Head, neck and back of overfed, old house dogs. Symptoms: floury
dandruff, with little itching or redness, on limited areas; in cats
over the whole back, where stroking causes electric development, the
collecting of the hair in tufts, and insufferable irritation. Hair
constantly shedding without necessarily bare patches. Treatment:
simpler, restricted diet, correct internal disorders, laxatives,
arsenic, locally solutions of alkalies, borax, potassium sulphide,
sulphur iodide, baths.
In dogs this affection attacks especially the head, neck and back of pet
and house dogs gorged with dainties, and particularly in those that are
already becoming aged. The affected parts are covered with a floury or
branlike product lying upon a dry surface usually devoid of irritation
or congestion, though it may be distinctly congested and reddened, and
even the seat of pruritus. The affection is usually confined to limited
areas, more or less destitute of hair, and without showing a disposition
to active extension. In the cat, however, it may affect the whole dorsal
aspect of the body, being associated with extreme electrical
susceptibility, so that on being stroked the hair at once collects in
tufts, crackles, and in the darkness sparkles, and the animal at first
fawning on the hand, will fly at and scratch it after a few strokes. The
scaly product is excessive and drops off abundantly when handled,
without, however, leaving thin or bare patches.
_Treatment_ is mainly in the line of a simpler and more natural diet,
the avoidance of sugar and cake, the correction of disorders of the
digestion, or of the hepatic or urinary functions, the exhibition of an
occasional laxative, and of alteratives, especially Fowler’s solution.
Locally, alkaline lotions, carbonate or bicarbonate of soda or potash,
borax, sulphide of potassium and iodide of sulphur are often useful. A
moderately strong solution of common salt with glycerine in water is an
useful alternate, and a warm saline or bran bath may soften the skin and
modify its nutrition.