Why does my dog have black scaly scabs and fur loss? Is it Cushing's?

One of the things that Cushing's disease affects is the normal metabolism of hair follicles. Normally hair follicles "turn over" or produce hair quickly enough that we don't see areas of hair loss even though dogs (and us) lose hair daily. When a dog has Cushing's disease, the hair follicles are not regrowing hair as quickly as possible. (And often they do not shed the hairs normally.) Cushing's disease also affects their immune system, so it is more likely that dogs will get overgrowth of normal yeast and bacteria that can invade the hair follicles and cause the hair to fall out. So, what I would suspect occurred is that Buttercup had an area of hair where the hair follicles had a yeast or bacterial overgowth that invaded the hair follicles. Instead of shedding normally, those hairs stayed in place and allowed the bacterial/yeast overgrowth to spread until the hairs were mechanically removed with a brush. And since her hair follicles were not regrowing hair normally, the area is now bald. If there is any crusting, itching or redness that develops, I would certainly have your vet examine Buttercup. Otherwise, i would recommend regular bathing and brushing to remove dead undercoat and prevent future skin problems. It will take time, but fur should regrow in that area as long as the skin there is healthy. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Sisi! I'm sorry to hear that she's having this problem. The most common conditions we see in dogs that cause hair loss and scaling would include allergies, bacterial or fungal skin infections, or skin mites (mange). If she has been treated for these conditions and has not improved, then I would agree that it sounds like something else may be wrong. Less common causes of these symptoms could include a systemic illness like Cushing's diseases or hypothyroidism (not very common in young dogs, but possible), or an autoimmune disease such as lupus or pemphigus foliaceus. I'm not sure what specific blood work has been done on Sisi, but you could certainly talk to your veterinarian about whether testing for these illnesses has been done. If lab work shows no abnormalities, then a skin biopsy would likely be the next recommended step to try and get a diagnosis.

This could be a skin condition called acanthosis nigricans. It may also be due to chronic inflammation or infection. The only way to diagnose the underlying cause is to have Scruffy physically examined by your veterinarian or a veterinary dermatologist. Sometimes, a skin biopsy is required. Any treatment will depend on the diagnosis. You can discuss payment plans or alternative financing options, such as CareCredit ( www.carecredit.com ), with the veterinarian or office manager. Family or friends can also be asked to assist you financially. There is nothing OTC that can be used to resolve the conditions. You would only be guessing without a diagnosis. You can place an e-collar (cone) on Scruffy to prevent licking or chewing until he sees the doctor. Keep the area clean and dry as well. https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/acanthosis-nigricans/

Poor Shay-Shay! It looks like she has some pretty significant skin problems. The black, crusty appearance of the skin on her belly is called lichenification - it's caused by chronic itching over a long period of time. There are a number of things that could cause severe itching, hair loss, and scabs like this. Some common possibilities would include allergies, fleas, a bacterial or fungal skin infection, or skin mites (mange). Treatment will depend on what the underlying problem is, so it's important to get a diagnosis first in order to know how to help her. I would recommend taking her to the vet this week for an exam - he/she can do some simple skin tests to help diagnose the problem and get her started on appropriate medication to treat it.

I am sorry to hear about your concern for Snoop Dogg! We can sometimes see a darkening in the skin pigment with Cushing's disease but we can also see it with skin infection or other causes of inflammation. For this reason I would let your vet know about the change so they can determine if it warrants an examination for Snoop Dogg.

I am sorry Rylee has not been feeling well. I am unsure by the picture if Rylee is having a drug reaction. Cushings disease is when the body over produces cortisol which is a steroid. Once cushings is being treated a lot of dogs will start to have underlying skin issues due to allergies. The cortisol/steroid being produced by the body will decrease or hide skin allergies. I would recommend taking Rylee to the vet to determine if maybe this is why the skin has changed. It is possible a course of antibiotics or topical shampoos will help with the skin./ I hope this helps and Rylee feels better!

Poor Trixie! That is very concerning that she is losing weight and she should be examined by a vet to determine the cause. She could have an infection, parasite, kidney/liver disease, endocrine disease, etc. Your vet can run some lab-work to help diagnose and then determfine the best way to treat, depending on the cause. She may need an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, or other medications to help. You could also bathe her with a medicated dog shampoo and see if that helps with her skin condition.