X-Linked Ectodermal Dysplasia

X-linked ectodermal dysplasia (XHED) is a genetic disorder that arises from a mutation in the EDA gene, which is crucial for the development of tissues derived in the ectoderm (the outermost of three primary germ layers in the embryo, which forms many of the body's outer structures). These issues include the skin, hair, nails, teeth, and exocrine glands, which produce and secrete substances like sweat, saliva, and digestive enzymes. In dogs with XHED, the development of these structures is abnormal. The condition is passed down through an X-linked recessive pattern, which means it is more frequently observed in males who receive the mutated gene from their mothers.