Sebaceous Adenitis in Dogs

When affected by SA, changes in your dog’s appearance will typically begin at the head and neck, and continue down the back. SA may create what is best described as a “moth-eaten” appearance. Some dogs lose hair only in patches somewhere on the body, such as on back of tail, inner thighs, legs, sides, or on the back, while others experience a complete loss in areas such as the underbelly.  Visible symptoms include scaly and crusty skin, excessive dandruff and sometimes lesions. Hair will progressively thin as the glands continually malfunction. Your dog’s skin will become itchy and give off a musky odor. While the disease does not predominate in one sex over the other, it does favor by breed. SA appears most often in Standard Poodles, Akitas and Samoyeds, but has appeared in most varieties of dog. Ages of documented cases range from as young as 1 year to as old as 12. 

There are two primary types of SA, one occurring in long-coated animals, and the other in short-coated breeds. Symptoms vary by breed and type, making SA a diagnostic challenge. Many dogs are initially diagnosed with hypothyroidism, hormonal imbalance or with a food or environmental allergy. The only way to confirm an SA diagnosis is through a skin biopsy performed by a veterinarian.

Sebaceous adenitis (SA) is a hereditary skin disease leading to hair loss (alopecia) and changes in your dog’s coat texture and color. SA is most often found in the Standard Poodle, Akita and Samoyed breeds.

Long haired breeds

• Hair loss (alopecia)
• Musty odor, especially along hairline
• Clumps of waxy matted hair
• Coat changes (more coarse, brittle and dull)
• Intense itching and scratching (primarily with bacterial or yeast infection)
• Silver-white scales on skin
• Clusters of lesions that form on the head or body
• Bacterial infection at the hair follicle
• Scabs and sores
• Hot spots

Short-haired breeds

• Hair loss (often in circular patterns)
• Mild scaling along the head, trunk and ears
• Bacterial infection at the follicle (less common among short-hair breeds)

Secondary, non-dermatologic symptoms apply only if there is a bacterial or yeast infection. These symptoms may include fever, lethargy and extreme itching.

The sebaceous glands of the skin produce a fatty substance that maintains the moisture of the skin and also helps to control some immune functions. Sebaceous adenitis (SA) is a rare hereditary skin disease in which a dog’s sebaceous glands malfunction, often leading to substantial hair loss (alopecia) and changes in the coat’s texture and color.  While a relief that sebaceous adenitis is a rare condition, those affected suffer not only from the hair loss and skin changes, but often tolerate yeast infections and bacterial infections secondary to the condition. Since there is no cure for SA, ongoing care (such as regular bathing) will be needed. Without care, the skin may become infected, necessitating an antibiotic or steroid medication.

If you notice that your companion’s hair coat is undergoing changes, such as patchy or complete hair loss, skin irritation in the form of scales, lesions, and dandruff a veterinary visit is essential. Your veterinarian will want to rule out possible underlying causes that may present the same way but could lead to further consequences if untreated (hormonal imbalances or mite infestation for example).

The veterinarian will base her diagnosis on skin biopsy samples obtained through scraping. A fungal and bacterial culture of the skin and hair may be needed as well.

There is no cure for SA, so treatment is not straightforward. The disease varies in severity, and response to treatment varies among dogs. While some dogs are euthanized in extreme causes of SA (usually complicated by chronic infections and major hair loss unresponsive to treatment), with proper treatment and management most dogs can live normal lives. Because SA is chronic, pet owners will be instrumental in the treatment process. The dog’s health and quality of life will depend upon the quality and endurance of care. 

The primary treatment for a dog with SA includes topical therapy, including keratolytic shampoos and emollient rinses or humectants every 3-5 days. Oil baths or oil sprays are popular with pet owners and may provide your dog with the best chance of improvement in coat, skin and comfort. Most of the oils used are some type of mineral oil based product such as baby oil, Alpha-Keri oil or Avon Skin-So-Soft. The oil may be left on your dog as a treatment for 1-2 hours, depending on the dog’s compliance. Monitoring of your pet throughout the treatment is critical as it may be harmful for him to ingest the oil while attempting to groom.

Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Oral omega-3 and/or omega-6 supplements may be given daily or as needed, per your veterinarian. 

Some dogs with SA will develop a bacterial or yeast infection, particularly if lesions become itchy and are scratched by the dog. In this case, symptoms will be treated with medication such as tetracycline, antibiotics and corticosteroids. With proper management of your dog’s skin and coat, infections may occur infrequently, if at all.

Proper management is key to the successful outcome of a dog with sebaceous adenitis. Some dogs will experience full-regrowth of hair, while others appear to lose and grow hair cyclically. 

Long-term, daily therapy through bathing, oil treatments, and supplements such as vitamins and fatty acids, are the primary approach to the disease’s management. Food does not appear to influence the outcome of a dog with SA.