Expert: Renee Cox - 3/9/2008

Question
QUESTION: Any idea what is going on?  She has age (looking)spots all over her stomach.  On her hing quarters she has hair loss with these spots visible.  She is 6 years old.  Any help you could provide would be great.

Thank you
Debbie

ANSWER: Hi Deb. Can you explain exactly what the spots look like, color, shape, crusty, ect.? Is she itching at all?

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

QUESTION: The spots are dark almost black in color on her stomach.  The look like moles.  On the side of her body she has patches of hair missing, pretty big in diameter.  The overall skin tone where the hair is thin or missing in brown.  Within this brown skin zone are the same dark (black) mole like spots?? She does not itch/scratch, but licks her stomach often.

Answer
I'd definitely take her in to the vet to have this checked out. Boxers are known for cancer, even skin cancer. Any spots that come on fast, odd shape and color, and is causing fur to fall out in these spots needs to be checked out ASAP. Sorry I don't have something more solid, but I'd feel much more comfortable with a vet looking them over. It may be nothing, but it has me concerned. Please let me know how it turns out.