Breeders do not like to sell puppies to beginners. This is a fact, not an attempt to offend the latter. The thing is that the new owners of the Spitz (and not only) never listen to recommendations. They all know for themselves.
As a result, problems begin with teeth, intestines, alopecia in Spitz. We will dwell on the last problem in more detail. Too often this phenomenon occurs, especially among show dogs.
What it is?
Let's answer the question, what is alopecia. This is a hair loss in a dog. Moreover, the dog does not bother anything. There is no itching, the animal feels fine, BUT it is rapidly balding, turning into a Chinese crested dog, and not into a Spitz.
With alopecia in a dog, the hair falls out almost completely. Little remains only on the head and tail. Hence the analogy with the Chinese dog.
Why is this happening?
No one knows why such a disaster happens with dogs. Moreover, hair loss can occur both in the descendants of elite dogs and in the pet class.
Due to the fact that the exact causes of the disease have not been identified, it is called "Alopecia X."
Hypothetical reasons
Among breeders, there are several versions of what the disease is associated with:
- Poor feeding.
- Inadequate hair care.
- Genetic mutations.
- Short walks, and even in clothes.
We will talk about each of these causes of alopecia in Spitz in more detail.
Feeding
Breeders are a patient and patient people, but even they can lose their temper. And who will like it if his puppy is in unreliable hands? Then the unfortunate hosts call and cry: "The Spitz has wool, what should I do? After all, the exhibition season is on the nose!"
The breeder begins to ask counter questions. And the first of them: "What was fed?" Here it turns out that the dog loves sausage, chips, pasta with sauce and other food. The “parent” of the puppy grabs his head and reproaches the new owners. He warned that you should never give a dog anything from the table.
The answer is breathtaking: "The dog asks." Sometimes they say even better: "They kept the dogs all their lives and fed them like that. Everything was fine. It was you who slipped us a bad puppy, some kind of allergy."
Dear owners of this fluffy pet, listen to the breeder's advice on how to feed a Spitz puppy. You can’t give the baby products from the table, none and never. If you decide to feed with natural food, then it can be:
- Boiled meat without salt and spices (chicken, turkey, beef).
- Starch-free vegetables.
- Dairy products (kefir and cottage cheese).
- Hard boiled eggs, but not more than twice a week.
- Boneless fish.
- Fruits are unsweetened apples.
- Cereals (rice, buckwheat).
Or feed your pet like that, or high-quality dry food, there are no other options. Of course, if you do not want to treat alopecia in Spitz.
Poor care
Spitz has a very dense coat with a dense undercoat. She needs care, and this care is not limited to surface combing.
It happens that the owner is not combing the wool enough. On the surface, it seems smooth, and the undercoat begins to fall off. Hence problems arise such as alopecia in Spitz.
What do breeders recommend about this?
- Comb your dog three to four times a week. During molting - daily.
- What should be a comb for a spitz? This is a denter with firm teeth. It should not only superficially “lick” the coat, but also the undercoat should be combed properly.
- They say that the Spitz must be washed once every six months. It's a lie. Wash the dog weekly, using high-quality shampoo and conditioner.
- When combing the dog, moisten the hair. A spray gun will help.
Walks
Spitz care includes regular walks. Walk the dog every day. This is not a doggie that can go to the toilet for a diaper. Spitz requires physical exertion.
Just do not need to pack your pet in clothes, even in winter do not do this. This dog has such a coat that can protect him from the cold. The only thing that can be done during mud and slush is to use a raincoat for dogs.
Symptoms of the disease
It seems that the owners take care of the dog as expected, but begin to notice that the coat becomes dry, and then it suddenly drops out. This is alopecia in Spitz.
Puppies at the age of 4-6 and 10 months are susceptible to the disease. But the disease can occur later, for example, at the age of one. It happens that completely adult dogs, aged 8 and more, suffer from it.
What should a master do if his dog resembles a slightly pubescent rat — his head and tail are “woolly” and his body is bald? In this case, urgent measures must be taken.
Running to the doctor
What is the treatment for alopecia in spitz? First they take the dog and take him to the veterinarian. The specialist makes the necessary tests, makes a diagnosis. If alopecia is confirmed, then the animal is prescribed various vaccines. These include the drug "Polivak-TM", which is administered intramuscularly with an interval of 10 days. First, in one hind leg, after the due time in another.
Breeders' recommendations
How do dog breeding professionals recommend treating the disease? In case of alopecia in Spitz, they, like veterinarians, focus on the Polivak-TM vaccine. What else do breeders offer?
- Bathe your pet with Nizoral shampoo. It is sold at any pharmacy. You must do this every three days. Why, if the veterinarian did not detect a fungal disease? After all, "Nizoral" is struggling with fungi. The fact is that many fungi are difficult to diagnose. Shampoo won't be worse, that's for sure.
- Treat Spitz against fleas and ticks. Give any antihistamine medicine. Basically they give Suprastin, Fenistil. During processing, an allergic reaction may occur, and the drug will help to avoid this. Just choose one thing. You do not need to stuff all the pills that are in the pharmacy into the dog.
- You can buy PDE and rub it into the skin of the animal. PDE is an excellent prophylaxis of alopecia in Spitz. What it is? Deciphered as a denatured emulsified placenta. It is sold in pharmacies. Before rubbing the placenta, it is necessary to treat the skin of the dog. For this, a good proven scrub is taken and the dog's skin is processed. After washing off the scrub, the skin is dampened with a towel, excess moisture is removed and the placenta is rubbed.
- Be sure to give your pet vitamins. Well proven "Lactis Zoo" and "FortiFlora", which are sold in the form of oil. Strictly follow the instructions, intending to give them water to your spitz.
Recovery process
Be prepared for the fact that if there is alopecia from Spitz, you will have to abandon all exhibitions. The fact is that new wool grows for a rather long time. Only two months after the start of treatment, you can see the first fluff on the skin of the animal. Finally, the dog will overgrow at least six months later.
What else provokes the disease?
Wrong haircut. Not so long ago, an image with a dog named Boo gained popularity on the Web. It depicts a bald body with a furry head. And the owners of furry pets rushed to cut their pets, wanting to have the same fashionable dog as Boo.
Breeders were horrified, trying to convey to the owners that such a haircut is fraught with consequences, one of which is Spitz alopecia.
If you shave your pet baldly, then the hair follicles fall asleep. And not the fact that the animal can grow again. More precisely, he can grow something, but it will look strange.
Secondly, owners of sheared dogs began to face sunstrokes and burns from pets. Dogs lack sweat glands, and bald head does not bring them relief during the heat, as inexperienced owners believe. On the contrary - the situation worsens, the pet receives a heat stroke.
Want to help your pet withstand the heat? Water it often, wipe your stomach and paws with a damp cloth, and don’t make people play outdoor games.
Allergic reactions are a side effect of a bald haircut. The dog begins to bite insects, and he, in turn, gives out unthinkable allergies. The owners sin on food, and the problem is bald skin.
Dear Spitz owners, do not experiment with your favorites. Please, if you decide to cut your pet, then leave 3-4 centimeters of wool.
Conclusion
So you have learned about such an exciting topic as alopecia in Spitz. We emphasize once again: the exact causes of its occurrence have not yet been clarified.
To prevent hair loss, take more care to care for it. Feed your pet only quality products. All delicacies in the form of sausages and other things leave for yourself, dogs are not people! They cannot always cope with what we eat with pleasure.
And a little tip: always listen to the breeder. Most new owners are very confident. They certainly, in their own opinion, will not destroy the dog. Most of these self-confident people then call the breeder with tears and requests for help.