Introduction
Black skin disease in dogs is a condition which causes the fur to fall out and the skin becomes dark or black in color. Sometimes the skin becomes infected or develops a thick appearance. Black skin disease can develop as a result of hormone imbalances, obesity, and even allergies, and the treatment of black skin disease depends on what is causing the condition.
Treating Black Skin Disease in Dogs
If black skin disease is caused by hormonal problems, then hormone therapies can calm the symptoms. In some cases spaying or neutering helps to balance the hormones and resolve the condition. Hormonal therapies carry the risk of severe side effects such as the development of diabetes. Due to the possibility of severe side effects hormone therapies are generally only used in cases where the black skin disease is causing the dog pain or repeated infections. If hormone therapies are used to treat black skin disease, than the dog will need regular blood tests to watch for diabetes development.
In cases where the black skin disease is only mildly irritating, shampoos which contain soothing ingredients and sulfur may help to calm the symptoms. Very often though, the best treatment for black skin disease is none at all. While black skin disease may be unsightly, if it is not bothering the dog, no treatment is really needed. Many dogs live happy long lives with black skin disease; they just have their own special look.
Black skin disease is thought to be a genetically inherited disease, and it is recommended that dogs with black skin do not breed.