Tail losing hair

[Gertie]

So for some reason my 15 month old ES seems to have lost a lot of hair in her tail. It's coming back in but I'm really curious why it fell out in the first place. Anybody have an idea?

[Cajun Casey]

Flea allergy. One bite can cause intense itching and she may have chewed the hair off.

[DonF]

No fleas in Central Oregon. What have you been feeding her and did you recently change? Do you give her toilet paper or sand paper to wipe with!

[Gertie]

She eats Acana Prairie with a little salmon oil on it. Been on the same food for about 9 months so I don't think that's it. Can't think of any time she would have been exposed to fleas but I suppose she could have been around them in the Valley or out in North Dakota. I'll give her a good looking over and see if I can find any flea dirt. Any other thoughts?

[shags]

One of mine did similar in his first two autumns. Just part of blowing coat. If you trim the old long hairs a bit, it won't look so straggly while the new hair is growing in.

[Wildweeds]

Is the hair loss the complete length of the tail or just at the tip or near the base?

[Gertie]

Full length and the more I look at it the more I think she's been chewing on it.

[KwikIrish]

Did she come in season recently? Bitches generally blow coat around their season.

[Wildweeds]

After reviewing Gerties pedigree and considering her age I have one more question,it there small scabs and a greasy look to the skin of the tail? If so My internet diagnosis for this would be localized demodectic mange if she is NOT gnawing at it,if she is gnawing at it a seasonal pollen allergy of some sort,I had a pointer a few years back that had demo mange,the vet explained that it can be brought on by a number of things,grass pollen,wheat stubble,a big variety of things,it struck my pointer at around 2 years old,Another buddy of mine with a very linebred sunrise dog is currently wrestling with a skin coat problem,hers are allergies,She came down with it at 2 years.The salmon oil your adding to the feed ought to have that coat shining like a diamond.

[Gertie]

Did she come in season recently? Bitches generally blow coat around their season.

Hasn't been in season since last spring. Good thought though.

After reviewing Gerties pedigree and considering her age I have one more question,it there small scabs and a greasy look to the skin of the tail? If so My internet diagnosis for this would be localized demodectic mange if she is NOT gnawing at it,if she is gnawing at it a seasonal pollen allergy of some sort,I had a pointer a few years back that had demo mange,the vet explained that it can be brought on by a number of things,grass pollen,wheat stubble,a big variety of things,it struck my pointer at around 2 years old,Another buddy of mine with a very linebred sunrise dog is currently wrestling with a skin coat problem,hers are allergies,She came down with it at 2 years.The salmon oil your adding to the feed ought to have that coat shining like a diamond.

There are no scabs or grease and the rest of her coat looks great. Just the tail looks goofy and, like I said, it is all growing back in so in a month or two it shouldn't be an issue. The seasonal pollen allergy could easily be the problem. The fall pollen season around here can be kinda gnarly for a lot of folks so it makes sense that it might mess with dogs too. Thanks a bunch for the feedback. Much appreciated.