There are several causes of hair loss in puppies, but the back is an unusual place for hair loss to begin. There is one condition that is characterized by hair loss along the puppy's back. That is color dilution alopecia, which is also known as color mutant alopecia, blue dog disease or blue Doberman syndrome. This is not a lethal condition for a dog, but there is no known cure.
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Symptoms
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Symptoms of color mutant alopecia can appear in puppies as young as 4 months old but can show up as late as when a dog is 3 years old. The hair along the back becomes thin and falls off, but the skin underneath is often scaly like human dandruff. The skin on the bald patches eventually becomes covered in blackheads or pus-filled lumps. These bumps, which are infected hair follicles, may open and ooze pus. The baldness can spread to other parts of the body, particularly those colored the same as the puppy's back.
Diagnosis
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There are other causes of hair loss on a puppy's back and scaly skin, but they usually start on the head, legs, tail or ears and then spread to the back, according to "Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook." These include the contagious fungal infection ringworm; parasites like mange; a malfunctioning thyroid or zinc-responsive dermatosis, which often is seen in Siberian huskies and Alaskan malamutes. It is always best to get the puppy to a vet for a proper diagnosis to rule out other possibilities, no matter how remote.
Cause
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Color mutant alopecia is seen mostly in blue or fawn colored dogs. Blue is black hair mixed with white while fawn is red hair mixed with white. Since they are mixed with white, these colors are called "diluted." It is unknown why these colors would be more prone to color mutant alopecia than other colors. Since this condition runs in families, any dog with it should never be bred.
Expert Advice
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Although color mutant alopecia is incurable--unlike ringworm, mange, thyroid problems or zinc-responsive dermatosis--a mostly bald, crusty-skinned dog can be made more comfortable with gentle puppy shampoos, antibiotic rinses and body lotions made just for dogs. This can keep the skin from cracking open and bleeding. Race Foster, DVM, also recommends benzoyl peroxide to place on the pimple-like areas of the dog.
Breeds
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The most common breed affected by color mutant alopecia is the Doberman, but only in the blue and fawn colors. But any breed of puppy with blue or fawn coloring may develop it, including chow chows, Irish setters, Italian greyhounds, whippets, standard poodles and Newfoundlands.
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