Remy's hair is sparse this year. We usually clip the Pyrs each spring and their hair begins to grow back within a few weeks. Remy was no exception in the past, with the exception being this year. After clipping her this past spring she just didn't grow the undercoat as quickly, or as thickly, as she needs for our northern winters. And she has several bald spots, a large one on each side, and a smaller one directly over her withers. After a VERY expensive vet visit to do skin tests, a complete blood panel, plus a thyroid test, it has been determined that she's in perfect health. The vet did suggest several supplements to help with her coat, but meanwhile she just doesn't have the protection from the cold. So she's a house dog for the winter. Although she's a bit bored and misses the excitement of patrolling the fence line and barking at every leaf that might be a threat, she has discovered there are a few amenities that make passing the long, cold winter inside bearable. One of her discoveries is the couch! Being a Pyr, she doesn't know how to take "no" for an answer so her humans just gave up and let her do her thing. Also, if she's going to be a house dog, she has to put up with being brushed regularly and going to the groomer. That also involves going for a ride, which is a pleasure she discovered long ago and thoroughly enjoys. Then there's the kitchen which is full of wonderful smells to investigate, and dishes to be prewashed before going into the dishwasher. All in all, she figures the house isn't such a bad place, and although there are drawbacks like being a bit bored, the perks make it all worthwhile. The problem is returning her to the outdoors after her hair grows back sufficiently. Wait, did I just see her with the trimmers making more bald spots?Please leave a comment below. I love hearing from you.
2 comments:
I don't know if this is the same thing, but my airedale had bald spots in the winter. My vet looked it up, and said that airedales are known for this because of the decrease of exposure to sunlight. To solve the problem, I had to give her small doses of melatonin. I only had to do it in the winter. Ask your vet! :)
Yes, the vet did suggest melatonin. I did a google search about it and studies have been shown that it helps fur animals to grow fur. There have been some minor studies that have shown some improvement in humans when applied topically. If it works for the dog internally, maybe I'll try the external application. Now that I'm getting older my hair isn't nearly as thick as it once was. Thanks for the suggestion though.
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