An analysis of factors underlying hypotrichosis and alopecia in Irish Water spaniels in the United Kingdom

A survey on the occurrence of dermatoses in the Irish Water spaniel (IWS) w as carried out in the United Kingdom. A group of 20 dogs was selected and e xamined clinically. All dogs had a nonpruritic, noninflammatory, regionaliz ed hair loss affecting the same areas of the body in males and females, alt hough an initial cyclical pattern associated with the oestrus cycle was ide ntified. Hormonal investigations showed features suggestive of an abnormali ty of steroidogenesis. Histopathology revealed features similar to canine r ecurrent flank alopecia (CRFA) and follicular dysplasia associated with abn ormal melanization, as in colour dilution alopecia, although the clinical f eatures did not correlate with those conditions. Dietary changes improved c oat and skin quality in most of the cases in this series but the role of th e diet was not investigated further. This study suggests that hair loss in IWS is influenced by dietary factors and sexual hormones. Abnormalities of the steroidogenic pathways may contribute to the severity of the condition.