Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Sebaceous gland overgrowth in Border terrier skin explained
By Dedola, Carla et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2010·The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Idiopathic generalized sebaceous gland hyperplasia of the Border terrier: a morphometric study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old male Border Terrier was diagnosed with a skin condition called idiopathic generalized sebaceous gland hyperplasia, which means his sebaceous glands were enlarged without a known cause. The owner noticed changes in the dog's skin, but the specific symptoms weren't detailed. The study found that these dogs had more sebaceous gland lobules compared to unaffected Border Terriers and other breeds, suggesting a genetic predisposition. While the study didn't mention specific treatments, recognizing this condition can help owners discuss management options with their veterinarian.
People also search for: Border Terrier skin problems · sebaceous gland hyperplasia in dogs · dog skin condition treatment
Abstract
Skin biopsies from five Border terriers with histologically confirmed idiopathic, generalized sebaceous gland hyperplasia (Group A) were compared morphometrically to those from four unaffected Border terriers (Group B) and the unaffected dogs to biopsies from four other terrier breeds (Group C). Dogs in Group A had significantly higher numbers of sebaceous gland lobules per hair follicle than those in Group B (P=0.020) but there was no significant difference between Groups B and C. The total sebaceous gland lobular area per hair follicle was significantly higher in dogs in Group A than Group B (P=0.020) but there were no differences between Groups B and C. There were no significant differences in the size of the individual sebaceous gland lobules. There were no significant differences in the total number of basal or mature sebocytes between Groups A and B but significantly lower numbers of both cell types were seen in Group C compared to Group B. There were significantly more basal sebaceous cells undergoing mitosis in dogs in Group A than Group B (P=0.017) but no significant difference between Groups B and C. These results indicate that the physical signs of sebaceous gland hyperplasia are caused by an increase in the number of sebaceous gland lobules and total lobular area. Border terriers may be genetically predisposed to the development of idiopathic generalized sebaceous gland hyperplasia compared with other dog breeds but also to sebaceous gland hyperplasia secondary to other dermatopathies.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20500498/