Color dilute alopecia (CDA) experience?
I set out to find an adult Brussels Griffon to buy and fell in love with a 13 month old female I found posted by a breeder who wanted to let her go because she didnât grow to be full size, and the breeder didnât want to use as a dam anymore. I noticed that the dogâs color was unusual, like a light brown, but I didnât think anything of it.
Iâm under contract to get her and she was supposed to fly home to me tomorrow. The breeder called me today to express concern over her sudden hair loss. She just got spayed a week or two ago and the hair loss followed. The breeder offered a full refund, but I absolutely fell in love with this dog and I donât want to not have her anymore. I set up her bed and toys and Iâm all ready to welcome her, you get the deal.
Well, I spent the whole day researching what could be causing the alopecia, and I am pretty certain itâs color dilute alopecia (CDA) because the breeder confirmed her coloring is considered blue. It is impossible to find information regarding CDA in Brussels Griffons given the rarity of the breed and color, but I have found a lot of information about CDA in labs, chihuahuas and dachshunds. It seems like the severity of the CDA is a huge range from thinning to completely bald, and some dogs respond better to interventions than others. Overall, CDA cannot be cured because itâs a genetic abnormality, not a disease.
I also remembered there is an instagram famous Brussels Griffon, Carl. I scoured through Carlâs pictures (account name is @ Pluto) and he also looks like he is struggling with alopecia. I dmed the account a few hours ago for advice but havenât gotten a reply, so my question to this subreddit is:
Do you have a Brussels Griffon affected by CDA? How severe is it? How did it progress over time? Is this manageable? Is it stupid of me to not get a refund if Iâm walking into a lifetime of expensive treatments?
Iâm very distraught and had no intention of seeking out a non-standard color. I really just did not want to raise a puppy (I live in an apartment) and was looking to find a smooth coat adult female. Tomorrow, I will be sitting in on FaceTime during her vet appointment where I will try to ask questions, though I hope this community can give me some advice as well.
Also- Please donât insult me for not doing research on her coat color before falling in love, I wish I had done more digging.