Dog has black bulging skin, hair loss. Is it Cushing's or mange?

Question

My dog is suffering from black bulging skin with very less hair .He had menge year ago and also suffered from tick fever .Have shown to many vets but with very little progress .The current one diagnosed him with Cushing disease and wanted to have cortisol creatine (c/c) urine test , unfortunately not present in indian path labs.As advised by him we are giving Rudy 200mg ketoconazole a day ( half tablet morning and eve) Can you please share your views on same . Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | unneutered | 2 years and 4 months old | 40 lbs

Kevin Sanada, DVM · Accepted Answer

He does not look like a Cushing's dog to me, but I would have to test him to be sure. A UCC test would be nice, but a low-dose dexamethasone suppression test would give more information and can easily be done. The human pathology labs should have the capability to measure cortisol (I've done this in India). This black/bald skin tells me that the skin has been inflamed for a long time. I wouldn't be surprised if it is mange (he looks like a classic mange dog) that is causing him to look like this. Mange can take a long time to treat; sometimes over a year with heavy burdens. If the mange was not treated for long enough, then it could have come back. He should be tested again for mange. Other conditions that would cause a lowered immunity should be ruled out (especially if he has demodectic mange). I would want to check a CBC and possibly check the thyroid levels if he was showing other signs of hypothyroidism. If you are having problems finding a vet doctor to do these tests, then my friend's organization in Pune may be able to help. The link to the website is below: http://www.bodhisattva.in/ I hope that helps and Rudy gets better soon.

Dog has black bulging skin, hair loss. Is it Cushing's or mange?

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