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Complete Information Regarding the Pomeranian Toy Dog

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Pomeranian Black Skin Disease ( BSD)

Understanding BSD

BSD is a fur loss…Only the Pomeranian breed is susceptible to this certain type of fur loss. Those who have dealt with this before dread hearing the term. However, it is important for Pom owners to know about Pomeranian BSD, otherwise known as Black Skin Disease.

When a Pom has this, it is a gradual loss of fur. The stages of it normally occur as so:

1.   The puppy or dog will have odd patches of fur that looks distinctly different than other areas. The fur will be short and often has the appearance and texture of wool.
2.   Those spots will begin to thin out.
3.   The fur, over the course of a few weeks to a few months, will continue to fall out until it reaches the point of those areas being completely void of fur and only skin remains in those areas.
4.   Despite the name, the dog’s skin does NOT always turn to a black color. In some cases, the skin will remain pink. Being exposed to sunlight, without proper protection, can then lead to permanent color changes to the skin, making it appear black.

BSD is also sometimes referred Alopecia X, which really confuses many owners. Why? Because Alopecia X simply means “unexplained fur loss”….and that does not give an owner any answers!

Also, BSD is a very specific type of fur loss, which is easily recognized and really does not fall into the category of Alopecia, since it is a particular type of disorder and is not completely unexplained.

Onset of BSD in Pomeranians

Owners of Poms who have BSD often think that their dog is going through the “puppy uglies”, (a rather short phase of fur loss in which the puppy fur falls out and is replaced with a gorgeous fluffy adult coat) when in fact the dog is showing the 1st signs of BSD.

Many studies still need to be done regarding Black Skin Disease in Pomeranians, however from current studies the average age of a Pom who begins to show signs is 2 years old. However, owners must keep in mind that a Pom may be 3 months old, 1 year old or 4 years old when it happens.

This photo is of a Pomeranian who is just beginning to show signs of BSD. As you can see, no actual fur loss has occurred yet. As you can see, the 1st signs are here...The dark fur is very short, the white fur is "normal", fluffy and full. The tan fur is very "woolly" and has an odd texture. Within a few months, all of the darker fur will be gone.

This is the final stage of BSD for this Pom. This is normally the final stage for most Pomeranians with this health issue. Some Poms will lose all fur, but most will lose fur in the areas shown in this photo. As you can see, all of the fur is gone from the belly and chest. Only bare skin remains. Fur on the shoulders is very thin. This Pom is NOT in pain....However, at this stage the Pom needs to wear a soft sweater in cool or cold weather...And in the sun, the Pom needs to have sun screen gently applied at least 15 minutes before going outside.

Important Facts

1.    BSD is NOT painful for a Pom, this is different than other fur issues. There is no itching and no discomfort.

2.    Exposed skin must be covered with protection from: the weather and the sun. When it is cold, one must put a soft coat or soft sweater on their Pomeranian to help them regulate their body temperature as they will not have their normally fluffy coat to do so.   When a Pom is out in the sun, it is very important to gently apply sun screen to any exposed areas of skin. If not, the skin can quickly become burnt, causing pain, blisters, etc. Allow the sun screen at least 15 minutes to soak in before you allow your puppy or dog into the sun.

3.    There is no cure for BSD….However, there are several things that an owner can do to help. (More on this in a bit)

Ruling Out Other Causes

While the signs of BSD are often very easy to spot, it is very important to rule out other causes! An experienced, trusted veterinarian should perform the following testing:

•    A blood panel

•    A urinalysis

•    Thyroid testing

•    Adrenal hormone testing

•    A skin biopsy

This will rule out other causes such as allergies, mites, mange and other issues.

BSD with Blue Poms

There is some misunderstanding with fur loss that seems to be BSD, but with Poms who have the blue gene, it is actually Blue Alopecia. Now, it is important to understand that the blue gene also is present in lavender dogs…lavender is a diluted blue.

In cases like this, the Pom should still be tested (tests are listed above) to rule out other causes.   Here is what happens with Blue Alopecia…

If a Pom has a combination of lavender or blue fur mixed with another color (usually white), the white will remain “normal” and the colored fur will either thin out dramatically, grow to a very strange texture (usually like an SOS pad or woolly texture and stick out in odd directions OR fall out completely.

Help With Black Skin Disease

While it is not completely guaranteed to work, it is suggested by veterinarians to have a Pomeranian spayed or neutered if they are diagnosed with BSD. There are some studies that have linked this condition to a sex hormone imbalance…but this is still being studied.

However, most important, is that the Pom should not be bred. Whether male or female, the dog should not mate and produce a litter.

Another possible help is melatonin. This does not often work, but it cannot hurt and it sometimes (please remember “sometimes”) helps… It is oral melatonin that is used for this.

Melatonin can be obtained in 3 mg tablets at most health food stores or vitamin retail outlets. Approximately 30% of dogs will show some response within 6 to 8 weeks. One gives the medication for at least 2 or 3 months before to see if it is helping, if fur regrowth occurs, one continues the medication until hair growth seems to have plateaued. After maximal hair regrowth has been achieved, the dose is gradually tapered down to a weekly dose over several months. Some dogs can ultimately discontinue medication though one should know that if one discontinues the medication and the fur falls out again the condition may not be melatonin responsive a second time.

Since melatonin is a nutritional supplement, rather than a prescription medication, the FDA does not insist on the same quality control it does for drugs. There may be tremendous differences in the amount of melatonin contained in pills between brands. At the present time a specific brand has not been recommended by any studies that have been done.

More Help and Trials

Scientists have been studying Pomeranian Black Skin Disease for quite some time. The University of Tennessee has done some great trials regarding this…and there are some good alternative treatments. While one should not get their hopes up (BSD is considered a condition that cannot be cured)…it cannot hurt to try alternative options and there is a chance of improvement.

In the PetPom Book, there is a chapter dedicated to BSD and if your Pom is suffering from this, you will find our information very helpful, including more photos and information on trials and alternative treatments. To learn more about the PetPom Book, Click Here.