Answer

There is little direct information about the effect of ant bites, but I offer this from a combination of other things.

Hair growth is totally dependent on a functional hair follicle. It undergoes cyclic periods of growth and rest...shedding and regrowth, which is under the effect of time of day. Some skin injuries result in a change of color of it's hair. Just how all this happens is immaterial, except to show that growth is sensitive to a wide variety of stimuli.

Tick bites and flea bites introduce strange compounds into the skin to facilitate each parasite. Ant bites do as well, only theirs is for defense, and probably kills enemy ants!.

Each of these compounds has the potential to make an effect on a hair follicle. Puppy follicles are just starting and still developing. What the lasting effect of something as stout as an ant bite protective toxin is would probably be more profound, but not permanent. Otherwise there would be more dermatologic reference to it as a cause of permanent hair loss.

The follicles involved in the ant attack are still developing, and should be more able to bounce back. Time is what's needed here, since the effect is long past and the damage done.

There is nothing to remove, or dilute, or destroy. Anything put on may actually interfere with the follicles attempts to redevelop. He still has a couple seasons to grow through yet, and his adult coat is just a distant project still. Next Spring be his first adult coat. Very probably his little bald areas will have new hair by then. If not, the adjacent hairs will probably completely overshadow the missing ones.

I hope this is of help. Best wishes

Edited by XXXXX XXXXXXX, DVM on 6/15/2007 at 9:58 PM

Expert:	Peter Bennett, DVM
Pos. Feedback:	98.4 %
Accepts:
Answered:	6/15/2007

Veterinarian

20 years experience as a Small Animal veterinarian