Alopecia por diluição da cor em uma cadela Staffordshire Bull Terrier azul: Relato de caso

Resumo (EN)

In dogs, color dilution alopecia (CDA) is one of the skin conditions that leads to progressive hair loss in animals with color diluted coat, such as blue. Although relatively rare, color dilution alopecia has already been described in many races. Here, we describe a case in a blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier bitch, attended in a veterinary hospital in Pernambuco, Brazil. The bitch presented hair rarefaction since it was six months old, at medical examination it was possible to observe alopecia in the dog’s back and flank. Additional tests were performed, discarding other potential diagnosis such as parasitic infections and endocrinal diseases. Then, a skin biopsy was performed to proceed with histopathological evaluation, where it was possible to observe melanin plugs in the hair follicles, causing the distortion of said follicles, pigmentation in the near regions and the presence of melanophages, alterations that suggested CDA. Through the results of the histopathological analysis, associated with the clinical signs and the animal’s historic, it was possible to reach the diagnosis of color dilution alopecia. No treatment was instituted, taking into consideration that the efficacy of the existing treatments varies and the tutor decided against it.