Hypermelanization
I rescued
my Golden Retriever from the shelter last October. I knew he suffered
from some type of dermatitis causing him to scratch himself almost
non-stop to the point of bleeding. He also has pyoderma and is
administered 1,000 mg of Keflex per day. Recently, however, I've
noticed that he has irregularly shaped black spots on his underside - is
this a thyroid problem and, if so, what can I do to help him
Black spots
on the skin in areas of current or previous dermatitis are indicative
of hyperpigmentation. This is a normal reaction of the skin to chronic
irritation. Melanin pigment infiltrates areas of scar tissue. The
degree of pigmentation is often proportional to the degree and duration
of dermatitis. If the initial skin problem has resolved, the
pigmentation is no problem, and does not warrant treatment. The
pigmentation is permanent. To be on the safe side, you may wish to have
your veterinarian examine the area, for some hyperpigmentation
problems, such as the cancer, melanoma, need immediate attention.
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