OldieSebaceous adenitis destroys the oil glands in the skin. It is hereditary in the Standard Poodle and probably in the Akita, and it first appears in young adults as thickened skin, loss of the coat's normal texture, and patchy hair loss with scale; Akitas tend to be greasier and lose less hair than Poodles1. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that treatment response is inconsistent, with medicated shampoos and oil treatments for mild cases and immune-modulating drugs such as modified cyclosporine for others1.
For an older Poodle or Akita the practical point is not to write a deteriorating coat off as age. Scaling, a musty smell and hair loss along the back and ears deserve a skin biopsy, which is how the diagnosis is made.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Your vet knows your dog.
Sources
- Congenital and Inherited Skin Disorders in Dogs (sebaceous adenitis). Merck Veterinary Manual. Accessed 2026-09-22.