When we went in for our second appointment with Maya (way back in June) - the first real physical I had a whole slew of questions but my biggest one was this sudden hair loss she was experiencing in her "pits". (Right under her front legs.) Anyways, I attributed it to this dog backpack I had picked up from PetSmart, so I brought it and our "weight" to the vet visit with me, and showed the vet how Maya wore it. I asked if this was what was contributing to the hair loss.
The vet said it might be, but that they would run tests. They ran tests and nothing came up so they just dismissed it. But the hair never grew back and with few exceptions, we rarely wear that back pack anymore because we want the hair to grow back. I've been noticing some "skinned knees" (the hair is gone on her knees now too) and today during her back I noticed it was gone in whole patches in areas behind her ears. I started taking pictures (sorry they didn't come out well) but I was hoping you guys could take a look for me and give me some advice.
(Also - Maya has had some dandruff - I asked the vet if I could improve her diet, she is currently - please no flaming - on Benefit. I add one raw Egg to her meals one hour after her runs. When I asked the vet if I should change to a raw diet to improve her skin condition she said no, that Maya's coat was shiny and that she seemed to be doing just fine on the diet she was on. After a month and Maya's skin not improving, I began to add the egg. The dandruff has continued and so now I'm using dandruff shampoo.)
The vet we go to seems nice, but I'm wondering a few things - perhaps I should change vets? The vet ages Maya at a year but has never told me that biking with her could hurt her joints. She is fully aware that this puts Maya at a full run, that she runs on the treadmill, the whole nine yards - and I just read today that I should be weary of doing this until Maya is two years old.
Anyways . . . I'm wondering if there is something more serious going on and if so, what? What further signs should I be looking for and should I also be looking for a new vet? If so, how can I tell if a vet is any good? And does a good vet also equal an expensive vet?
Thanks guys!
She's wet from the bath here - but see how her coat is thinning out?

This is behind her ears - this isn't THE bald patch I found. I can't get a clear picture of that one. But this is one of the smaller ones.

More thinning hair and dandruff. I even bought some special dandruff hair - against my vet's advice. But she's had this dandruff for so long.

This is her dandruff and "skinned knees".

I was trying to get her lay on her back to get a shot of her "arm pits".

And this is a picture of her. See, she doesn't look like she has all these issues until you get up close.
