Hair Loss in Newf Pup

Highlife

Highlife

New member
Hi Everyone,
I have a 5 month old newf pup that lost some hair on his tail. The patch is about 1-1/2x3 inches and the skin looks perfectly normal. It is on his tail about 1/3 of the way down. He has no other hair loss anywhere else and is growing fine. His littermates all lost a small patch of hair in the same exact spot. They were in their new homes when the hair loss occurred and it affects both male and female pups. My vet was stumped but it was suggested by another vet that it might be due to an excess of hormones acquired in utero from the bitch. Any ideas? If the hair doesn't grow back as he begins to sexually mature than we will do tests. Thanks for your input.
Pam & Travis
 
Sound Bay Newfs

Sound Bay Newfs

Active member
I am sorry to hear that Travis' tail patch is still there, Pam. I have never seen anything like it. Pups usually have a ring in the hair in that spot, but I have never seen it completely bare. It is even more strange that the littermates have it too. Did it happen to the pups that the breeder kept? If all the pups are affected, it sounds hereditary. Hopefully when the longer adult hair comes it it might not be as noticable.
 
Bluedog

Bluedog

New member
The Vet's response cracked me up! It's a perfectly normal thing with Newfs especially. That often the first place they lose puppy fuzz and you'll see coarser shinier guard hairs (adult coat) growing in that forms sort of a ring around the tail. Don't worry. The same thing will start to happen on their backs as they lose puppy coat and the adult coat starts to grow in. Emmy's was sort of bare for awhile before the guard hairs came in.

I just read Lynn's post. Sorry. I obviously got up on the wrong side this morning and it's affecting my limited sense of humor. Hmmm.... Not sure why it would be bald for this long on all the pups.

[ 08-03-2006, 10:36 AM: Message edited by: Bluedog ]
 
Highlife

Highlife

New member
Nancy,
There is no hair in that area...not even guard hairs yet. It is completely bald and getting a nice tan. All the pups have it and the breeder is stumped. We just hope that when the adult hair comes in soon that it will grow back.
 
Sound Bay Newfs

Sound Bay Newfs

Active member
That's an interesting link, Susan! I would like love to know what it is. Maybe if you post a picture here, Pam, it would help.
 
Jenn

Jenn

New member
If most or all the pups are having the same thing I would hazard a guess at the Precaudal gland which is found on dogs but non functioning gland unlike on wolves and high content wolfdogs. On wolves it is a scent gland. But, if on dogs it is non functioning, maybe genetically the gland was affected somehow on all the pups? It's about 1/3 down on the tail. On dogs like GSD's and some huskys you can see a dark patch 1/3 down the way. It would be my only guess as to spot on them and others being affected from the litter.

I did see mention of "stud tail" which is misleading because females get it too and it is caused by the gland there from what I know.

It's my best guess = )

[ 08-05-2006, 06:17 PM: Message edited by: Jenn ]
 
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