canis - Articles
Skin: color dilution alopecia
Synonym(s): Color mutant alopecia, Blue dog disease
Introduction
- Uncommon hereditary disease of some blue or fawn colored dogs.
- Cause: genetic.
- Signs: poor coat, alopecia +/- folliculitis - usually spares solid color areas such as tan points.
- Diagnosis: breed, coat color, clinical signs, histopathology.
- Treatment: grooming, shampoos, antibiotics.
- Prognosis: good although lifelong condition.
Breed/Species predisposition
- Blue or fawn Dobermann Dobermann.
- Irish Setter Irish Red and White Setter.
- Black and tan Dobermann Dobermann
- Dachshund Dachshund.
- Great Dane Great Dane.
- Whippet Whippet.
- Italian Greyhound Italian Greyhound.
- Chow Chow Chow Chow.
- Standard Poodle Poodle: Standard.
- Yorkshire Terrier Yorkshire Terrier.
- Chihuahua Chihuahua - Smooth Coat.
- Boston Terrier Boston Terrier.
- Bernese Mountain Dog Bernese Mountain Dog.
- Newfoundland Newfoundland.
- Shetland Sheepdog Shetland Sheepdog.
- Cross breds with dilute coat color.
Cost considerations
- Therapy for recurrent pyoderma.
Pathogenesis
Pathophysiology
- Poorly understood influence of coat color genes.
- Dilute colored hairs have large or very large melanosomes (macromelanosomes
), leading to brittleness and fracture of hair shaft. - May be degenerative processes in hair bulb melanocytes.
Timecourse
- Lifelong.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Cerundolo R (1999) Symmetrical alopecia in the dog. In Practice 21 (7), 350-359 VetMedResource.
- Beco L et al (1996) Color dilution alopecia in seven dachshunds - a clinical study and the hereditary, microscopical and ultrastructural aspects of the disease. Vet Dermatol 7 (2), 91-7 VetMedResource.
- Miller W H (1990) Color dilution alopecia in Doberman Pinschers with blue or fawn coat colors - a study on the incidence and histopathology of this disorder. Vet Dermatol 1 (3), 113-22 VetMedResource.
Other sources of information
- Scott D W, Miller W H & Griffin C E (1995)Small Animal Dermatology. 5th edition. Philadelphia: W B Saunders. ISBN 0 7216 4850 9.
- Yager J A & Wilcock B P (1994)Color Atlas and Text of Surgical Pathology of the Dog and Cat.London: Wolfe Publishing, Mosby Year Book Europe. ISBN 0 7234 1827 6.
- Gross T L, Irkhe P J & Walder E J (1992)Veterinary Dermatopathology. St Louis: Mosby Year Book. ISBN 0 8016 5809 8.