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Coat funk is a disorder found in malamutes and a few other
breeds, such as Pomeranians, Samoyeds, and Keeshonds. Veterinary dermatologists
simply call the condition "alopecia X" because no one knows much about its cause
or cure. In malamutes, the disorder appears to be inheritable, because many
such dogs can be traced back to ancestors who had the disorder.
Coat funk causes the guard coat in affected dogs to become
dry and brittle, eventually breaking and falling out. The wooly undercoat, thus
exposed, can become dry and matted, and it, too, may eventually come out,
leaving the skin bare in spots. Bare skin tends to turn black, though it does
not seem to itch or bother the dog. Care should be taken to prevent sunburn or
frostbite.
Symptoms vary widely, but one common aspect of all coat
funk dogs is that they test negative for other "look-alike" disorders, such as
allergies, hypothyroid or Cushing's disease. Indeed, the only way to diagnose
coat funk is to rule out other possible causes for a coat problem. It does
happen occasionally that a dog may have coat funk and another disorder,
such as allergies or hypothyroidism. The dog's coat should return to health
once the other problem is successfully treated. Suspect coat funk if the coat
continues to worsen.
We are working
with a veterinary epidemiologist to develop a survey that will give us more
information about coat funk. Please visit frequently to check on our progress.
For more technical information to share with your
veterinarian, see the article
"Understanding Coat Funk" on this web site and the accompanying
references.
Please check our "Links" page for some personal
web sites pertaining to this subject, and stories of affected dogs and their owners. |
