Canine Black Skin Disease

By Michael Dell

Instructions

Symptoms

Step 1:
When a dog suffers from black skin disease, its hair will fall out and the skin becomes dark and crusty. These skin patches can become inflamed, leading to scratching, excessive licking and possible infection.

Identification

Step 1:
It takes a trained veterinarian to diagnose black skin disease. A series of specific tests will likely be conducted, including a chemistry panel to check the thyroid level, a thorough blood count, and a cellular examination to look for potential bacteria and yeast.

Facts

Step 1:
Although there's no single reason dogs contract black skin disease, various forms of the condition can be linked to a number of contributing factors, including genetics, allergies, obesity and hormone imbalance. Black skin disease can strike dogs of any age, although it is seen more often in mature dogs. It also strikes far more males than females. Breeds at particular risk for black skin disease are Alaskan malamutes, American water spaniels, chow chows, dachshunds, keeshonds, pomeranians, poodles and samoyeds.

Treatment

Step 1:
Mild cases of black skin disease often won't require treatment. However, if the symptoms are too severe, medication and other therapies will be needed to address the problem. The key is tailoring the treatment to one of the many possible causes.

For instance, if obesity is the suspected culprit, the diet will be altered for the purpose of shedding weight. If the thyroid tests show evidence a hormone imbalance is responsible, hormone therapy will be undertaken. Allergy medications could also be prescribed. The purpose is to find the specific way to best alleviate the symptoms.

Warnings

Step 1:
Some treatments for black skin disease can be dangerous. Hormone therapies and steroids can increase the risk of canine diabetes. This will require close monitoring of urine and blood sugar levels throughout the course of the treatment.

Misconceptions

Step 1:
The symptoms of black skin disease can often be confused with those of Cushing's, hypothyroidism, and other skin infections. A veterinarian is needed to properly diagnose the condition.

And thankfully, despite all the itching and scratching, black skin disease is not contagious. That said, it can be passed to future generations, making it particularly troublesome for dog breeders.

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