Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ulcerative skin sores in Shetland sheepdogs and rough collies
By Jackson, H A & Olivry, T·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2001·North Carolina State University, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Ulcerative dermatosis of the Shetland sheepdog and rough collie dog may represent a novel vesicular variant of cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Shetland sheepdogs and rough collies developed ulcerative skin lesions during the summer months, which were characterized by circular and irregular sores on areas with little fur. These dogs showed signs of a condition called ulcerative dermatosis, which may be a new type of skin disease related to lupus. Skin biopsies revealed that this condition is different from another skin disease called dermatomyositis, as it showed a different pattern of inflammation. Understanding this condition can help veterinarians provide better care for affected dogs.
People also search for: Shetland sheepdog skin problems · rough collie ulcerative dermatitis · dog lupus symptoms · treatment for dog skin lesions
Abstract
A syndrome of ulcerative dermatitis (UDSSC) previously has been described as unique to the Shetland sheepdog and rough collie dog. The pathogenesis of this disease is poorly understood and it has been suggested that it may be a variant of canine dermatomyositis (DM) which is also seen in these breeds. Information on the clinical presentation and previous medical history was collected from five Shetland sheepdogs and three rough collie dogs previously diagnosed with UDSSC. Characteristic features of the disease were adult onset in the summer months with annular, polycyclic and serpiginous ulcerations distributed over sparsely haired areas of the body. Skin biopsies taken from active lesions were compared in a blinded fashion with histological sections from seven Shetland sheepdogs and one rough collie with DM. Dermatomyositis was characterized histologically as a cell poor interface dermatitis associated with follicular atrophy. In contrast, the lesional pattern of UDSSC is that of a lymphocyte-rich interface dermatitis and folliculitis with vesiculation at the dermal-epidermal junction. The authors conclude that these represent two distinct diseases and that UDSSC may be a vesicular form of cutaneous lupus erythematosus seen in the adult rough collie dog and Shetland sheepdog.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11301535/