Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Skin lupus causing blisters in Shetland sheepdogs and collies
By Jackson, H A·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2004·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Eleven cases of vesicular cutaneous lupus erythematosus in Shetland sheepdogs and rough collies: clinical management and prognosis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Shetland sheepdogs and rough collies developed a skin condition called vesicular cutaneous lupus erythematosus, which caused painful skin ulcers. Most cases started in the summer, and some dogs had flare-ups in subsequent years. Treatment with immunosuppressive medications, including oral glucocorticoids and other drugs, helped control the skin disease in most dogs, with eight out of eleven showing significant improvement after at least nine months. However, three dogs had to be euthanized due to complications from the disease. Managing this condition often requires aggressive treatment and sun protection.
People also search for: Shetland sheepdog skin problems · rough collie lupus treatment · dog skin ulcers summer flare-ups
Abstract
A cutaneous ulcerative disease is recognized to affect the adult Shetland sheepdog and rough collie. This has a distinct clinical and histological appearance consistent with a vesicular variant of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (VCLE). Retrospective information on the clinical outcome and response to therapy was collected from 11 cases of histologically confirmed VCLE. In 8/11 dogs the onset of disease was in the summer; in three dogs recrudescence occurred in subsequent summers. In eight dogs the skin disease was judged to be 75-100% controlled with therapy after a minimum follow-up of 9 months. Successful treatment in seven of these cases comprised immunosuppressive doses of oral glucocorticoids, alone (one dog), in combination with azathioprine (five dogs) and doxycycline (one dog). One case responded to topical fluocinolone. Three dogs were euthanised for reasons directly related to the disease, one prior to initiating any therapy. Vesicular cutaneous lupus erythematosus in the rough collie and Shetland sheepdog can be a debilitating skin disease which is best managed with aggressive immunosuppressive therapy. Sun avoidance or the use of sunscreens is an important additional management recommendation.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14989704/