Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Signs and blood test findings in a dog with lupus erythematosus
By Braman, Samantha L et al.·Published in Veterinary clinical pathology·2026·Department of Medical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Identification of Lupus Erythematosus Cells and Ragocytes in Peripheral Blood from a Dog with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old female German Shepherd was brought to the vet because she had been limping, had swollen wrists, and was losing weight with a poor appetite since being adopted three months earlier. Blood tests and fluid samples showed unusual cells that indicated she had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease where the body attacks its own tissues. The vet diagnosed her based on her symptoms and test results. Treatment options for SLE typically include medications to manage the immune response and reduce inflammation, which can help improve her condition.
People also search for: dog limping and swollen joints · German Shepherd weight loss · systemic lupus erythematosus treatment for dogs
Abstract
A 3-year-old female-intact German Shepherd presented for the evaluation of progressive shifting leg lameness, carpal swelling, and weight loss with a poor appetite since adoption about three months prior. Routine blood smear evaluation, lymph node, and synovial fluid cytologies all revealed rare neutrophils with cytoplasmic inclusions consistent with "Lupus Erythematosus (LE) cells" and "ragocytes". The combination of clinical signs, cytologic findings, and high antinuclear antibody (ANA) titer in the absence of identifiable triggers were consistent with a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42095434/