Seasonal Flank Alopecia - not going away!
Submitted by jamesjago on May 27, 2011 - 9:00amHey all! It's been a while since I posted, which is great given everything our little Tank has been through.
For the past two years Tank has experienced some hair loss on his sides which we assumed to be seasonal flank alopecia because it promptly went away after a few weeks. This time, however, months have elapsed and his sides are still very very dark and hairless. We have been feeding him melatonin with his meals along with fish oil. Is there anything else we can do to help the hair grow back?
Thanks so much!
James and Tank
Nothing short of
more sun exposure. Sometimes it is what it is. :(
i hope so, we can do that!
Well that's an inexpensive and fun way to solve it! After a long winter in Chicago that could certainly be it!
Truthfully, I have not found supplements to be of any help
with SFA. Fresh air and sunshine seems to be the only remedy.
If it doesn't clear up, you may want to have his thyroid tested. Thinning hair on the sides is a symptom of a thyroid condition.
Good luck
Lynn King CPDT-KA
could try removing corn.
Rolonda had SFA for the first 5yrs. Every time we would do the blood work to rule out thyroid (I would still suggest running the test) and every year nothing. Then at a puppy match one of the older breeders told me to try removing corn from her diet.
Not sure if she just out grew it or the removing corn worked because it wasn't an instant fix but her later years she didn't have her seasonal hair lose.
Good luck I would be stopped on the street to ask what was wrong with her.
Triple D (Dwayne, Dollie & Dimples) and Queen Elizabeth (Betty)
I am going through the same thing
I had to smile when I read your post. My Tank also has that problem and I live in the Chicago area. I had his thyroid checked and everything there is fine. I was told lack of sun also. I've wanted to try melatonin but after reading the bottle it says it might make him sleepy. Tank's alopecia is not too bad, but definitely noticeable. Has anyone tried melatonin? Does it make your dog sleepy?
Not sleepy
Our tank does not get sleepy at all from it. It has worked in prior years. But with that said, he is a total nut! So i don't know if he is a good example!
Thanks For all the posts and advice!
SFA
One of my boys got it for first time this year. A couple of girls have had it in the past, but were doing well though they also showed a little loss on the sides this year due to our bad winter here in Northeast and not getting out as much as usual. On advice of (Bulldog) vet, we gave Sun Source Melatonex for 45 days and 1/2 tsp. of Body Builder from Equiade. Worked well. I plan to start him on the Melatonex this fall after time change to see if we can prevent it from happening again.
I live in Florida.......
And one of my girls has SFA. It comes and goes periodically throughout the year. She is a light fawn color. Her sister is dark brindle and has never had this issue. Years ago I had a fawn male that also had periodic SFA. Neither of the two of them has/had throid problems. My guess is that it has something to do with their coat. My brindle girl has a very thick coarse coat. The fawn girl has a thinner very soft coat.
Mike
Seasonal Flank Alopecia
I have a 3 year old bully male who last year lost hair but it grew back. this year around january or so, he lost hair on both sides and it is not growing back.
For about a month, we have been giving him 12mg of melatonin a day with his meals. He eats no corn. Is this Seasonal Flank Alopecia?
How do i treat this?
Thank you
Mike Dubis