(August 3, 2001) - One of the major objectives of Robert W. Dunstan and Kelly M. Credille at the Comparative Dermatology Laboratory in the College of Veterinary Medicine in College Station, TX is to help dogs with ichthyosis and use this knowledge to help humans. Of all mammalian species, dogs are the most prone to develop ichthyosis. The lab has recognized ichthyosis in eight different canine breeds all with different forms of the disease. One reason why ichthyosis is much more common in dogs than in humans is that dogs do not randomly select their mates. Rather, owners make this decision, usually choosing to breed two closely related animals (mother to son and father to daughter matings are common). Taking care of a dog with a severe form of ichthyosis is like taking care of a child with the disease: retinoids, baths to remove excess cornified material, avoiding skin infections with bacteria and/or yeast and keeping the dog cool. If you would like more information, click here to contact the national office.