Congenital skin abnormalities.

It must be remembered that viral infections and maternal nutritional deficiencies can and do cause congenital skin diseases and must be included in a complete differential diagnosis list. These disorders are covered adequately in most current texts on infectious and nutritional diseases and therefore are not described here. When an hereditary, congenital skin disease is suspected, biopsy specimens should be submitted for diagnosis. Many breed associations have control programs for these types of diseases and only with veterinary and producer cooperation will these programs be successful.