Black Skin Disease

(written by Deborah Sullivan of Babydoll Poms, thanks!)

There are many things which can cause Alopecia: Hypothyroidism; Cushing?s Disease; Addison?s Disease; contact and/or generalized allergies; excessive female estrogen (usually found in recently neutered males); stress; fleas; mites; mange; unknown (usually labeled ?Black Skin Disease). Some of these problems are genetic, some are familial, and some are neither. Interestingly, many of these conditions affect males much more often than females. You must rule out all other possibilities via skin and blood test before you can label a dog with ?black skin disease?. Also, be aware that hypothyroidism will increase the dog?s chances of having allergies and other diseases as the thyroid is an important part of the immune system. We don?t know what causes it and we don?t know what cures it. The only thing that we do know is that it is familial and is suspected to be genetic. A dog should not be labeled as having ?BSD? until all other possibilities have been systematically ruled out. Dogs suspected as having BSD have been neutered for ages without previous extensive testing and yes, most all have returned to full coat. The problem with this method is that hormone problems cannot be ruled out because they were not tested for prior to the neutering. Neutering will cause a decrease in testosterone over time and that may be why the coat renews. On the other hand, some dogs acquire Alopecia after being neutered. This is usually due to excessive female estrogen (due to the lowered testosterone to balance the estrogen) and is characterized by hair loss, excessively oily skin which smells, and usually very waxy ears. Alopecia is the generic term and Black Skin Disease should only be used when all other options have been ruled out. One interesting fact about Black Skin Disease is that most breeders have already determined that it is genetic (the scientist are more conservative and call it familial). Poms, and other breeds, have hair-loss on the back, loins, buttocks and hind legs. The ?condition? affects dogs that have a very soft, cottony coat as puppies, with little or no guard hairs. If you are not aware of the signs you don?t know your dog has it until he is anywhere from 1 to 5 years of age when he will loose his hair. Hair loss starts at the base of the tail, back legs and moves up the back. He will keep the hair on his feet and head and a little around his ruff. As far as the vet is concerned, save your money. Although there is research being done, there is no known cure. They?ll want to do skin tests, thyroid tests and will blame it on allergies. When the skin turns really black and has lost all hair treat these areas with cream to keep them from cracking. Sometimes at about 7 or 8 years of age the hair will grow back on its own. Don?t forget the sunscreen.

POSSIBLE HELP FOR REGROWTH

Go to a drug store and buy flowers of Sulfur. Put the sulfur through the flour sifter to get out the lumps and mix one part sulfur with six parts lard. This makes a nice yellow clean ointment. This is what you rub on the bald spots. This method only works though on the bald areas as it is too thick to apply to the hair so it is not good for the thinning areas. Another product to try is called Nioxin shampoo, which is purchased from a beauty supply house. This is used to bring back hair growth on humans by cleaning out clogged pores.

Links to articles written about Black skin Disease that I found found on the internet. I hope this helps anyone unfortunate enough to have this awful disease.Regards Andrea

http://vin.com/  vet site

www.dermapet.com/  canine dermatology

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