My Boxer has hair loss and breathing issues. Is it heart or thyroid?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to us concerning your pets hair loss. Yes, hypothyroidism can be a cause of an older dogs hair loss. The clinical signs of hypothyroidism are no itchy hair loss, panting, constantly seeking out vents or shady places because the heat bothers them, etc. but this condition usually begins between the ages of two and five but there are some situations in which happens at an older age. There are many other diseases that can also cause hair loss so it is in your best interest To take him to a veterinarian to have a full physical examination performed. The vet will be able to run tests such as blood work up, thyroid testing, skin scraping, etc. to be able to make a diagnosis and put him on the correct treatment. I hope this information has helped. Have a great day.

Dogs that are hypothyroid have a deficiency of thyroid hormone which can cause the symptoms you describe as well as lethargy, weight gain, etc. Replacing with thyroid hormone is the only way to treat the problem, and it is necessary to confirm that she is indeed hypothyroid before starting treatment. Unfortunately there is nothing that can be given at home.

I am mostly concerned about the weight loss, lethargy (depression) and the labored breathing. This is certainly not normal for such a young dog. From the symptoms you are describing, a metabolic disorder seems most likely. Options are hyperadrenosorticism (Cushings), hypothyroidism (although this is not consistent with the weight loss), certain sex hormone disorders, and certain immune mediated disorders. Since this has been going on for such a long time, I would advise a consultation with a specialist at this point. You can find a veterinary internist in your area on www.acvim.org.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Bathing too much can cause increased hair loss. The most common reasons for hair loss are: skin infection, ring worm, demodex or underlying metabolic issue like a low thyroid and cushing's disease (older dogs). Also in some breeds, like boxers, will get a seasonal flank alopecia. Without seeing a picture it is hard to know what is causing Derby's hair to fall out. It is best to have him seen by your Vet. I hope this helps and I wish Derby the very best!

I am so sorry to hear about Liberty Bell. I would make sure they have retested her thyroid to make she is on the correct dose of Levothyroxine. I would also talk to your vet to recheck her ACTH stimulation test to see if she is on the correct dose of Vetoryl. If everything is at the correct dose then I would start thinking about allergies, secondary bacterial or secondary yeast/fungal infections that could be causing the hairloss. Talk to your vet about whether a hypoallergenic food or medications for allergies may help. You could also have your vet refer you over to a dermatologist who could do additional testing to figure out the cause. I hope this helps!

A low thyroid is definitely a possibility that is contributing. Allergies from something in the environment, fleas or food can also play a role. The dark pigmentation with the creases on the legs can also be a secondary yeast or bacterial infection that is making this worse. he needs to see a vet to have the thyroid checked and address the skin infection. From there a medicated shampoo in a weekly bath is helpful. They can see what might be the underlying cause and get you appropriate medicine to try to stay ahead of it in the future.

Hello. If your veterinarian has not checked Moka's thyroid levels, then yes this needs to be looked at. Otherwise, this is a good fatty acid supplement, but it can take 6-8 weeks to see results after a supplement is started. If this does not work, she may need some additional testing. You can ask your veterinarian if there are any veterinary dermatologist specialists in your country. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.