A young, well nourished and parasite free dog with noticeable skin and coat problems surely should have blood and urine testing done for organ dysfunction, anatomic abnormalities and metabolic disorders.  Metabolic and anatomic dysfunction may not specifically impact the skin and coat but ultimately cause secondary dermatological issues because the entire animal is sick. Pups that appear unthrifty, have skin and coat problems, appear poorly nourished and stunted may have a porto-systemic shunt. In these cases  aberrant blood vessels bypass the liver’s buffering actions allowing unmetabolized digestive substances to directly enter the blood stream.

Another juvenile disorder often first seen as a skin disorder involves protein deposition in the kidneys.  Present from birth polycystic kidneys often predispose young dogs to appear malnourished with degraded skin and coats.  Metabolic aberration of fat metabolism can play havoc with lipids such as fatty acids and the pup displays a coarse, dry coat and generally unhealthy body condition.  Few cures are known for most of these biochemical or anatomic defects.

Leading the pack of medical disorders impacting the skin and coat is hypothyroidism. An underachieving thyroid gland usually creates a bilaterally symmetrical thin coat over the thorax and lumbar region.  Every physiological pathway inside the dog is under the whip of the thyroid gland.  Fortunately, once the diagnosis is made specific therapy restores the dog’s vigor and healthy appearance.  Other endocrine gland system glitches, such as adrenal gland problems that lead to Cushings Disease or Addisons Disease, can masquerade as thyroid related and can be a challenge to establish as a definitive diagnosis.  Over-active, under-active or cancerous endocrine gland afflictions often first reveal their presence in the patient’s skin and coat.

Some disorders only become noticeable at about three years of age… often well into the dog’s public career but prior to filling the trophy case with ribbons and medals.  Among these are the autoimmune disorders that may first show up as small patches of hair loss, crusts, scabs and itchiness.  Resistant to antibiotics, mainly because bacteria are only opportunistic visitors to the damaged skin tissues of the face, pinnas, toes and trunk, immune diseases can