Miscellaneous Skin Diseases
January 2018
TLDR Sheep can lose wool quickly due to stress, but it doesn't cause itching or pain.
This chapter discussed various skin diseases in sheep, focusing on anagen defluxion, which was uncommon and occurred globally. Anagen defluxion was caused by stressors such as infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, mastitis, high fevers, and winter shearing, leading to temporary hair shaft growth defects. Certain drugs like glucocorticoids, cyclophosphamide, and epidermal growth factor could also induce this condition. There were no specific breed, sex, or age predispositions. Wool loss happened rapidly, within days of the stressor, and could be regional, multifocal, or generalized, often bilaterally symmetric. The skin in affected areas appeared normal unless secondarily inflamed, and there was no pruritus or pain. Wool stubble could be felt when rubbing fingers over alopecic areas.