Expert: Kaza - 8/24/2010

Question
Hi, I have a 1.5 yr old male Bichon. He is loosing hair the upper parts of his legs on the back. He is very healthy otherwise. Good diet, grooming etc... Will be taking him to the Vet in a few weeks. Any ideas?

Thank you

Answer
There are a few issues that can cause hair loss, biting due to a skin allergy could be fleas or indeed a food intolerance. Could be his adult coat is in and his puppy coat weighs it down too much .

Suggest having his coat cut shorter, bathing in neem oil shampoo and using fish oils in his diet. if he is on a dry diet suggest taking him off it, with some dry commercial diets I have seen bichons lose all their coats. Feed foods like fresh cooked salmon, cucmber, apple slices, pear slices, green beans, peas, mackeral, lamb chicken a little spinach, carrots. chick peas , oats pinto beans, tinned pilchards in brine (wash the brine off)

Suggest giving cranberry tablets or powder known in USA as cranberry relief, lutein tablets , glucosamine and chondratin tablets for all bichons.

If it is flea allergy remove all fleas the neem shampoo is good for this too and use a good flea repellant follow instructions given , if you can see tiny black spots on skin that will be flea poop, that is how to tell. Comb several times per day using a flea comb, kill them by crushing them and treat the coat and home with a flea product.
Keep me updated and good luck

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