The "Curly Coat Problem" can be frustrating -- it is often misdiagnosed for other diseases such as thyroid deficiency, and it is detrimental to a breeding program
trying to establish the proper coat. It is difficult to say how many Curlies are affected with this, as many are not shown, are not noticeably affected, or the problem is
thought to be something else, such as wear from the collar. In mild cases, the patterning may appear once and then never again when the coat grows back in. While
mildly affected dogs generally lead normal lives, it is an indicator of more serious trouble, as it is caused by some type of auto immune problem. Affected dogs are
more likely to have allergies, reproductive problems; in its severest form, it affects the growth hormones and the dogs mature at about 40 lbs.
<--Patterning-->
Very often dogs with patterned baldness will have good coats as a puppy, with the bald spots appearing at sexual maturity. Bald patterning appears on the backs
and/or insides of the hind legs, and/or on the flanks, and/or on the front and/or sides of neck, and/or the deepest part of the chest and/or as an overall thin or brittle
coat. A minor indication of the problem are dogs that are fully coated but only have real curls on their necks and backs. The hair loss is very distinctly bilateral -- that
is, on both sides of the dog. There are varying manifestations of this syndrome, from appearing nearly normal to being almost completely bald. In some cases, hair
grows back after shedding, but within months rather than weeks.
Diets and supplements do not take care of patterned baldness. You should inform your dog's breeder (send clear, closeup photos of all the spots) of any
symmetrical bald spots appearing on your puppy so that they can take this information into account in their breeding program. Unaffected dogs seem to produce
affected puppies, implying a recessive gene or genes, but the exact mode of inheritance is unclear. Very few veterinarians know about this problem in Curly Coats. Some dogs pattern only once.
Some are so slight you only notice when they get wet then you can see that the hair on the backs of the rear legs is thin and not a good covering of curls. Often people blame neck patterning on the type of collar they use. But even if you call it a collar rub, the Curly Coated Retriever's coat should be strong enough not to break to the skin when they wear a collar.
Some when they are immature, (Some call this juvenile patterning)
Some do it every time they shed or come into heat.
(Sometimes called seasonal patterning)
Some are patterned for life.
Classic patterning often looks like a collar rub on the neck.
Some people have had their curlies tested for Follicular Dysplasia. Follicular dysplasias are a group of syndromes which have in common abnormal hair loss and changes in coat quality.
This is some information about Follicular Dysplasia from the PWD site:
Hairloss � Follicular Dysplasia: Individual Portuguese Water Dogs can exhibit a genetic form of hairloss expressed as follicular dysplasia. It presents itself as
patterned hairloss generally on the torso of the dog but can affect larger and larger regions of skin over time. The follicles of the hair are abnormal, or dysplastic,
allowing the hair to fall out. In the early stages of this genetic hairloss, the hair will re-grow. Episodes of hairloss are often associated with environmental stress
factors; such as but not limited to, inoculations, surgery, and / or illness. Many different breeds (Dobermans, Malamutes, Irish Water Spaniels, Boxers, etc.) have a
follicular dysplastic condition. Some are structural follicular dysplasia like the PWD, while some are cyclic. Breeds with the cyclic problem produce normal hairs but
the hair cycle is abnormal so that hairs fall out. Dogs with structural follicular dysplasia, the PWD, Doberman Pincher, etc., produce abnormal hairs that become
more abnormal with time. After numerous episodes, the hair ceases to regenerate. It has been found that all Portuguese Water Dogs with genetic hairloss have
follicular dysplasia. It appears to primarily present itself in curly dogs produced from the mating of a curly sire to a curly dam. To date there is no verification of a
genetically wavy Portuguese Water Dog exhibiting this genetic condition.
Follicular dysplasia does not cause itching or scratching. If a dog is itching and scratching with possible skin lesions and eruptions these are not caused by follicular
dysplasia. The cause of these symptoms lies elsewhere; possibly parasites, allergies, tumors, sun exposure, dry skin or other causative reasons. The results of this
itching and scratching are magnified in a dog that has hair loss due to follicular dysplasia as there is less or no hair to protect the skin on the affected areas of the
body.
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It is noteworthy to comment that there have been several Curlies with patterning that have won big in the show ring. It may be that these dogs have other outstanding characteristics that make them worthy of the wins regardless of the patterning. Or it may be that judges are just not educated on this condition.
Pattern Baldness, pinnal alopecia, saddle alopecia. (from a dachshund site) With this condition there is gradual, symmetric thinning and loss of hair (alopecia) that usually begins by 6 to 9 months of age and progresses slowly until the affected areas are completely bald. Areas of hair loss are not itchy but may become darkened and scaly over time. There are 3 different patterns of baldness that occur. In the most common syndrome, dachshunds and other breeds (mostly female animals) experience hair loss around the temples, underneath the neck, and on the chest, abdomen and back of the thighs. In dachshunds with pinnal alopecia (mostly male), the hair is gradually lost from both ears. Saddle alopecia occurs in American water spaniels and Portuguese water dogs, with hair loss underneath the neck, on the back of the thighs, and on the tail. |
Click here to see a variety of Curly and not so curly coats
Why does my curly have a bald spot on his tail?
Tail gland hyperplasia
See a picture of a Curly Blowing Coat
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SoftMaple Curlies
I started doing an on-line puppy diary since many of the people that would be getting one of my pups would not be able to travel here to see the pups. I did not
want
to put a bunch of cute puppy pictures online, and encourage anyone to have a litter just because they wanted to see cute puppies! Breeding dogs, if done the right
way, is a lot of work. Lost sleep and sometimes heartache. It takes a lot of time, effort and money to raise a litter of puppies. Once I started doing The Puppy
Diary, I realized I had a captive audience. These people logged on every day to see the pictures, and read what was happening. I used this opportunity to cram as
much education into each day as I could. Health, Coat issues, grooming, feeding, socializing, vet care, puppy evaluations, shipping puppies.... you name it! I tried
to
put it in The Diary. It was suggested that I make it into a book. Well here it is! There are 560 pictures and over 300 pages of living with and watching one litter
grow up. I am sure may conscientious, caring breeders raise litters similar to the way I do. Its is a good look into the time, money, commitment it takes to
bring
up a litter of pups. Some of the things that go on behind the scenes, that the eventual puppies owners (family), never realize go into the litter.
Enjoy my litter as I see them. Day to day
Contents
Follow a litter of puppies from birthday until they go to their new homes. The diary contains lots of pictures, tips on puppy rearing, some breed specific information,
and lots of information on the care of any breed of dog.
Chapter One (Week One) ... Page 1
Seger comes into season
Happy Birthday!
Removing the Dewclaws
Start of the Bio Sensor program
Chapter Two (Week Two) ... Page 48
Coat issues.
Tail Gland Hyperplasia
Do Curlies Shed?
Chapter Three (Week Three) ... Page 94
End of Bio Sensor Exercises
Worming The puppies
Eyes are open
First pup escapes from the box
Chapter Four (Week Four) ... Page 130
Weaning. The great food fight!
Introduction to the puppy play room
Shark Cage
Chapter Five (Week Five) ... Page 156
Field dog? Show Dog? CPE?
Happy Mothers Day!
First Stacked pictures
Chapter Six (Week Six) ... Page 195
Toys! Toys! Toys!
What�s In A Name?
Kids and Dogs
Introduction to Wings
Chapter Seven (Week Seven) ... Page 236
About Puppies and Retrieving
Socialize your puppy
First Shots & Vet Visit
Splish Splash, first bath!
Chapter Eight (Week Eight) ... Page 286
Shape up or ship out!
Requirements to ship puppies
See all the pups!
Curly-Coated Retriever Information
Showing Your Curly Coated Retriever
Grooming the Curly Coated Retriever
  Agility Page Tracking Page CGC page Dock Jumping Rally and Obedience page Breeding: What We're Taught
 SoftMaple Home Page
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