Alopecia is a common presenting complaint in veterinary medicine and is known to occur secondary to numerous primary conditions. In this report, six unrelated dogs from three households were subsequently determined to have developed alopecia as a result of accidental transdermal exposure to their owners' topical hormone replacement therapy (THRT). All cases presented with alopecia ranging in duration from 2 mo to 2.5 yr. All dogs demonstrated alopecia affecting the ventral neck, thoracic and abdominal surfaces, proximal lateral extremities, and lateral trunk. At the time of initial presentation, five of six dogs were also noted to have physical exam findings suggestive of feminization. In all cases, serum total thyroxine was within normal reference range. Affected skin was biopsied in five dogs, and all samples demonstrated four similar histological characteristics: basal melanosis, epidermal and infundibular follicular hyperkeratosis, kenogen hair follicles, and small sebaceous glands. All dogs had elevated baseline estradiol levels, and four dogs had concurrent elevations of baseline progesterone. Average time to onset of clinical signs in those dogs was 5.5 mo after the owners started THRT. Following discontinuation of THRT by the owners, all dogs had complete resolution of their clinical signs by 5.5 mo.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
March/April 2015
Case Reports|
March 01 2015
Canine Alopecia Secondary to Human Topical Hormone Replacement Therapy in Six Dogs
Darren J. Berger, DVM, DACVD;
Darren J. Berger, DVM, DACVD
From the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ames, IA (D.B.); Dermatology for Animals (T.L., A.S., R.M.); and DVM Pathology Associates (D.L.).
Search for other works by this author on:
Thomas P. Lewis, DVM, DACVD;
Thomas P. Lewis, DVM, DACVD
From the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ames, IA (D.B.); Dermatology for Animals (T.L., A.S., R.M.); and DVM Pathology Associates (D.L.).
Search for other works by this author on:
Anthea E. Schick, DVM, DACVD;
Anthea E. Schick, DVM, DACVD
From the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ames, IA (D.B.); Dermatology for Animals (T.L., A.S., R.M.); and DVM Pathology Associates (D.L.).
Search for other works by this author on:
Rose I. Miller, DVM, DACVD;
Rose I. Miller, DVM, DACVD
From the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ames, IA (D.B.); Dermatology for Animals (T.L., A.S., R.M.); and DVM Pathology Associates (D.L.).
Search for other works by this author on:
Diana G. Loeffler, MS, DVM, DACVP
Diana G. Loeffler, MS, DVM, DACVP
From the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ames, IA (D.B.); Dermatology for Animals (T.L., A.S., R.M.); and DVM Pathology Associates (D.L.).
Search for other works by this author on:
J Am Anim Hosp Assoc (2015) 51 (2): 136–142.
Citation
Darren J. Berger, Thomas P. Lewis, Anthea E. Schick, Rose I. Miller, Diana G. Loeffler; Canine Alopecia Secondary to Human Topical Hormone Replacement Therapy in Six Dogs. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1 March 2015; 51 (2): 136–142. doi: https://doi.org/10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6247
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionCiting articles via
Agreement Between Tongue-Based Oscillometric and Invasive Blood Pressure in Anesthetized Dogs of Various Weights
Dalhae Kim, DVM, PhD<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Jiyoung Kim, DVM, MS<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Donghwi Shin, DVM<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Inhyung Lee, DVM, MS, PhD<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Won-gyun Son, DVM, PhD
2023 AAHA Selected Endocrinopathies of Dogs and Cats Guidelines
Andrew Bugbee, DVM, DACVIM<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Renee Rucinsky, DVM, DABVP (Feline Practice)<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Sarah Cazabon, DVM<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Heather Kvitko-White, DVM, DACVIM<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Patty Lathan, VMD, MS, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine)<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Amy Nichelason, DVM, DABVP (Canine and Feline)<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Liza Rudolph, BAS, RVT, VTS (Canine and Feline) (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
Successful Management of Severe Manganese Toxicosis in Two Dogs
Jacob Wolf, DVM, DACVECC<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Levi Hoffman, DVM, DACVECC<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Carl Southern, DVM
Uterus Masculinus with a Patent Urethral Communication Documented with Positive Contrast Computed Tomography
Jilli Crosby, BVetMed, PGDip(VCP), MRCVS<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Alexandros Hardas, DVM, MVetMed, DACVP, MRCVS<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Karla Lee, MA, VetMB, PhD, CertSAS, DECVS, PGCAP, FHEA, MRCVS<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Lynda Rutherford, BVM&S, MVetMed, DECVS, PGCertVetEd, FHEA, MRCVS
Successful Medical Management of an Acute Traumatic Sternal Luxation in a Cat
Jesse Grady, DVM, MS<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Shanna Marroquin, DVM, MS, DACVR<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Alison Lee, DVM, MS, DACVR