thinning out as well. She also has these little bumps under her arm pits. Right around the same time that this thing started, I had applied frontline to her for the first time and that is what I believe that is the reason for all of this. She has not stopped eating or has changed in any way. she is as playfull as ever and I don't see her scratching herself, well not any more than usual. Your opinion would be helpful.

Answer
Frontline is many things but it doesn't cause hair loss as far as we have been told. I would be more concerned about her having demodex mange, which is very common in puppies.

You need to have the vet look at her skin and do a skin scraping to look at it under a microscope. That is the only way he or she will know what your dog has so that she can be treated correctly.

It is not something to let slide because Demodex can be very dangerous if it becomes systemic.

http://www.dog-health-handbook.com/image-files/demodectic_mange.jpg

Here is a common looking lesion (localized-scroll down to see it):
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/demodectic_mange.html

So get her in and get her checked soon.  

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Jana Connell RVT, CVT

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PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING TO ME: I am NOT a vet and do NOT diagnose diseases. That is only for a licensed Veterinarian to do. I will give you suggestions and steer you toward calling your vet for help. You can call the vet's office and talk to the technician there or the vet at times. Don't be afraid to call them! If you have a serious issue with your pet please post it to one of the veterinarians in here- I will tell you the same thing in my answer. IF your pet is injured or in an emergency situation, CALL YOUR VET- Do not wait and post in here. Just call the vet's office and get them in to see the vet right away. Critical treatment time is lost if you seek answers here when you should have your precious pet at the vets!! Don't sit at home waiting for an answer when your pet is critically ill or injured!! I can answer most questions about small animal and wildlife care as well as small animal nutrition. I can also answer questions about all phases of dental care for small animals. I DO NOT answer questions about birds (unless it is wildlife or songbirds) or HAMSTERS/GERBILS/CHINS/GUINEA PIGS/REPTILES/FROGS/RABBITS/PET BIRDS OF ANY KIND so please submit these questions to the appropriate sections. I, as well as other experts in here, do NOT do homework questions- that is for YOU to do! Please respect these rules for all of us. Thanks!

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I have over 35 years experience in the field of veterinary medicine. I specialized in small animals and did wildlife rehab for over 25 years, mostly raptors, squirrels and opossums. I am a Small Animal Nutritional Consultant with 6 certificates from Hills Pet Foods, CNM and Purina. I also specialized in Small Animal Dentistry which is a field I truly love.

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Licensed with California and Oregon, RVT and CVT. Certified Veterinary Dental Technician Have over 500 logged hours of Continuing Education Credits(that means I keep up to date!).

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Nominated for Expert of the Month for the last 5 years.

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