Hair loss in sows - insight?

[Celine298]

Hi all!

I was browsing through the forum there and I'm seeing a lot of posts come up about sow's losing hair on their backs periodically.

My Lola loses the hair on her back (just above her hips) randomly from time to time. She has been treated for mange mites, twice, and aside from the bald skin, she's perfectly healthy! Her skin is soft and supple, no dryness or itching. No tufts of hair falling out either, bar normal summer shedding. She shows no discomfort when i touch the bare skin. Her cage mate is perfectry healthy too and barbering isn't an issue with them.

Could this be a hormonal issue we're seeing? Kind of like the affects of menstruation in humans?

What do you guys think?

 

[Lady Kelly]

Has she been seen by a vet and scanned for ovarian cysts? They can sometimes cause hair loss.

 

[Celine298]

Not yet no. She was with the vet about two months ago (hair loss was in evidence) for a UTI after she came out of heat and she had a physical exam, but I presume she would need a scan or x-ray for cysts?

 

[Claire W]

Not yet no. She was with the vet about two months ago (hair loss was in evidence) for a UTI after she came out of heat and she had a physical exam, but I presume she would need a scan or x-ray for cysts?

Yes, ultrasound scans are used to diagnose ovarian cysts. My late Emma had one but as my vet could feel it, she chose not to scan her but not all cysts can be felt

 

[Lady Kelly]

Ultrasound is the best way to detect cysts. Saying that Lily had one last week but there was a bit of gas in her abdomen which meant it wasn't clear

 

[Celine298]

Ultrasound is the best way to detect cysts. Saying that Lily had one last week but there was a bit of gas in her abdomen which meant it wasn't clear

Hopefully if she gets another it comes back clear, having to wait and worry is the worst

Well I can bring her for a check up anyway, it's no harm. But I'm confident my Lola is OK, she's showing zero of the other symptoms thankfully!