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Our 4 year old male pomeranian has 'black skin syndrome' which has left his coat virtually gone around most of his midsection and hindquarters. He doesn't appear to be in any pain or discomfort, but lately his skin has showed definite signs of blackening in patches where most of the hair is gone.

He tested negative for Cushing's Syndrome, his hormone levels are all normal, and he is neutered. We have been supplementing his diet with Vitamin E and he has been prescribed by our vet 'Meltatonin' tablets which he has taken for several months with no improvement in his condition.

Does anyone have any experience with this in their dog? What treatments did you find effective? The poor little guy has had every test possible and our vet was mystified - it was only after hearing someone speak of 'Black Skin Syndrome' that we knew such a malady existed. We hear Nizoral shampoo helps, but most research online gives little or no treatment options that seem effective.

Many thanks in advance.

Not sure if these are ghosts or if I'm experiencing night terrors.

It's been going on for at least 20 years. My first experience was sleeping alone in the basement of the house I grew up in, when I woke up suddenly and saw the dark figure of a man running beside my bed and into the wall. My heart pounded like I was having a panic attack, and I was physically unable to move, although I was able to scream.

This happened again a few years later, same house only different room. This time the figure was at the foot of my bed and shaking the bed. Literally I felt the bed moving dramatically. Again, I could not move my body but did manage to scream.

I cannot tell you how many times this has continued to happen to me, all over the world, and with increasing frequency as of late. My sudden and blood-curdling screams in the middle of the night scare my partner so bad that oftentimes we cannot sleep together.

I am a very spiritual person and while this does terrify me, I'm not afraid to sleep or anything like that. I don't believe if it is some sort of 'entity' that there is anything to fear, other than it startles me enormously. I pray every day and try to surround myself, my family, and my environment with white light. My dogs which sleep with me don't seem to sense any 'presence' at all.

I have never been to a sleep clinic, as the part of the world I live in doesn't have this kind of analysis available, and I do believe in the paranormal, but am confused - has anyone else ever experienced this? Is it psychological, physiological, or paranormal? Any insight is greatly appreciated.

Our oldest dog died quite suddenly about a month ago, and since then our young female dog is extremely depressed. She eats very little (even treats she normally enjoys), she won't play, and is lethargic and spends her time hiding under furniture for the majority of the day. We have taken her several times to our vet, who told us that she is physically healthy, and that these behavioral changes are situational as she is 'grieving' (which we anticipated she would, as we all have been). Has anyone else been through this that can tell us what we can do - if anything - to lift her spirits, or do we just give her the time and space she needs to psychologically deal with the loss of her friend?