Clinically known as atopy, inhalant allergy is a hypersensitivity to environmental allergens manifested through irritation of the skin and ears. Atopy occurs in 10 to 15 percent of the dog population and tends first to occur when the canine is between one to two years old. Feline atopy can occur at any age. It is not uncommon for animals to have atopy in conjunction with other allergies such as food hypersensitivity and flea allergy dermatitis.
Mast cell tumors are a malignant tumor that originate in the dermal layer of the skin. These tumors can arise from any area of the body, and may have a variety of appearances.
Symptoms usually begin in late puberty or young adulthood. Symmetrical thinning of hair or hair loss commonly occurs on the outer ear flaps, under the neck, on the chest, backs of the thighs, and behind the ears. There is no associated skin inflammation, itch, redness, or rash. In Dachshunds with hairloss on the outer ear flaps, complete hairloss usually occurs by 8-9 years of age and the exposed skin becomes dark/hyperpigmented.
Single to multiple raised, hairless, lobulated white to pale pink skin or sometimes pigmented skin masses which may ooze an oily white material. Masses range in size from ¼” – 1” in diameter.