Expert: Maxine Kinne - 5/2/2008

Question
How can I treat extreme dry skin and hair loss on my nubian?  I have had him to the University of Illinois vet school where they said he does not have any parasite but dry skin.  It comes off like snow.  It itches him.  Is there any supplement that will help him?

Answer
Hello Maureen,

Is his hair loss all over or just in a few places. If just a few places, where are those places?

Did they check his thyroid? If that's low, you can give him something for it. You'll have to work with a vet to diagnose that and get the medication. That would be an all-over hair loss, not just in spots.

He could be zinc-deficient. Symptoms of that are hair loss around the eyes and on the bridge of the nose, but not a generalized hair loss all over the body.

He might also have an underlying condition that will get worse over time. (I had a goat who had an adrenal gland tumor, and the first sign was symmetrical hair loss on the shoulders. We were finally able to diagnose her 18 months after the first symptom. This was an unusual case.)

In the meantime, your guy might be made a little more comforable if you give him 1 tablespoon of peanut oil per day over his grain or in some kind of treat.

Here's a good article about hair loss - www.kinne.net/hairloss.htm

Good luck!

Sincerely,
Maxine Kinne
maxinekk@aol.com