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Doberman with Thinning Hair, Oily Flakes and Open Sores

by Christina





Reader Question
I ahve a 4 year olf Doberman who has severe hair thinning some soars and pimples with dry and oily skin and mild oder. The flaks are horrible after any kind of bathing and take weeks to go away, iv tried oat shampoos ith shampoos sesitive skins shamppos, diet changes and supplements. I even put a cone on her head for 4 months to stop the excessive licking to her rear where she now had 2 quarter size soars that she refuzes to stop licking,, I cant afford to go to the vet right now and need some advice and help for my baby...I dont know what to do, the dry oily flaking skin is bother her and me, we pet her and the hair comes off, it smells and it oily, same things when we give her a bath byt it makes worse. Im vary concerned about the two open soars on her hips they ooz a little and they have built up a lot of thick skin around them they try to dry out byt she wont leave them alone, I try a cone and it didnt work...please help I cant afford a vet right now thy said $200 ++


Answer from Our Team

We understand money is tight. Two oozing sores with thickened skin around them need a vet's attention, though, because they can be a deep infection or a lick granuloma, and they usually don't heal on their own. If cost is a worry, ask your vet about a payment plan, or look for a low-cost clinic, humane society clinic or veterinary school near you.

Thinning hair with oily flakes in a Doberman can have several causes. These include hypothyroidism (common in Dobermans), color dilution alopecia in blue or fawn dogs, inherited seborrhea, skin infections and allergies. Many of these can be confirmed with simple, affordable tests such as skin cytology and a thyroid blood test.

Until then, ask your vet's office whether a chlorhexidine shampoo would be suitable, and use a soft cone or a light T-shirt to stop the licking.

See seborrhea in dogs, hair loss in dogs and pyoderma (staph infection).

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.

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