Disorders Causing Focal Alopecia
January 2008
in “
Elsevier eBooks
”
TLDR The document concludes that various disorders can cause hair loss in dogs, each requiring different treatments, and some may heal on their own.
The document from 2008 discusses various disorders causing focal alopecia in dogs, with a detailed focus on canine demodicosis, a condition caused by Demodex canis mites. It describes the transmission of mites from mother to offspring, clinical signs ranging from localized to generalized lesions, and potential links to immunosuppression. Diagnosis is typically through skin biopsies or scrapings, and treatments vary from topical ointments for localized cases to amitraz dips and addressing underlying conditions for generalized cases. The document also touches on dermatophytosis (ringworm), which presents with alopecia and scaling and is diagnosed via fungal culture. Other conditions covered include vaccine reactions, pattern baldness, and autoimmune disorders, each with their respective treatments and monitoring strategies. It notes that some conditions, like alopecia areata, may resolve spontaneously without treatment, while others require specific interventions such as pentoxifylline for vaccine-associated vasculitis. The importance of diagnosing underlying causes of bacterial infections and the potential for spontaneous recovery in some disorders is emphasized.
