Cysts. Why do some dogs get them (even lots) & others none, have you found it is breed related or a sign of skin problems?

The sort our breed get are related to the way the coat is naturally maintained the glands that produce the oil for the coat get blocked and cause a cyst. It does seem to be the dogs who have correct coats that have them so although you could breed to eradicate the lines that are susceptible you would also lose the correct coat so that would not really achieve what was wanted.

Our breed and I would think other Nordic breeds do seem to have far more hair to the inch than other breeds and it may be they have far more of the oil producing glands as well, it is something I should but don't know.

Could brushing have any effect do you think?

I have now had 7 generations of dogs, even some of the unaffected ones sires had cysts but so far only one of mine has had cysts, and didn't start getting them until she was over 5 years old, so we still have two here younger than that.

I believe they are also quite common in OES and GSD, but can occur in most breeds and non breeds.

Inters tingly my OH has just had one removed that had been on his jaw for over 4 years, but recently become more annoying and a devil to try and shave around.

In people they are most often found in men, and it does seem male dogs are more prone too.

Think you may be right about the males being more effected as the only dogs I have had that has never had one were both bitches. All my males have a problem to some degree and yes my OH has one on his back. Does not seem that it is to do with testosterone though as even those who are castrated young seem to suffer from them.

This is something humans can have a predisposition to as well as I suffer from frequent sebaceous cysts which is is caused by my particular skin type and also hormones have a influence on when I get them. My father also had the same skin type as well so it is something that is hereditary :-)

My nine year old GSD bitch gets them and has done since she a young puppy.
She is regulary checked over by my vet and they never seem to bother her at all.
One of them on the side of her neck just burst at christmas it had been there for about eighteen months.
She has an exceedingly thick coat so it may have something too do with it none of my others ever had cysts at all this girl has no skin problems but does tend to get very hot and this may have something to do with it I think.

Interesting that you mention your bitch gets 'hot' as our boy who suffers from them also gets very hot, but since castration has a very thin coat.