Chi with thinning hair around eyes and on head in front of ears?

I adopted a 3yo black and white Chi/Italian Greyhound mix from the shelter a couple months ago. Her hair was thinning on her head just in front of each ear. I spoke to the vet on hand at the shelter, and he assured me she did not have any skin disease, and that this may simply be a genetic issue. I said I'd love her bald or not.

Recently it seems she's becoming more bald. The fur around her eyes is also thinning (looks like brown circles). You can see her pics here: http://www.dogster.com/pet_page.php?i=41...

She's healty and happy and plays and eats and poops. We're feeding Artemis Fresh Mix Small Breed kibble with Grizzly Salmon Oil (supplement). She is bathed weekly with Earthbath Orange Peel Oil soap free shampoo bar and receives monthly treatment of Revolution.

Is this thinning something I should worry about? Will it continue to progress? Is it simply because her fur is black that it seems more pronounced?

Any advice welcome.

Chi with thinning hair around eyes and on head in front of ears?

I would talk to your vet about doing blood work on her. I worked at a vet clinic for many years and sometimes thinning hair for no obvious reason can be from a thyroid problem. Also, you may want to ask your vet about allergies and possibly try a 3 month round of Revolution (it kills scarcoptic mange and other mites).

Chi with thinning hair around eyes and on head in front of ears?

It could very well be mange either sarcoptic or dermadectic, mande usually starts on the face, head, and limbs and can progress slowly or repidly depending on the emune system of you dog. Just to be safe I would take her to a vet and get a skin scrape they will be able to tell of that what is going on. good luck!!

Chi with thinning hair around eyes and on head in front of ears?

I can't really tell much from the pictures. Chihuahuas do tend to have thin hair between the eyes and ears, and sometimes arounf the eye area. If it would ease your mind, I would take it to another vet just to make sure everything is okay, but from the way it sounds, just sounds like a normal chi trait and of course the IG's have practically no hair. It actually shows up more on my white chis. The skin underneath is black and it is quite pronounced in those areas.

Chi with thinning hair around eyes and on head in front of ears?

I have worked as a Vet. assistant for 11 years. It's hard to tell from the pics how bad it is. Do you have a regular vet. you take your pets to? Sometimes dogs that have come from a shelter, are under so much stress, that the natural resistance there body's have against mites becomes compromised. If her eyes are clean, without any discharge is could be very possible. Go to your vet and see what he or she says.

Chi with thinning hair around eyes and on head in front of ears?

It could be a food allergy. It is also not recommended to bathe your dog weekly so the shampoo could be irritating her skin. Try cutting back the baths to once a month and see if that helps.

Chi with thinning hair around eyes and on head in front of ears?

you should chill on all the bath stuff . to much bathing is not good for the skin