Atypical Endocrinopathies in Small Animals: Skin and Hair Conditions
April 2018
in “
Blackwell's Five‐Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion
”
hyperadrenocorticism hypothyroidism diabetes mellitus hyperthyroidism noninflammatory alopecia symmetric alopecia sex hormone-related dermatoses alopecia X antiseborrheic shampoos bacterial folliculitis Cushing's disease underactive thyroid overactive thyroid hair loss seborrheic shampoos folliculitis
TLDR The document concludes that skin and hair changes in small animals are often due to hormonal imbalances and recommends regular baths and antibiotics for associated infections.
This chapter discussed atypical endocrinopathies in small animals, focusing on conditions like hyperadrenocorticism and hypothyroidism in dogs, and diabetes mellitus and hyperthyroidism in cats. These disorders often led to noninflammatory, symmetric alopecia and were sometimes identified through hair and skin abnormalities before other symptoms appeared. Uncommon conditions included sex hormone-related dermatoses and alopecia X. Changes in hair and skin were linked to metabolic alterations and grooming behavior. Treatment recommendations included frequent bathing with antiseborrheic shampoos and antibiotics for secondary bacterial folliculitis.
