Hair thinning on elbow

Discussion in 'Labrador Puppies' started by Sven, Jan 7, 2017.

  1. Sven

    Sven Registered Users

    Joined:
    May 23, 2016
    Messages:
    1,451
    Hi,

    I am sure this has been discussed before, but somehow I am not finding anything.

    Due to the hot weather, Vanilla will try and sleep anywhere that is cool, tiles, wooden flooring etc. In all her favourite spots we have either blankets (thin) to allow cold air through or cool mats. She does seek them out 80% of the time.
    What I have noticed recently is that her hair is a little thin on the side of her front elbows. Not the actual elbow bone, but to the side. (Hope that makes sense).

    Anyone got any bright ideas, as if I place a mat/blanket under she will move.
    I was thinking a fan, but then I would have to move it and make sure she does not chew anything.

    Thanks
    Sven
     
  2. Emily_BabbelHund

    Emily_BabbelHund Longest on the Forum without an actual dog

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2016
    Messages:
    3,959
    Location:
    Regensburg, Germany (Bavaria)
    Hi Sven, no answers for you but I'll be interested if anyone else does. My boy had this problem as well the last year of his life - he just didn't want to sleep on any soft surface anymore and like your girl, would just move when I wasn't looking if I put him down on a bed or blanket. The loss of hair on the elbows didn't bother him - the skin wasn't sore just hairless - but it did make me sad as I'm used to seeing that on uncared for or street dogs that get that damage from sleeping rough. But short of putting little knee pads on him, I couldn't figure out how to solve the problem!

    Just remembered that if it's just a "too hot" problem specific to the season, others here have mentioned using a cool pad. Some had real success, others not so much.
     
  3. Sven

    Sven Registered Users

    Joined:
    May 23, 2016
    Messages:
    1,451
    Thanks Emily. She has cool mats all over the house to try and help her.
    What we did notice is that it is the skin area when she lies like 'superman', all long. Seems that the hair area must be tge thinnest at that point over yhe bones. So currently trying to get her not to lie like that.
     
  4. Emily

    Emily Registered Users

    Joined:
    May 19, 2015
    Messages:
    3,465
    Location:
    Melbourne, Australia
    Our friend's lab has little bare patches on his elbows too. His are from lying on the hard ground (his choice - he has plenty of soft beds).

    Remind me where you are again? We're in Melbourne, Australia so we're having hot weather at the moment. Ella swaps between couches, her bed, our bed and the floor mat (foam flooring for the human baby) that is perfectly positioned in front of the air conditioning :)
     
  5. Sven

    Sven Registered Users

    Joined:
    May 23, 2016
    Messages:
    1,451
    Hi Emily,
    We are in Adelaide, so has been plus 40c last few days and night time did not go below 31 yesterday.

    Just want to figure out how to make it get worse, but without disturbing her. She has beds, sofas, blankets, cool mats and now some towels that are wet to try an cool her down...not spoilet at all.
    We have some of them infront of the aircon, but she still picks her spots...
     
  6. Emily

    Emily Registered Users

    Joined:
    May 19, 2015
    Messages:
    3,465
    Location:
    Melbourne, Australia
    Yep it's been so hot in Adelaide, hope you're managing to stay cool. It's warmed up here too but not as bad as where you are. Tonight's a low of 28 though so the aircon will be on all night.

    I suppose you could try and put soft flooring down in each of the hard spots she likes to lie down but she might just try to find somewhere else to lie.
     

Share This Page