Pet Care: Final discussion on miscellaneous skin ailments

For the last several weeks we have been documenting the many ailments afflicting the skin of our dogs and cats. Today we’ll have a look at some other extraneous causes of pathological skin conditions. In other words, the real origin of the problem does not originally reside in the skin, rather there is a malaise in another physiological system, within the animal’s body, that results in skin ailments, or causes hair growth to be compromised.
Often, the animal might have a hormonal imbalance (see below) which exhibits itself as a skin infirmity. Also, unlike the skin afflictions caused by ecto-parasites, there’s usually no itching/ scratching, nor is there any show of redness, swelling or pain, unless there is a secondary infection emerging to complicate matters.
Hormone induced skin disorders, from my own experience, seem to take place as the dog becomes an adult (mostly at about 5 to 8 years of age). It should be mentioned that this condition, precipitated in inbred dogs, or in stray dogs when the siblings/ relatives mate with each other uncontrollably.
Let’s look at the specific hormones to which I am referring:

THYROID DEFICIENCY
(hypothyroidism) – TD
As the name suggests this ailment is caused by an inadequate production of the hormone from the thyroid gland (situated in the neck). This results in the loss of hair and reduced regrowth of hair (remember that dogs shed hair throughout their lives, but there is also constant regrowth – until the animal reaches middle/ old age). Further, the quality of the animal’s thinning coat hair diminishes visibly. Actually, the hair becomes coarse and brittle and is easily removed by the touch when petting.
Other attendant SYMPTOMS are:
 Listlessness (reduced thyroid hormone production decreases the animal’s energy level).
 The skin becomes thickened, tough and dark in colour.
 Obesity.
 Decreased alertness.
 Irregular heat (oestrus) cycles.
N.B. In most cases, the onset of the symptoms would be gradual, almost imperceptible, over months. In fact, if the thyroid hormone output is mild, the symptoms might not be very pronounced. Your veterinarian may require a thyroid hormone blood test be carried out to determine whether the hormone levels are sub-normal.

TREATMENT
Once it has been established that the dog is suffering from a TD, the therapy is to give the animal a daily dose of thyroid hormone – for the rest of the dog’s life. That may be quite an imposition for the caregiver. The future of the patient will have to be discussed among the family members, after consultation with the veterinarian.

INCREASED PRODUCTION OF ESTROGEN
Estrogen is a hormone found in both males and females. Of course, in a female dog, estrogen is at a much higher level. An excess of estrogen can occur in either the male or female dog. In female dogs, the excessive production of estrogen is due to cystic ovaries which manufacture too much of estrogen.

SYMPTOMS:
 Greasy hair
 Increased wax production in the ear canals
 Baldness (alopecia) emerges on the flanks (the fleshy part between the ribs and hips).
 The skin in the area of the armpits and the groin becomes thickened
 In the male, in addition to the above [(i) – (ii)], this condition is often associated with a tumor (which may be malignant) in the testicles.

TREATMENT
Spay the female; neuter the male. Do not let anyone advise you differently.
N.B. Below are two “Before” and “After” pictures. Photo #1 shows the animal with great hormone associated hair loss. Photo #2 taken 10 weeks after castration. Pictures do speak louder than words.

ESTROGEN DEFICIENCY
This reduced estrogen production may result in a mild condition of older female dogs, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHICH HAVE BEEN SPAYED WHEN THEY WERE PUPPIES! This is one of the reasons why we advocate that the spaying (and neutering) should not take place before the puppy has reached the age of puberty – about 6 months and older.

SYMPTOMS
 Gradual reduction of hair growth – especially on the surface of the underbelly, vulva, chest and neck.
 The skin becomes soft, smooth and nearly hairless.
TREATMENT
Hormonal therapy – small doses of estrogen injection over an extended period of time. This works; but I still advocate spaying, so that caregiver does/ not encounter complications later.
N.B. Characteristically, hormonal disorders cause symmetrical changes over the body, one side being the mirror image of the other. See Photo #3 below.

CORTISONE EXCESS (Adrenal Hyperfunction)
Again, a primary hormonal problem – an overproduction of cortisone by the adrenal glands (located adjacent to/ top of the kidneys. Of course, if your vet is administering cortisones (orally or by injection) for too long a period, there would be the same consequential effect as if the adrenal glands were producing too much cortisones.
SYMPTOMS:
 Loss of hair.
 Abnormal weight gain.
 Fluid retention – leading to visible swelling of the abdomen.

TREATMENT:
Your vet will reduce the dosage (or stop the medication treatment altogether) of the cortisone therapy, he/ she might have been using for another condition afflicting the pet. The vet will administer counteractive therapy, if it is a case of excessive cortisone production by the adrenal gland.
We have now comprehensively exhausted this topic of Skin Ailments.
Next week (May 2nd, 2021), we will take a break from the “science”, and invite a “PAWS FOR A CAUSE” member, Ms. Indira Chandarpal, to share with us her thoughts on the treatment of geriatric pets.
Stay safe. Follow the COVID-19 prevention protocols.