Laser Therapy for Canine Non-inflammatory Alopecia

Canine non-inflammatory alopecia (CNA) describes skin diseases characterized by hair loss caused by underlying dysplastic, functional, or endocrine disorders. Causes may include follicular dysplasia, canine pattern alopecia, recurrent flank alopecia, hair cycle arrest, post-clipping alopecia, hypercortisolism, and hypothyroidism. Treatment options are limited in dogs with no treatable underlying disease. In this study, 7 dogs with clinical and histological evidence of CNA were treated twice weekly for 2 months with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and monitored for clinical response. Each dog acted as its own control; only half of focal lesions were treated, and if the disease was present bilaterally, only 1 side of the dog was treated. Hair regrowth was noted in all 7 dogs with 6 of 7 scored as “greatly improved.” Post-treatment skin biopsy findings were available from 1 dog and revealed marked increases in hair follicles in the treated area. LLLT may be a potential therapy for dogs with CNA.

Commentary

If no obvious underlying cause is found, canine non-inflammatory alopecia can be a frustrating condition to treat. Melatonin is often used but is frequently unsuccessful. This study suggests that low-level laser therapy may provide a new alternative, although larger studies are needed. Before pursuing low-level laser therapy, it is important to rule out treatable endocrine causes of non-inflammatory alopecia (eg, hypothyroidism, hypercortisolism). Given the safety of the treatment, it would be reasonable to try low-level laser therapy in patients where no underlying cause is found.—William Oldenhoff, DVM, DACVD