Bulldogs World

Our bullie has had the same issue for years.  It is stress realted but the fish oil and pet tabs help drastically!  But I know what you mean, from the time it starts falling out is seems like it is about a 3-4 months process before it is grown back in.  We had her scraped numerous times, put on antibiotics, etc. looking for any kind of mites, or anything to explain the hair loss but nothing could ever be found.  Our vet then concluded it was stress realted, suggested we try pet tabs and fish oil and it really does work. 

Here's what I learned via a Facebook buddy.  See below info.

Is your bulldog is loosing lots of hair right now? 

I am getting calls and Emails from all over ther world in these past few weeks people asking why their English bulldogs are loosing hair and are shedding more than usual.

Well they answer is Seasonal Flank Alopecia (lack of hair)

Seasonal flank alopecia (lack of hair) is a localized cyclic hair follicle growth abnormality that tends to occur in the fall or spring.  Some dogs loose hair in the late fall and regrow it spontaneously in the spring;  others do the reverse and lose hair in the spring.  Airedale terriers, English bulldogs, and Boxers are at higher risk, but the condition has been described in Miniature Schnauzers, Miniature Poodles, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, Doberman Pinschers, Bouvier de Flanders, Scottish Terriers, and French bulldogs.  These dogs develop a non-scarring alopecia most often confined to the sides of the chest and lumbar area. The lesions are bilateraly symmetrical, single annular to multiple “rings” in shape, and have well-demarcated borders;  in addition, the skin is usually markedly darker or “hyperpigmented”.  Scaling and bacterial dermatitis may occur in the areas of hair loss.  In some dogs, only one side of the animal is affected, or one side is more severely affected than the other.  The spontaneous regrowth of hair that occurs in 3-4 months may consist of normal hair, or hair that is a different color, texture, or both.  In over 50% of the cases, the hair loss occurs at least twice in successive years.  To date, underlying causes, such as a hormonal disorder or allergic reaction, have not been identified.

There is currently no effective treatment for the seasonal or cyclic “follicular dysplasia”.  The prognosis is unpredictable in any given dog.  Some dogs continue to develop recurrent seasonal hair loss for years;  other dogs have an occasional year when the alopecia does not recur;  still other dogs eventually develop permanent alopecia in the affected sites.  The degree of alopecia is also variable with some dogs developing a virtually identical hair loss pattern year after year, and other dogs developing larger and larger areas of hair loss as the years go by. 

Other diseases present with very similar signs including:  1) Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism); 2) Hypothyroidism;  3) Estrogen or testosterone imbalances; 4) Stress-induced hair loss;  5) Post-clipping alopecia;  6) Color-mutant alopecia ( i.e. blue Dobermans, fawn Irish Setters, blue whippets, blue dachshunds);  7) Pituitary dwarfism;  8) Hypovitaminosis A;  9) Burn or freezing scars;  10) Mange;  11) Cutaneous fungal disease;  12) Dermatophytosis; 13) Injection reactions;  or 14)  psychogenic alopecia.  Therefore, it is essential that a veterinarian examines the dog before one believes his or her dog has seasonal flank alopecia.  Most bilaterally symmetrical alopecias do need clinical management.

My suggesting is buy a curry comb for horses in a feed store, comb their coat backwards really hard everyday to take all the dead hair out and spray them down with vinegar after wards and you will see great results in a few weeks. 

Also add a little olive oil into thier diet.

Thank you for posting about this ! My little man cash , has had this for the last two years , I had someone babysit for a weekened last year and i Came back and it looked like he'd be dragged on his sides or something , I never said anything to the babysitter , an then this week I look at him ( same time of year ) and his hair is all thin and his skin is all hyperpigmentated ! So happy to hear there is nothing wrong wtih him and that it's just seasonal and that it will grow back ! Its not red or does not irratate him at all ! THank you for posting !

My bulldog is 2 and has had this now for more than 6 mos.  We live in Florida, he gets plenty of sunshine.... and the areas of hair loss are getting larger every day.  Everything I have read says that it is SEASONAL... but, unfortunately, not for my dog.  I've tried melatonin.  Didn't seem to help.  Has anyone tried anything that worked?  Thanks,