Dermatology, Session 8

Skin and haircoat depigmentation in dogs. – Dr. Manolis Saridomichelakis

Loss of skin and haircoat pigmentation can be congenital or acquired, can be caused by lack of melanocytes, inability of melanocytes to produce melanin, destruction of melanocytes, or loss of melanin from the epidermis into the dermis. These diseases may be indolent and involve only the skin, or they can be aggressive and involve additional organs, including the eyes. For this reason, a fast but accurate diagnosis is necessary in these patients.

Learning outcomes:
Rational diagnostic steps for dogs with skin and/or haircoat depigmentation.