Hi Everyone!! I have a question maybe someone can answer. A few weeks ago I noticed Tia was getting a little bald spot on her throat. I'm sure it was because of her collar getting a bit snug. Well, I removed the collar and have since bought her a new and improved, bigger one!! However, the spot is getting bigger and she has not had a collar on for over a week. Also, I haven't noticed her scratching or irritating it. My husband says that she is just losing her baby fur as she is almost 9 months now. (he thinks he knows everything lol) I am getting kind of worried. Any ideas or suggestions??? Thank you, Jill
She's a long hair right? They will do what is called "blowing their coat" anywhere from 4 - 8 months (sometimes earlier, sometimes later). On some it does almost look like bald spots. My little Bijou is blowing her coat now - she looks like a long haired only from the neck up - the rest of her is very short and she's balding on her neck and belly :) Your husband is basically right - she maybe getting her nice long coat in (now it can take til she's 18 months to get full coat). Check for other patches - they don't always go "bald" - sometimes it looks like they're losing patches of hair.
Now, there are other things besides getting new coats that can cause small spots of "baldness" - you would have to have a vet do a skin scraping to check if it's a medical condition (demodectic mange, mites, other parasites) - some they get irritation, some they don't. And if there is blue in her line, some blue lines carry alopecia which is baldness :(
I know on my long coats - the throat is usually the first they blow their coat on - don't know why but they do. But if you have any concerns, i'd have your vet check it.
Well, I think Sue answered that really well, and I dont think I have anything more to add actually! lol I'm afraid I dont know a huge amount about long coats, so I think I'll leave it to the ones who do!
I guess I should start reading up on them though if I'm going to be hving one of Bijou's pups! x