Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis

Clinical signs range from mild to more severe lesions and may wax and wane during a dog’s life. The clinical symptoms of HNPK in Greyhounds are exclusively restricted to the outermost skin of the nose.

Initial lesions may be visible in puppies. However, clinical signs typically become more apparent as dogs age.

Veterinarians will typically diagnose this condition with a direct examination of the dog's nose and likely a tissue biopsy.

Treatment options are mostly limited to the daily application of a topical moisturizer or other treatment to keep the nose moist.

Talk to your vet about your dog’s HNPK result so you can plan appropriate care and monitoring.

Keep your dog’s nose moisturized with a gentle, dog-safe balm to prevent cracking and irritation. Avoid harsh rubbing or wiping, as the skin is sensitive and can easily become sore.

If you notice bleeding, infection, or significant discomfort, contact your vet for further treatment options.

This variant was first identified in the Greyhound.

Penetrance: HNPK is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning that affected dogs must have two copies of the variant to show clinical signs from it.

Gene

SUV39H2 Intron 4

Inheritance type

recessive

Clinical category

Integument

Citations

1. Bauer et al 2018
2. Bannoehr et al 2020

• Greyhound