Disease Description: Follicular dysplasias are a group of syndromes which have in common abnormal hair loss and changes in coat quality.

Inherit Mode: Black hair follicular dysplasia is believed to be inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. The modes of inheritance for other follicular dysplasias are unknown.

Disease Symptom: In most cases, the coat changes are very slowlyprogressive andpermanent, and have little effect on your dog's health. There may bean increasedsusceptibility to bacterial infections. The dryness and scaliness ofthe coat can betreated symptomatically (see below).

Disease Cause: -

Disease Diagnose: In black hair follicular dysplasia, the earlyonset and typicalpattern of hair loss (black areas only) make diagnosisstraightforward. For otherfollicular dysplasias, endocrine causes of hair loss must beconsidered. Your veterinarianwill take a skin biopsy from your dog, which will show changes typicalof folliculardysplasia. This is a simple procedure done with local anesthetic, inwhich yourveterinarian removes a small sample of your dog's skin for examinationby a veterinarypathologist. The biopsy will show changes in the skin consistent withthis condition.

Treat Method: Generally the coat changes are permanent. Yourveterinarian willlikely suggest symptomatic treatment, such as shampoos and fatty acidsupplements, for dryscaly skin. Skin infections that may develop are treated withantibiotics.

Breeder Advice: It is preferable not to breed affected animals.

Disease Description Source: Link