Bald patch.

So Neeko is now 6 months and has just started getting a bald patch on the top of his head. It doesn't seem to be bothering him it just looks a bit off looking, hair is still their just shorter.

I've been reading stupid amounts of info on Google about how it could be mainge (2 different types), could be stress, could be food (still on the same as he's always been), could be allergies, could be teething, could be his head cracking (I thought this was nonsense). Some people say it's just a staffy thing, the list goes on and on.

Is this worth a trip to the vets from scrapes etc?

Edit, just to add he is blue. 1 blue and white parent, the other red. He was the only boy and the only blue pup.

Hi Larry, can we ask what food he is on? It could possibly be allergies depending on food! Head cracking is just nonsense, the muscle structure when the male is mature looks like the skull has separated but it hasn't!!!

Could be so many things!

I doubt it's mange, although it's worth keeping an eye on it.

Many short coated breeds get the odd 'thin' patch which is nothing to worry about. If it gets bigger, or becomes red/itchy then see a vet.

Otherwise, make sure he's on a decent food, and you haven't changed any cleaners that may have reacted with his skin.

Does he rub himself on anything?

He's on wainwrights 2-18 months alternating flavours. He's had it since we got him and the breeder gave him it.

We have not noticed him rubbing on anything but I suppose anything's possible whilst he's in the garden. It doesn't appear to be getting any worse, neither is it red or sore looking but don't want to ignore it either.

https://i.servimg.com/u/f62/15/57/55/09/c4l4gg10.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/E3R1nSR.jpg

Not the best of pictures but it's not easy getting a 6 month old staff to stay still.


Just to add he also gets a spoonful of natural yogurt everyday after his dinner.

It could be alot of things but I seem to remember Nifty having a slightly balder head around the same age and it went as discretely as it came.
I wonder if she wasn’t lightly moulting at the same time too.
Do keep an eye on it but I wouldn't necessarily run to the vets if it doesn't look irritated or if it isn’t bothering him.

I give her sardines at least once a week, fish oil is supposed to be good for skin and coat.

Nifty staffy wrote:It could be alot of things but I seem to remember Nifty having a slightly balder head around the same age and it went as discretely as it came.
I wonder if she wasn’t lightly moulting at the same time too.
Do keep an eye on it but I wouldn't necessarily run to the vets if it doesn't look irritated or if it isn’t bothering him.

I give her sardines at least once a week, fish oil is supposed to be good for skin and coat.

Just picked up some sardines, anchovies and mackerel. He's had some before but not for a while.

It doesn't appear to be bothering him and I think he is about to cast.

I shall keep an eye on it and see. My misses says i should do a scrape myself as I do scrapes on my koi all the time, but I'm not really keen on the idea.

Not anchovies! They're incredibly salty & quite bad for them. Sardines are best, but mackerel 's also good - both in oil, not brine.

Thanks, I'll avoid the anchovies. How often is best for sardines? Once a week?

gillybrent wrote:Not anchovies! They're incredibly salty & quite bad for them. Sardines are best, but mackerel 's also good - both in oil, not brine.

I suspect Larry read the same article as me
https://therawfeedingcommunity.com/2017/02/12/simple-ways-to-improve-your-dogs-kibble/

I give tinned sardines at least once a week but I give those in brine (after having drained the brine) as I read somewhere that too much oil was not good and could also give the runs
I suppose anchovies could be ok but you would want to give much much less because they are so salty, so better off giving sardines for same benefit. Unless the fish is fresh ?

No they are just tinned. Going to get some of the grain free version of his food today and switch him over the next week gradually. They only have 1 flavour in the pup version but the adult version has many flavours and good reviews. It's more expensive but I suppose it will rule out the grain allergy theory.

I read to much yesterday as I was on a train to and from London 4 hours each way.

It could also be what vets call a hot spot, no idea what that is but my Flo had a couple when we rescued her. She had some cream applied and all was good except the one on her tail which comes and goes.

If it's not causing itching then i would keep an eye on it and mention on your next vet visit.

Nifty staffy wrote:

gillybrent wrote:Not anchovies! They're incredibly salty & quite bad for them. Sardines are best, but mackerel 's also good - both in oil, not brine.

I suspect Larry read the same article as me
https://therawfeedingcommunity.com/2017/02/12/simple-ways-to-improve-your-dogs-kibble/

I give tinned sardines at least once a week but I give those in brine (after having drained the brine) as I read somewhere that too much oil was not good and could also give the runs  
I suppose anchovies could be ok but you would want to give much much less because they are so salty, so better off giving sardines for same benefit. Unless the fish is fresh ?

Fresh is better, but many dogs won't eat raw fish. Whilst too much oil isn't good, it's better than brine! Salt, even for humans, is very bad for health.

Use sardines or mackerel in oil, but drain the oil before feeding. But anchovies? No. FRESH anchovies maybe, but not canned.

Katy has been on Wainwrights pretty much just after I got her. I buy 2 flavours at a time & alternate them, then buy the other 2 on my next visit. She also has fish & raw eggs which she loves

Vinnie had this a lot as a pup and it was mainly to do with diet everything has to be grain/cereal free now ,,,,, the vet prescribed Viacutin plus whic is a high gamma linolenic acid GLA to put on his food it worked a treat I then bought from ebay as they sell it

I wouldn't worry too much. Dodger had this on top of his head for about 18 months, then it just grew out. It was never bald, just a patch of shorter hair about the size of a 10 pence coin. I think it may be a blue staffy thing.