FOLLICULAR LIPIDOSIS IN 3 ROTTWEILERS

Follicular lipidosis is reported in three young Rottweilers that devel oped hypotrichosis of the mahogany-coloured points of the face and fee t. One dog had concurrent lightening and dulling of the remaining hair . Hair matrix cells were swollen with intracellular lipid, identified by electron microscopy and oil-red-O staining. Concurrent abnormalitie s in one dog included poor somatic growth and elevation in serum conce ntration of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. Necropsy of this dog r evealed small thyroid glands with no visible colloid production, and c hronic renal disease. The two remaining dogs were otherwise healthy. O ne of these two dogs had partial resolution of the hair loss with pers istence of mild histological changes of the hair follicles 7 months af ter first presentation. The second was lost to follow-up but written r ecords had no mention of skin lesions at presentation for cruciate rep air 3 years after initial recognition of the haircoat changes. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of follicular lipidosis i n any species.