Sixteen Pomeranians and eight miniature poodles presenting with clinical signs of alopecia X, elevated blood concentrations of 17-hydroxyprogesterone post stimulation with adrenocorticotropic hormone and increased urinary cortisol/creatinine ratios were treated with trilostane, a competitive inhibitor of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Trilostane was given once or twice daily at a mean dose of 10.85 mg kg(-1) day(-1). Adrenal function was evaluated with a follow-up of 28 months in the Pomeranians and 33 months in the miniature poodles. Treatment with trilostane led to complete hair re-growth in 85% of the Pomeranians and in all of the miniature poodles within 4 to 8 weeks. No adverse events attributed to treatment with trilostane were recognized. The hair re-growth might have been the result of a down-regulation of adrenal steroids and/or of the noncompetitive inhibition of the oestrogen receptors at the hair follicle level.

Soybean and soybean fractions are commonly used ingredients in commercial dog foods. Dietary intake of phytoestrogens may have both beneficial and deleterious health effects. Our results indicated that certain commercial dog foods contain phytoestrogens in amounts that could have biological effects when ingested long-term.

Recent studies from North America and continental Europe have reported Zen 1 as a major allergen in atopic dogs, and Der f 2 as a minor allergen. In contrast, Der f 2 is considered a major allergen in Japan. In this study, allergen-specific IgE against Der f 2, Zen 1 and crude Dermatophagoides farinae (DF) was determined using ELISA assays in English atopic dogs. Serum samples were obtained from 59 dogs with non-seasonal atopic dermatitis. ELISA assays using horseradish peroxidase-labelled anti-dog IgE monoclonal antibody (Bethyl; A40-125P) and recombinant Der f 2 (Zenoaq), natural Zen 1 (Zenoaq) and DF extract (Greer Laboratories; North Carolina) were performed by Zenoaq, Fukushima, Japan. The mean optical density (OD) of each sample was determined and the cut-off value was calculated from OD readings obtained from four healthy control dogs. Der f 2, Zen 1 and DF-specific IgE antibodies were found in the serum samples taken from 57 (97 per cent), 45 (76 per cent) and 47 (80 per cent) atopic dogs, respectively, suggesting that both Zen 1 and Der f 2 are ‘major allergens’ in the South-East England.

A survey on the occurrence of dermatoses in the Irish Water spaniel (IWS) was carried out in the United Kingdom. A group of 20 dogs was selected and examined clinically. All dogs had a nonpruritic, nonin¯ammatory, regionalized hair loss aecting the same areas of the body in males and females, although an initial cyclical pattern associated with the oestrus cycle was identi®ed. Hormonal investigations showed features suggestive of an abnormality of steroidogenesis. Histopathology revealed features similar to canine recurrent ank alopecia (CRFA) and follicular dysplasia associated with abnormal melanization, as in colour dilution alopecia, although the clinical features did not correlate with those conditions. Dietary changes improved coat and skin quality in most of the cases in this series but the role of the diet was not investigated further. This study suggests that hair loss in IWS is in¯uenced by dietary factors and sexual hormones. Abnormalities of the steroidogenic pathways may contribute to the severity of the condition.