Bald Thigh Syndrome

It is not uncommon for greyhounds to have naked bottoms…but why?

The  very aptly named condition, Bald Thigh Syndrome (BTS), primarily  presents in greyhounds but can occur in other sighthound breeds.  It is  characterised as the bilateral hair loss on the thighs (aka the slappy  patches!) and in more expansive cases, the balding can go across the  length of the back legs (inside and out), the abdomen, chest, inside of  the front legs and sometimes up the neck which makes them look like a  plucked chicken when roaching…

There  have been numerous wild theories as to the cause of BTS over the years  with many suggesting it is directly related to their living conditions  during their racing careers.  The assumption being that the confinement  in crates, being transported in small cages and that they live on hard  surfaces prevents healthy hair growth…but this has long been disproven!

Given  the fact that the condition affects unraced greyhounds, other  sighthound breeds and those long retired…it’s safe to say that this is  untrue!  All our pampered princes and princesses are most definitely not  living on hard surfaces!

There  have been several other suggestions as to the cause over the years which  have included environmental conditions, stress, diet, and even oestrous  cycles…despite BTS being present in both male and female dogs.

However, there are three leading theories at present that have each been defended or proven to differing degrees.

A  popular theory that was suggested some years ago (in the early 2010s),  is that an over-production of cortisol in racing greyhounds supresses  the thyroid gland, causing BTS.  The reasoning being that the excess  cortisol production is as a direct result of being schooled and raced.   The ongoing stress and reinforced prey drive leaves the greyhound in a  constant and heightened state which over produces the hormone.   

What  is overlooked in this is that greyhounds naturally have low thyroid  hormone levels, sometimes quite significantly low, while not showing any  of the clinical signs associated with hypothyroidism which would occur  in other breeds.

The theory that  BTS is rooted in this, despite its popularity, has not yet been  confirmed beyond hypothesis to our knowledge but it isn’t to say that  for some greyhounds it is applicable.  

Though  given retired, unraced, and other sighthound breeds with little stress  in their lives can still be seriously affected with BTS, it can’t be due  to thyroid suppression, but maybe something else?

The  most recent suggested causation (2019), to which has scientific backing  and that has been proven, is that there are structural defects within  the hair shafts of affected greyhounds which is associated with the  genes and proteins essential for hair shaft formation…and their  subsequent hair growth!  

This  ties into the last theory in which there is a genetic predisposition  within greyhounds which is entirely plausible, and a certain amount of  hereditary influence cannot be ruled out.  But given the complex form of  inheritance that would be involved in identifying this as a factor, a  lot of further investigation is needed.

BTS  is a superficial condition that is not itchy or inflammatory, it  doesn’t cause the greyhound any harm but is often misunderstood in the  veterinary field.  For owners who are unaware of the condition, it can  prove very costly in unnecessary tests and procedures to determine the  cause!

If your vet is not greyhound savvy, they’ll look at your greyhounds slappy patches as a puzzle to solve.

A lot of greyhounds are mis-diagnosed with hypothyroidism resulting in a lifetime of unnecessary medication.  

Though  why does the medication improve BTS?   The medication for  hypothyroidism is a generalised metabolic stimulant which will in turn  increase hair growth and will improve BTS regardless of whether the dog  has hypothyroidism or not!

The  only reason you would need to get your greyhound tested for  hypothyroidism is if it is presenting with numerous symptoms of the  condition…not because it has a baldy bum!  Though it’s probably quite  important to note that most of the other symptoms of hypothyroidism are  very normal in greyhounds such as lethargy, not wanting to exercise,  weight gain, hair loss, dandruff and shedding!

In  any case, BTS most definitely doesn’t require veterinary attention to  diagnose or treat!  It is purely aesthetic and there is one very easy  way to assist in the hair regrowth at home…a good diet!

While  we will go on to talk about nutrition and diets at length in future (we  apologise in advance) we’ll surmise very briefly on this article!

Dogs  have descended from wolves AKA carnivores; we all know this!  But while  wolves are carnivores, as a result of their evolution and domestication  over thousands of years alongside humans, dogs developed genetic  adaptations to become more omnivorous to be able to digest starches and  plant proteins as humans moved from hunter gatherers into more  agricultural eras.  

However,  while they can digest plant proteins, it doesn’t mean that these are  better for or more bioavailable to your dog than animal proteins.

Protein  is essential for survival but when choosing the right food for your  dog, the quality of protein is most definitely more important than  quantity!  

Proteins provide the  main building blocks within the body for health, healing, and  maintenance…which includes healthy skin cells and hair production!  They  are broken down into amino acids, and 10 of the essential amino acids  needed for a healthy dog cannot be produced within their bodies.  This  means they must receive it through their diet.

Unfortunately, most commercial pet foods, particularly ‘greyhound specific’ diets, are lacking in this area.  
Large  quantities of grains are put into the feeds to meet the ‘minimum legal  protein’ requirements for dog food production.  This ensures they stay  ‘above board’, while keeping the product as cheap as possible to produce  and sell…but it doesn’t mean the food is good!

The  commercial pet food industry is regulated, but not well enough.  The  industry regulations state that there should be a minimum of 18% protein  and 5.5% fat in dog food to make it ‘nutritionally complete’.  

While  there is extensive regulation into how the food is produced, cooked,  cleaned, stored, processed etc, there are no legal requirements for  there to be any meat to be in dog food!  So long as the minimum protein  and fat percentages are met…it is classed as ‘complete’.  

This  gives producers free reign to put whatever nonsense and fillers they  want into their dog food which means most dog foods you see on the  shelves are primarily made up of wheat, corn, soya, maize or other  grains such as rice and oats.
These are usually  listed under ambiguous umbrella terms such as ‘cereals’ which allows the  producer to swap and change the ingredients every time they make a new  batch.  This means they can use the cheapest available ingredients at  the time of production to ensure that their product remains cheap to  make and cheap to sell to the consumer…aka dog owners!

But  what happens when your dog’s food is primarily made up of these grains  and other plant-based ingredients?  While they are technically, on  paper, meeting the ‘minimum 18%’ protein, it isn’t the correct proteins  needed for your hound’s health which can only be acquired through animal  sources.

This means your dog is  permanently kept in a state of low-key malnutrition, and/or dietary  intolerances through the high grain intake, both of which reinforce the  BTS alopecia and other health conditions which we will discuss in  future.

So, what is the answer to BTS?  

Well,  there isn’t a one size fits all solution!  Every greyhound is  different, and some will forever maintain those slappy patches on their  thighs…most likely due to genetically causes.   

However, your best chances of growing in your hounds beautiful furry behind, is through a good quality diet!  

This  is by far one of the easiest solutions, but good diets inevitably come  with a higher price tag!  So as an alternative, you can supplement your  dog’s existing diet!

But what with?  

Each of these additions can help your dog’s BTS:
Fresh meat and fish
Eggs
Liver, Kidney or other offal
Oats
Green leafy vegetables or other nutrient dense veggies (cooked where appropriate!)

Or if you want to buy powdered or oil supplements, which can be more cost effective, you can look to:
Omega 3 & 6 Oils
Evening Primrose Oil
Linseed Oil
Biotin
Vitamin E and B
Seaweed

Though  while this seems like an easy fix…if you are supplementing a high grain  diet, and your dog is intolerant to certain cereals, there are no  guarantees that supplementation will improve their BTS.  Dietary  intolerances do not always present in digestive upset but can quite  often show through in a dog’s skin and coat condition.  

We  have seen it time and time again where dogs have been moved onto a  better diet, free of common inflammatory and allergen ingredients (such  as wheat) and seen a huge improvement in coat health, amongst other  improvements.

Similarly, in dogs being moved to a cheaper and higher grain diet, there has been immediate development of BTS and dandruff.

Some  greyhounds will just grow their fur back naturally when retired into  domestic life, this may be down to diet change or environment…who knows!   But a good diet and supplementation never hurt anyone!  
We  read several long and boring scientific publications to write this  article for you but what is clear is that a lot more study needs to be  done to further establish the causation behind the structural defects  within the hair shafts and any genetic influences on BTS!  

What  are your thoughts about BTS?  Did your dog have it when you adopted  them?  How extensive was it and did it grow back?  Drop a comment!

Also,  side note:  It is important to be careful when adding supplementation  to not cause an excess of some nutrients that could be stored in the  body such as vitamin A and D.  Supplements should be given as per  instructions and introduced gradually to the diet to prevent any stomach  upset!  If in doubt, consult with a canine nutritionist or a  nutrition-savvy vet (and no…they aren’t all trained in nutrition!)