WHAT LOOKS LIKE MANGE AND BUT IS MUCH MORE WORSE?

​I want to warn friends and introduce something new to me.  I am hypersensitive to genetic diseases in the Havanese but this affects multiple breeds.  It is Sebaceous Adenitis (SA), a nasty hereditary disease

​How did I learn about it? 

​A friend of ours has a dog that just now presented with SA and is absolutely devastated. She purchased one of our female puppies originally to breed with this dog. There is no breeding with this male now.

ORGINALLY WRITTEN 07.03.21

The buyer is new to the Havanese community although she has champions in another breed.  The breeder she bought her male puppy from offered to mentor her and is extremely active with 20 years or so of showing experience and involved in other Havanese activities. Within two years the puppy became a Grand Champion.  When contacted about SA the breeder turned an unexpected cold shoulder.  I write in the hopes the breeder will do better.  She is known to be 'reputable'.
 
SA is an immune-mediated disease (the immune system attacks itself)  which not deadly by itself in this case but causes baldness, with other lifelong problems.  The origin is unknown.  Did I mention it is hereditary?
 
Q.  What is Sebaceous Adenitis (SA)?
A:  An Autoimmune (IMIDs), hereditary skin disease without cure. Causes Hair loss, scabby layer of skin that can get worse with lesions, extreme dandruff, etc. Stress can affect the disease. Eyes can be affected.  Testing can have false negatives and show no symptoms.

Q.  When did SA show up?
A.  Early 1980’s.

Q.  What is the difference between mange and SA?
A.  Although they can look similar initially, the cause of SA is unknown, the cause of mange is mites. There are other differences. SA starts on the head and goes down the spine evenly (symmetrically) on the body.

Q.  How is it diagnosed?
A.  Only by a skin biopsy/scrapping. Phenotypic test only (Symptoms at presentation). Test is known for false negatives.  Should be re-tested in 3-6 mos.  No DNA test.

Q.  Is it contagious to humans?
A.  Yes.

Q.  What are the signs of SA?
A.  Hair loss that are the same from side to side on the dog’s body, the hair texture             becomes dull and brittle, there is a lot of dandruff that doesn’t flake off easily, bits of matted hair show up on the body, bleeding shows up, starts on the head and goes down the back, itching, check ear flaps.  It has a musty odor.  It can have no signs as well.

Q.  What age dog?
A.  Young adults to middle-age (1-7) dogs are affected. It has been newly reported in dogs as late as 12 yrs. old.

Q.  What does it do?
A. Causes baldness. Affects the sebaceous glands. Cause eye damage. Secondary infections. Itching. Lesions. Scales. Causes the immune system to attack itself.

Q.  What is the danger?
A.  Causes intermittent bacterial or yeast-related pus in the skin (pyoderma - yuck) and dogs are subject to secondary infections. Eye problems. Stress is an issue.

Q.  Are there any signs prior to presentation?
A.  No systemic symptoms until presentation.

Q.  What is the treatment?
A.  Treatment to slow attack on sebaceous glands, treatment to comfort itchiness,                treatment for bacterial infection. Akitas are almost resistant to any treatment. Oral and topical treatments.  Eye exams.

Q.  Which breeds get this?
A. Havanese, Akita, Bernese Mountain Dog, Cockapoo,, German Shepherd, Goldendoodle, Husky, Labradoodle, Labrador Retriever,  Samoyeds, Springer Spaniel, Standard Poodle, Vizsla, and Welsh Corgi and more.

​Sire's Owner/Friend: "I was blindsided by it, had no clue the breed had a potential for this. There's a fb group that's offered options to help with coat maintenance. It's a costly disease to manage as most are only properly diagnosed by a Vet Dermatologist. Rx drug Atopica is expensive but very effective. Frequent oil soaks, non soap shampoo, topical spray and oils help the scales skin. Becky also added that SA is affected by stress and can damage the eyes, too.  She recommended taking the dog to a Canine Ophthalmologist for a baseline eye assessment."

References::
“SEBACEOUS ADENITIS.” Sebaceous Adenitis - Mar Vista Animal Medical Center, Animal Medical Center, https://www.marvistavet.com/sebaceous-adenitis.pml.

“Veterinarians & Emergency Vets: VCA Animal Hospitals.” Veterinarians & Emergency Vets | VCA Animal Hospitals, https://www.vcahospitals.com/.