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Question from visitor:

MY pomeranian female dog, age 10 years.
she got something on his leg see the picture attached.

please tell me what it is? and now hwat to do…

i am really very tensed , please reply soon

Answer :

Hi,

The picture is one of a “button-shaped”, red skin lump. It is impossible to tell you what it is precisely. However, I can tell you that it would be worth while knowing.

I recommend you visiti your local vet and request a fine needle aspiration and microscopic examination to determine whether it is a benign or malignant growth. From the aspîration, your vet might even be able to give you a precise diagnostic if the lump is:
- mast cell tumour
- histiocytoma
- spindle cell sarcoma
….

If it proves malignant, then surgical excision with wide margins, under general anaesthetic is the only advisable treatment.

Best wishes, Julien

www.vetstoria.co.uk

Question :
I just adopted a 7 yr. old pomeranian, Angie. She totally black. I had a pom before (I had my Teaka for 15yrs) and have never experienced hair loss in her like I am with Angie? Angie’s hair is corse not soft and it is thinning out so much since I got her especially the back legs. When I brush her it comes out in the handfuls. It is very shiny after I brush her though. Here hair is much less and thinner than in this pic taken 4 weeks ago. Is this a medical problem I should take her to my vets for???

Answer :
Pomeramians are predisposed to suffer from an unusual condition called alopecia X.

Affected dogs will loose fur especially on the trunk and hind quarters. The underlying skin is usually quite normal and the dog will NOT be itchy or in any discomfort. This is purely a cosmetic condition and the dog’s well being is not affected. Several treatment strategies have been proposed but none appears to be 100% efficient. The most efficient are the following:
- neutering (castration, spay): could be done, no side effects
- vetoryl (treatment for cushing’s disease): side effects noted with this treatment

I recommend to visit your local vet and get the dog examine to rule out other possible cause of this disease such as parasites, infections, skin allergies, thyroid disease … that need careful treatment and monitoring.

Best wishes, julien
www.vetstoria.co.uk

Overview

Alopecia is hair loss that does not harm the patient. Although the physiological mechanisms of Dog Alopecia X are not fully researched, this hormonal condition may have many causes, including genetic, stress, parasites or bacteria, nutrition, endocrine problems, and corticosteroids. Hair follicles may be the problem as receptors for sex hormones and growth hormones. This cosmetic condition goes by different names such as Black Skin Disease, Growth Hormone Responsive Alopecia, the Cold Funk, Castration-Responsive Dermatosis and others. Alopecia X afflicts sled dogs and other breeds including Chow Chow, Keeshond, Pomeranian, Samoyed, Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, Elkhound and Miniature Poodle.

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