Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with Addison's disease develops widespread skin whitening
By Malerba, Eleonora et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2015·Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Italy·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Generalized vitiligo in a dog with primary hypoadrenocorticism.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 4-year-old spayed female cross-bred dog was diagnosed with Addison's disease (a condition where the adrenal glands don't produce enough hormones) and later developed vitiligo, which caused her fur to lose its color. After confirming Addison's disease through tests, the vet treated her with medications called fludrocortisone acetate and desoxycorticosterone pivalate. Three months later, the dog showed signs of skin depigmentation across her entire coat and in some patches. While the exact cause of the vitiligo wasn't determined, it highlights how immune-related issues can lead to multiple health problems in dogs.
People also search for: dog Addison's disease treatment · dog vitiligo symptoms · why is my dog's fur changing color
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is presumed to be an autoimmune disorder in the dog; primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) is associated with immune-mediated destruction of the adrenal cortex. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: In this case report we describe a dog with primary hypoadrenocorticism that developed generalized vitiligo. CASE REPORT: A 4-year-old spayed female cross-bred dog developed signs of Addison's disease and this was confirmed by biochemical testing; the dog was treated with fludrocortisone acetate and then desoxycorticosterone pivalate. Three months after the diagnosis, the dog developed depigmentation of the whole hair coat and of several focal areas of the skin. Histopathological findings were consistent with vitiligo. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Dogs with immune-mediated disease may develop other manifestations of immune-mediated disease, including a combination of Addison's disease and vitiligo. The cause in this case was not determined.
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/26104920/