Ichthyosis

Affected dogs typically have large, greasy flakes of dandruff but aren't itchy. The scales of skin can get so thick that they can crack and cause fissures, leading to considerable discomfort.

As puppies, affected dogs can show signs of scaling. This disease tends to worsen with age.

Examining the characteristic lesions is the first step in diagnosing Ichthyosis. Confirmatory genetic testing and/or skin biopsies can also be performed.

There is no definitive treatment for Ichthyosis: typically, ichthyotic dogs are maintained on the continuous treatment of mild anti-dandruff shampoos and moisturizing rinses. This is a chronic and frustrating condition to manage.

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

The condition can range from mild dry or flaky skin to more severe scaling, so your vet may recommend specific shampoos, moisturizers, or supplements to support skin health.

Regular bathing with gentle, moisturizing products and consistent grooming can help keep your dog’s skin comfortable and clean.

If you notice redness, odor, or signs of infection, contact your vet promptly, as secondary skin infections can develop in some dogs.

This variant was first identified in the German Shepherd Dog.

Penetrance: This variant has a dominant mode of inheritance, meaning that dogs with one or two copies of the variant may show clinical signs of Ichthyosis.

Gene

ASPRV1 Exon 2

Inheritance type

dominant

Clinical category

Integument

Citations

1. Bauer et al 2017

• German Shepherd Dog