This message is directed to Pomeranian lovers whether pet owners and/or breeders. Those who truly care about the health and welfare of our breed need to step-up and represent their dogs in the new Alopecia X Survey.

The OFA study has been available for awhile yet less than 1000 Pomeranians have been represented. Certainly the combined number of dogs held by global breeders far exceeds the mere number represented. Pets are another population who are clearly not adequately represented in this study.

The Alopecia X specific survey was designed to accurately report a true and real-time representation of not only the number of AX occurrences against the number of non-affected dogs, but also to collect and analyze the details noted about this disease, by the actual owners. The survey’s purpose is to report the truth. It was not designed with an agenda to prove or disprove currently held theories from either side of this great debate. It was designed and its sole purpose is to learn the truth.
Anyone who truly cares about the breed will support this effort by entering one survey for EVERY Pomeranian they own or have owned (living or diseased) and who is not already entered by someone else.

The only winners in this endeavour will be our dogs. The only losers, if the breeder and pet owner populations do not support the Survey, will be our dogs. Please let’s not let them down.

It may be easier for some who have owned a lot of dogs, to make a list of names first. Then set aside a little time each day to enter some names, until all have been included. Once you get going, the process will move fast.

Please promote the Survey to everyone who has a Pomeranian. Please copy the ‘Poster’ link and send it out to your veterinarian, groomer, doggy daycare, boarding facility, dog walkers and pet stores. Let’s all work hard to truly represent our breed so that this survey will reveal an accurate picture and hopefully help us to help the dogs.

While limited to purebred Pomeranians, this survey is open to all Pomeranian owners world-wide, including both pets and show/breeding dogs. It is important to complete one survey for each Pomeranian owned (living or dead) and whether or not it has been affected by Alopecia X. If responses are limited to only affected dogs, the results will be skewed and not prove an accurate representation of the incidence of Alopecia X in this breed.

Your participation is appreciated and vital to the cause. Please forward this and the linked poster, to any Pomeranian owners and veterinarians you may know. Click the link below and help us help the dogs.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PCOC-Alopecia-X

PLEASE COMPLETE A SURVEY FOR ALL POMERANIAN DOGS THAT ARE AFFEECTED WITH ALOPECIA X AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE DOGS.
You may print a poster to send to your vet by clicking this link:
http://www.tinybearpoms.com/Alopecia%20X%20%20posting.pdf

After months of planning, the Pomeranian Club of Canada has announced the launch of a most extensive and unbiased Survey on Alopecia X. While limited to purebred Pomeranians, this survey is open to all Pomeranian owners world-wide, including both pets and show/breeding dogs. It is important to complete one survey for each Pomeranian owned (living or dead) and whether or not it has been affected by Alopecia X. If responses are limited to only affected dogs, the results will be skewed and not prove an accurate representation of the incidence of Alopecia X in this breed.

Your participation is appreciated and vital to the cause. Please forward this and the linked poster, to any Pomeranian owners and veterinarians you may know. Click the link below and help us help the dogs.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PCOC-Alopecia-X

You may print a poster to send to your vet by clicking this link:
http://www.tinybearpoms.com/Alopecia%20X%20%20posting.pdf

bsd alopecia X affected PomeranianBSD or Black Skin Disease in Pomeranians Information Site. Coat loss in Pomeranians.

This coat loss is also often referred to as Alopecia X or coat funk .

The darkening or blackening of the skin in the affected areas exposed is the reason the coat loss problem is often referred to as BSD or BLACK SKIN DISEASE in Pomeranians.

Alopecia is medical term for hair loss. The problem of coat loss or BSD in Pomeranians can be referred to as Alopecia X by veterinarians, as the cause of the coat loss is unknown.

This type of coat loss has often been described in the Nordic type or double-coated dog breeds. The dog develops symmetrical coat loss on the trunk as well darkly pigmented skin in the bald areas.

The affected dogs rarely lose all their coat, usually retaining fur on the leg and head area.

There are several skin conditions that can cause alopecia or hair loss and/or poor growth of hair.

Parasites and a condition called clipper alopecia or post clipping alopecia can also cause this phenomenon.

Clipper alopecia or post clipping alopecia is a term used to describe alopecia( hair loss) after clipping.

Nutrition, environmental toxins and stress are also thought to play a part with a dog genetically predisposed to coat loss problems .

The BSD pattern of baldness is commonly called "endocrine alopecia" as it is common in several types of hormone imbalances. Some of these conditions are endocrine diseases such as hypothyroidism, Cushings disease.

Pomeranian puppies with beautiful, full, fluffy coats as puppies may develop early onset BSD. Pomeranian puppies with these types of coats often lack the harsh guard hairs and feel like "cotton" to touch.

These puppies often do not shed puppy coat and go through the ugly stage like the majority of Pomeranian puppies. Coat loss usually occurs at around 14 to 16 months and these cases are referred to as the early onset version of black skin disease.

Late onset Black Skin disease usually occurs at around 3 to 4 years of age, but cases have been documented, where the Pomeranian has developed Black skin disease as late as 9 years of age.

Owners of black skin affected Pomeranians should contact the breeder of their Pomeranian for help and advice. Your veterinarian should also be consulted to rule out any medical issues.

Hi there my name is Adrian,
i have two poms a desexed female nearly 6 and a desexed male puppy 9 months old. They are not related in any way although from the same breeder. The last twelve months we have had alot of problems with Brooke's coat (female) after a very bad clipping at the parlour. Her coat has continually fallen out and pretty much doesnt replace or grow and has got this black pigmentation on her skin. We have been to a couple of VETS and was told her thyroid was underactive and was put on 100mcg twice a day of Thyroxine for this, this was back in say may and we have not seen any change in her coat since i then took her to another vet who adjusted her medication to 50 mcg this was in December still nothing. I have changed Vets again and found a Vet who is extremely thorough and says he feels it is Alopecia X but we can't rule out Cushings.
He was the first Vet that showed any interest into what was happening or had any idea of what could be going on. We are currently waiting on test results again and hopefully one way or another we know what is happening to poor Brooke. I was wondering if you could please add me to your forum so i can learn more about this and what can be done to treat her and help regain her coat if it is at all possible.

"I have a male pom, abt 5lbs. approx. a year old, with full baby coat. He is now starting to lose his coat on his rump and back of back legs and on his chest, but his skin is not turning black? Is that immediate or does it take awhile? He does have some of the bumps in front armpit that could be the described blackheads. Vet said we would check for thyroid next visit around April. He is quite active, playful and has a great appetite, very affectionate, otherwise great little dog. I just want to help him all I can.
Really glad to have found this website.
Tamara "

Comments on bsd or black skin disease in Pomeranians are very welcome. To join this site please contact me using the contact form and tell me a little about yourself a desired user name and password. I have had to take this action to protect the site from spammers. Bsd Pomeraniasn welcomes people who would like to help and also pomeranian owners eeeking help.

"Hi I found your website off google and found an interesting article on the balding of Pomeranian. We lost our little pompey ayear ago, he suffered with hair loss and black skin. Our vet could never find a cure for his skin problems however found later in life he had a thyroid deficiency and prescribe tablets which helped him in himself however never he never regrow is furr.
He was 13 when we lost him. we are now looking to find a new puppy ideally Wolf sable however would like to avoid this orful skin disease if possible can you advise and help. Many thanks Elizabeth
"