Congenital Cornification Disorder

Affected dogs have hairless patches of skin, often in a linear pattern. These areas have clearly defined borders. The skin lesions can be thickened, darkly pigmented, and very painful. If these lesions are present on a dog's leg, they can cause limping.

Skin lesions develop in dogs less than one year of age.

This condition can be diagnosed using a combination of a skin biopsy and genetic testing.

Your veterinarian may try several treatment options before finding the most effective one. Treatment usually entails prescription shampoo with an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory cream.

Talk to your vet about your dog’s congenital cornification disorder result so you can discuss treatment options and the best way to manage their skin at home.

Regular bathing with a gentle, moisturizing or medicated shampoo may help reduce scaling and irritation.

Keep your dog’s skin clean and hydrated by avoiding harsh grooming products and providing balanced nutrition that supports skin health.

Monitor for redness, odor, or discomfort, as these could indicate secondary infections that need attention.

This variant was first described in the Chihuahua.

Penetrance: This variant is inherited in an X-linked dominant manner, meaning that a dog only requires one copy of the variant to show signs of Congenital Cornification Disorder. Male dogs with one copy of the variant and female dogs with two copies of the variant likely do not survive to birth.

Gene

NSDHL Exon 8

Inheritance type

dominant

Clinical category

Integument

Citations

1. Leuthard et al 2019

• Chihuahua