[ Michele's Answer: | Michele Gauthier's Dog Q & A Board ]
Posted by Michele on February 9, 2006, 6:34 pm, in reply to "My wonderful minitature dachshund developed Acanthosis nigricans! Please help!!!" Acanthosis Nigricans is a hereditary disease in the Dachshund and so if your dog has this disease he should never be bred as you would just be passing the problem on to his puppies. There is really no reason to be horrified as you the owner decides how well your doxie handles the disease. Your dog will need to be bathed regularly with an anti-seborrheic shampoo, and if you follow that treatment regulary and add vitamin E and possibly steroids as your veterinarian directs you when needed your dog should really do fine. There are also other treatments that your veterinarian might recommend for treatment, and there is research going on today to try and solve the problems that this disease creates. If you don't bathe your little guy on a regular basis then he could get infections of the skin which will be hard on your doxie and also smelly. Usually with proper care and bathing and owners that stay after the treatment routine things are handled well for you and your dog. Many times problems arise when the owner does not follow through on bathing etc. So don't look on the dark side of this. Instead look on the bright side as there are treatments for the disease and research going on today. Of course you would rather your dog didn't have the disease, but the disease is manageable and that is what is important. Many skin conditions are not manageable. So take your friend to the vet and get a diagnosis and if he has Acanthosis Nigracans (a darkening or blackening of the skin) just follow the treatment regiment and you and he should just be fine. Thanks for your question. I am certainly sorry you are having this problem with your little guy, and I hope between you and your veterinarian you get the problem under control quickly. If you have further questions please feel free to re-post. Michele --Previous Message--
66.112.106.196
Hi, well first you can't be sure your dog has this problem, because you are not a veterinarian. And because skin problems are some of the hardest diagnosis for even a veterinarian to make. So what laymen many times think is one type of skin problem might be another problem. So you need to get a diagnosis from your veterinarian.
: Dear Michele,
: About three weeks ago I noticed small
: patches of irritated pink skin in the armpit
: area of my 8 month old miniature dachshund.
: I visited a vet who said that he was unsure
: of what might be causing the irritation and
: said that it was nothing to be concerned
: about. Since the condition did not go away I
: began to do research online and found out
: that one of the most common skin disorders
: (Acanthosis nigricans) effecting dachshunds
: matches exactly the symptoms I have observed
: on my dog...it is not curable and requires
: continuous and carefully treatment. I am
: absolutely horrified and scared for my
: wonderful, sweet puppy! Could you please
: give me advice on what should be done and
: how can I make sure my puppy gets the best
: care and medical attention available.
: Thank you!
: Sincerely,
: Sofiya
:
:
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