Bare ears may be pattern baldness

jkoch

By Dr. John Koch

Question: I have a 3-year-old dachshund that is losing the hair on his ears. There is no redness or scale formation. The ears are clean and do not itch. The skin looks normal except there is no hair. This gradually has been getting worse over the past several months. Other than his ears, Max is healthy as the proverbial horse. Can you give me any idea what might be going on?

Answer: It is difficult to make an exact diagnosis without seeing the condition, however, what you describe could be pattern baldness of dachshunds also called pinna alopecia. In some ways it is similar to baldness in people. It is a hereditary disorder most frequently seen in shorthaired dachshunds. It is occasionally seen in other breeds. The description you give is typical of what is seen. In addition, the skin may be leathery and be darkly pigmented. In females the hair loss pattern may extend to the neck, chest and abdominal areas. In males usually only the ears are involved. Unfortunately there is not a treatment although Rogaine has been suggested. To date there is no known research on Rogaine usage in dogs. You should be aware that pattern baldness in dachshunds might become more severe as the animal ages; however, it does not effect the overall health of the pet. There are other conditions that could be causing the problem you describe. Hypothyroidism, estrogen- or testosterone-related disorders or adrenal gland dysfunction could all be involved. A veterinarian should look at the problem so a more precise diagnosis may be made.

Dr. Koch is a Cape Girardeau area veterinarian.