Our downfall as a species is that we are arrogant enough to think that we can control Mother Nature and stupid enough to think it is our job. ~Greg Peterson, 1997, urbanfarm.org
I Monkey here.
Don’t you think not-even-four is too young to be going bald?
I’d show you a picture, but Mama refuses. Silly woman seems to think that hiding her head under the sand is going to make this crisis go away.
And it is a crisis.
Everybody who’s ever seen or felt Sheltie fur knows how beautiful it can be. Sleek on the outside with a touch of poof on the inner coat next to the skin.
But not mine.
Nope, I’ve got BALD patches. Right down my back. They itch something fierce, so I scratch and bite to make it stop. And the hairs just keep coming out.
Poor Mama is beside herself.
She took me to the dogtur, who diagnosed a bacterial infection and gave Mama a spray to put on me twice a day.
It didn’t help much.
Two weeks later, I was back at the dogtur’s. This time, they diagnosed a yeast infection and gave Mama some pads to rub across my spots twice a day.
Who knows if that’s working?
Mama’s convinced it’s allergies. She sees herself as some sort of medical expert because she worked as a pharmaceutical rep for several years. Humph.
And she’s become a one-woman investigator. She switched my food (gradually, of course); washes my foot towels, bedding, and harness twice a week in All Free & Clear; refuses to use a scented dryer sheet; and put me on Benedryl twice a day (with dogtur’s okay).
All that did was zonk me out. I Monkey am still scratching.
When Dogtur suggested maybe my heavy-duty black harness was rubbing my fur off, Mama invested in a new, blue harness that’s a bit more open.
But she fretted our entire walk this morning, certain I Monkey was going to make the great escape.
Dogtur says lots of her patients are having fits with “The Itchies” this year, probably because of that climate change thing everybody’s blaming everything on.
She convinced Mama to try me on Apoquel, but I didn’t do well on it. The next experiment will be Cytopoint, a rather pricey injection that might buy me four weeks of relief.
I wonder if four weeks is enough to grow my coat back.
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
Oh, Monkey, I am so sorry! I hope Mama soon finds a solution and your fur returns to its full Sheltie glory.
Me, too, Miss Laurie. I Monkey am tired of scratching and biting myself, as well as of hearing Mama complain that I’m “molting” when she finds wads of my hair on the floor. Or the sofa.
Aw, poor boy… hope you find relief soon. Maybe cooler weather will help?
Thanks, Miss Eliza. I Monkey know Mama’s been watching the weather reports — do you think she’s hoping for cooler temperatures, too?
Greetings, Monkey! So sorry to hear about your hair-loss and scratching dilemma. I agree with Mama, something tells me it may be allergies.
Tell Mama I said that I really admire the way she’s been investigating and trying different avenues in the hope that one of them helps. I have great confidence that she will find a cure.
Sending lots of “positive energy” to you and Mama!
Have a superb Sunday! X
Thanks for the positive energy, Mr. Ron. I Monkey imagine that can’t hurt, right?
Poor Mama. I almost feel sorry for her, spending so much time in investigator-mode. Of course, I feel sorrier for me — I’m the one doing the itching!!
At least I can sleep without scratching. And I don’t have to stop on my walkies and scratch. Maybe I’m gaining on it?
Enjoy your coming week! Licks and hugs, Monk
Oh, no! I hope you can get to the bottom of things and take care of the itchy situation, Monkey!
I had a girlie with severe allergies (she was a catahoula mix). For a few years her hair loss was seasonal, but it got to the point it didn’t really grow back much. She took Benedryl twice a day for years and I think it helped a lot with the itching and chewing.
I know your mama is concerned, so be patient with her and try to behave yourself. Did you get a chance for a blessing this week? Pat is going for his this afternoon and I like to tell him that he needs it. (though he’s usually a good boy)
Miss Kelly, I Monkey am glad your girl got some relief from the Benedryl. I was, too, until I discovered Mama was tucking it into peanut butter and slipping it into my food. Huh, she thinks I can’t see that pink pill in there??
I DID get my St. Francis Blessing!! Some years, one of the churches do it, but Mama couldn’t find anything local this year. She went online and found the blessing and did it herself — hope it works just as well, seeing as how she’s not clergy or anything!
I’m glad you got a blessing, Monkey, and bet it counted just as much as a priest’s. Watch out for little pieces of hotdog. That’s how we always gave Elly her pills! 💊
HaHa, I Monkey have never had a hot dog! Mama knows I love peanut butter or cheese, and those are her vehicles of choice. She gave St. Dallas a Pill Pocket one time, but he got the diarrhea, so that was it. I’ve never had that either!
Oh dear, Monkey! Penny here. Mom and Daddy took ME to the vet too, cause I was sneezing a lot and scratching some and biting my feet. The nice vet said all my vitals were good…that it might be a seasonal allergy or something. So she gave mom and daddy some treats called Dermaquin. I got 2 a day for the first month and now I only get 1 a day. I’m not sneezing now, but I do still chew on my feet sometimes. The vet lady said something about going to an injection if we wanted, but mom and dad say I’m pretty good right now and we’re going to wait and see.
Hey, Miss Penny. I Monkey thank you for the info on Dermaquin. I’m going to have Mama ask my dogtur about getting some of that stuff — if it worked so well for you, perhaps it will for me. Neither of us want to be itching, biting, and scratching our lives away, right? I mean, there’s sooo much to explore outdoors, and the weather is practically perfect — too perfect to be drugged-out with Benedryl or (gasp) going half-bald!!
I hope Mama finds the solution, Monkey. It can’t be fun to have the itchies. We’ll all be keeping you in our thoughts as the investigation continues. PS We had a dog with allergies and the shots kept her itch free for four weeks. Yes, that is time enough to grow some hair back. Wishing you the best.
Thank you, Mr. John, for the testimony about the shots. I Monkey don’t particularly mind a shot — if I have to have one. Mama isn’t keen on the expense. She says I’m the most expensive pup she’s ever had — bar none. I say that’s because everything these days costs more. Huh, you’d think I wasn’t worth it or something.
I know all about expense, Monkey. We have had three surgeries on Tempeste and one on Twiggy. Believe me your Mon thinks you are worth it she is just saying out loud what we all believe. Vet bills are way too costly.BTW tell Mom I used to work for Bayer in the consumer products group.
I Monkey will tell her that. She used to do sales for pharmaceutical companies, and my brofur (the Domer) now works for a biotech company (Mama won’t let me say which one, to protect him — from what, I don’t know!!)
God idea on protection.
Aw, poor Monkey! Maybe it’s a seasonal thing and will pass as we move into autumn and winter. But I’m sure you look beautiful even with bald patches! Itching and scratching is no fun, though… poor pup!
I Monkey can only hope it’s a seasonal thing, Miss FF. It’s not been fun at all! Mama says it’s a wonder I have any fur left, what with all the scratching and biting I’ve been doing.
I Monkey can only hope it’s a seasonal thing, Miss FF. It’s not been fun at all! Mama says it’s a wonder I have any fur left, what with all the scratching and biting I’ve been doing.
Well, Monkey — I recently discovered the downside of getting back into nature: chiggers! I’m not losing any hair, but I sure do itch, and it’s absolutely no fun. I hope they can find the reason for yours. Has your Mama asked the vet about the health of your liver? In people, itchiness can be caused by problems with that very important organ. I doubt it’s your issue, but it never hurts to ask!
Chiggers?? Oh, Miss Linda, I Monkey sympathize. Mama says those things are real beasts! I hope your bites heal soon. Liver?? Uh-oh, now you’ve given me and poor Mama something else to fret over. I can already hear her going Cha-Ching — every time I go to the dogtur, it costs a small fortune. Sigh.
I really feel bad for your monkey!!! I’ve had an itch in a surgery area for years and tried everything in the world. It can be very frustrating!!!I After years of this I finally found something that helps sometimes. I really hope you find the problem. My daughter is going through that with her dog right now. Just so frustrating!
Miss Tayna, I Monkey hope your daughter’s pup gets over its itchies soon. My dogtur said lots of pups are scratching and biting this year. They don’t seem to know why. Poor Mama will keep trying to find a solution though, that I know!
Yes…he is also a puppy but his last weight was 150lbs!!!! (and growing) He’s huge!
Mercy, that’s one BIG puppy!!! I guess they don’t ever pick him up, right?!
She had to pick him once when he was 140 and she struggled. She can’t now though.
Oh, Monkey I’m so sorry! I hope they figure out what is wrong soon and are able to give you some relief! And you are lucky to have a mom who is taking this seriously and researching all the things that could be causing the problem itching and hair loss.
Thank you, Miss Ann. I Monkey have no idea what’s bothering me, but I’m glad Mama is on the job. She won’t rest until she figures this out! Sometimes I feel like a guinea pig with her experiments (I hate to tell you how many different foods she tried me on!), but I guess that’s part of the scientific process. Maybe Mama should’ve been a dogtur??
She would have been a great one!
I Monkey agree — at least she’s pretty gentle, though she’s kind of sneaky about hiding pills in peanut butter!
Hi Monkey! Yorkie here. I do think not even four years old is too young to be going bald! I’m so sorry that you’re going through the unknown itchies.
I went through a terrible time this past spring with the itches and I had bald areas and one spot that I licked so much it was mush mat of hair that the dogtur had to shave! My itches were caused by our neighborhood was insanely infested by fleas. The doggos, cats and women’s were all itching! It took months for everyone to spray to get rid of the epidemic here. But we conquered the fleas.
I’m having some itches on my arms and my slippers. I know that I’m driving my mama nuts. Mama took the scissors to me and cut my hair very short. I feel almost naked.
Mama has two theories about the itches right now. One, it might be anxiety disorder due to the Presidental Election Syndrome. Or Two, it is the “Permethrin“ that is in our heartworm and flea prevention pills that our whomens are sneaking into our food without comprehending the full story.
I’m hoping that it is theory One because in less than a month that Syndrome will be over!
My baldness and shaved hair did grow back. Monkey, I’m sure your mama is doing everything good for you!! ❤️🐾🐾
Poor Yorkie! I Monk have never had a flea. I’m pretty sure Mama wouldn’t permit it! She’s had me on flea-free medicine my entire life. How awful that fleas would have infested your entire neighborhood. You must have wandering cats and squirrels, right? Perhaps you need me to come over and help you catch them … or run them off??
I’m sorry you, too, had the itchies and the balding. Isn’t it dreadful? I’m able to flip nearly in half to get at my itchy spots. They seem worse first thing in the morning, but Mama hasn’t figured out why yet. She’s going to try me on that Dermaquin that Penny (above) suggested. I’ll let you know if it works.
Meanwhile, I Monk sure hope it’s not something in our regular flee or heartworm meds. Mama would have a fit over that! Paws crossed, it’s just the election-itchies. (I suspect even some humans are having itchies over that chaos, hee hee!)
Hi Monkey! Yorkie here again. It sure is dreadful to have the itches and balding. I Yorkie think that if your mama hasn’t changed your heartworm or flea meds then you are not allergic to that! Thank goodness!! But your itches sure have us all wondering why the itches and why itches now?
Hopefully it is the Presidential Election Syndrome which will be over in 22 whomen days. My mama is doing her vote for Kamala Harris by mail in ballot today. It’s not fair that doggos don’t get to vote. I would vote for Kamala Harris too because I am certain that she didn’t fall out of a coconut tree.
I think that I had a mosquito or ant bite on my arm the other day and my mama over did her worry wort by cutting my hair short. My arm is no longer itchy. Hopefully you will be out of the itches soon! ❤️🐾🐾
Hi Yorkie, Monkey here. Mama has noticed I’m most itchy first thing in the morning, though she hasn’t figured out why yet. She hopes the cooler weather this week will result in some improvement for me. Additionally, she contacted my dogtur, who prescribed some Dermaquin (like Dawn above is giving her pup). It’s too soon to see a benefit yet, but oh, I hope my furs grow back!
Oh… poor baby. I have two pups and one got the case of the itchies… he ended up on meds for awhile as he was apparently fretting (what about I don’t know – his life is near enough perfect!) Good luck! Linda xx
Thank you, Linda. Yes, Monk does tend to be an anxious pup, perhaps because he’s a Pandemic Puppy. Anyway, like your dog, Monk is probably fretting, though his life, too, is practically perfect, ha!
🤣🥰🌞
Oh my goodness, Monkey! I’m so sorry to hear about your itchiness! Sounds like it’s driving you and your poor mama bonkers! (Sorry I’m so late to your post — I’m so far behind in the blogosphere.) I hope you have found some kind of relief by now. Best wishes and a big (((hug)))
Thanks, Miss Barbara. I Monkey seem to bite and scratch the most in the mornings. Maybe I’m allergic to my crate? And maybe I can convince Mama to let me sleep in her bed? Nah, I doubt it. She says I’m on her all day long, so at night she needs her sleep. Whatever.