Spiculosis and The Kerry Blue Terrier

Excerpted from Medical and Genetic Aspects of Purebred Dogs by Ross Clark originally published in the December 1993 issue of Veterinary Forum.
Submitted by Marilyn Dornberger.

Spiculosis, also called "Hard Hairs," "Rose Thorns," "Bristles," or "Spikes," is widespread in the Kerry Blue Terrier breed, perhaps more prevalent in some lines than in others. The spicules are usually more numerous in dogs than in bitches, and they are most numerous as the males reach sexual maturity, then begin to diminish. Those with somewhat coarser coats seem slightly more prone to having them than those whose coats are truly soft. The normal Kerry Blue hair coat is, as described in the standard, "soft, dense, and wavy." Thus, when brushing and combing it, it is easy to feel these stiff bristles.

They are most frequently found around the elbows and hocks, often in the feet between the toes, and sometimes in the eyebrows or on the neck, sides, and tail. They are usually removable by hand--just pull out with fingers. Some are more deeply embedded, or the follicle "root" remains undiscovered and grows; an incision and surgical removal becomes necessary.

Kerry ears are normally plucked so that wax and dirt won't build up. One bitch had scrupulously clean ears, yet she whimpered when the side of her head was touched. She was tranquilized, and the otoscope revealed an unusually large spicule deep in the canal, which was removed intact.

The male Kerry, from which the large ball-ended spicules were extracted, had an incredibly large number of them. He was anesthetized for dentistry and was carefully gone over by a surgical technician who was able to find and remove 100 plus spicules from every part of his body except for the underbelly and inner thighs. His owner had been treating him, for a couple of months prior to this, with a drawing salve called "Prid's Salve." She then stood the dog in a tub of warm water containing a heavy dilution of Epsom salts. After he had soaked a while, she would use a small rubber brush and scrub up and down his legs to the elbows and above the stifle, and rub around the feet and toes. When she finished the tub would contain black "sand" made up of tiny round follicles and spicules of every length that she had rolled out with the brush. The smallest round follicle, G (pictured), is the size that she could brush out this way.

Medical and Genetic Aspects of Purebred Dogs also looks at the following genetic disorders known to affect the Kerry Blue Terrier: cerebellar cortical and extrophyamidol nuclear abiotrophy, narrow palpebral fissure, entropion, kerato conjunctivitis sicca, distichiasis, ununited anconeal process, and sebaceous cysts.

USKBTC member Dr. Tom Martin (Adair Gardens Kerries) of Bellevue, Illinois contributed to Kerry section of this book. Medical and Genetic Aspects of Purebred Dogs can be ordered from Veterinary Forum at 1610-A Frederica Road, St. Simons Island , GA 31522. (Telephone: 912-638-4848).

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