When the body develops antibodies against its own structures, this is referred to as an autoimmune disease. The immune system mistakenly attacks parts of the body, damaging certain functions and organs and even destroying them completely. Autoimmune diseases in dogs include individual forms of pemphigus and lupus, which will be explained in more detail below. The individual diseases are distinguished based on the different target structures in the body.
In pemphigus disorders, the body produces immune cells that attack certain proteins that bind skin cells together. Pemphigus foliaceus is the most common form of pemphigus in dogs.
The destruction of cell connections causes large pustules to form on the skin, which become inflamed and eventually cause the top layers of skin to detach and die. Large open skin wounds form, which heal poorly and are prone to infection. The symptoms are particularly noticeable on the nose, bridge of the nose, around the eyes, ears, and paws, usually in the form of crusts, scales, or redness. In severe cases, fever and loss of appetite also occur.
The characteristic clinical picture allows the veterinarian to make an initial diagnosis, while the examination of a tissue sample (biopsy) or the examination of cell material from an opened pustule in combination with a blood sample provides certainty and thus enables a reliable diagnosis.
In pemphigus vulgaris, the body's immune response targets cell connections located much deeper in the skin, which manifests itself in the appearance of the disease through significantly more severe skin changes.
At the onset of the disease, blister-like changes also appear, but these quickly develop into deeper tissue damage with an ulcerative character. In contrast to pemphigus foliaceus, these changes are not only found on the skin, but also in the oral cavity and at the transitions from skin to mucous membrane. Affected animals often also show general symptoms such as fever and loss of appetite.
Collies, Shelties, and Dobermans are predisposed (particularly susceptible) to this very rare form of pemphigus.
The disease begins with the formation of small blisters or vesicles, which are caused by the destruction of the deeper connecting structures of the skin. However, this stage is short-lived and the disease is usually only recognized when highly inflamed, ulcerated skin lesions appear, most commonly in the armpits, groin, and mouth. The symptoms are difficult to distinguish from those of pemphigus vulgaris.
This form of pemphigus, which is thought to be a benign or early form of pemphigus foliaceus or systemic lupus, can be triggered by medication, viruses, or UV light in people with a genetic predisposition.
The immune system's overreaction is mainly directed against cell connections in the area where the skin and mucous membranes meet, such as the nose, eyes, lips, anus, vagina, and foreskin. The skin changes are similar to those of pemphigus foliaceus, but the general condition of the affected dogs is not impaired.
All forms of pemphigus are treated with medications that suppress the immune system's overreaction and allow the inflammation to heal. The destruction of the uppermost layers of the skin leads to increased sensitivity to sunlight, which is why protection from strong sunlight must be an essential part of therapy to prevent long-term damage.
Unlike pemphigus diseases, lupus diseases attack the cell nuclei instead of the cell connections.
Systemic lupus erythematosus can be triggered or exacerbated by many different diseases, physical influences, and medications. In this case, the body's immune response targets a wide variety of cells in all organ systems and tissues of the body.
Depending on the location of the immune response, the disease manifests itself through a variety of skin and organ symptoms, some of which are severe. In addition to the redness and ulcerative skin changes on the head and limbs that occur in most cases, systemic lupus often causes fatigue, fever, joint and muscle pain, or tiredness. If left untreated, the disease can quickly lead to death.
The wide range of possible organ and skin symptoms makes diagnosis difficult. The examination of tissue samples and the detection of autoantibodies in the blood are essential to rule out all possible differential diagnoses (diseases with similar symptoms).
Discoid lupus erythematosus describes the benign form of lupus, which is limited to certain areas of the skin. It occurs relatively frequently in dogs, with German shepherds, huskies, collies, and shelties being particularly affected.
The first noticeable symptoms are usually pigment loss, redness, and ulceration (formation of sores) around the nose, and less commonly on the lips, eyelids, and ears. The changes sometimes heal spontaneously, but remain very sensitive and can quickly reopen and bleed. UV light and secondary infections can lead to a significant worsening of symptoms.
A biopsy is also necessary here to make a clear diagnosis and rule out other skin and autoimmune diseases.
Affected animals must also be consistently protected from strong sunlight due to the extensive depigmentation. This can be achieved by administering special vitamins and applying UV protection ointments to the affected areas.
A cautious prognosis must always be assumed for all autoimmune skin diseases. Pemphigus foliaceus has the most favorable prognosis of all forms of lupus and pemphigus. The deeper the skin damage, the more severe the course of the disease. However, dogs treated with appropriate medication usually have a good chance of living with the disease. Treatment must usually be continued for life, however.
This disease, also known as endothelial dystrophy, is a change in the cornea of the eye and is similar to Fuchs' dystrophy in humans. This disease causes damage to the endothelial cells that form the innermost layer of the cornea.
The word distichiasis comes from Greek and means "two rows." In this condition, an extra row of eyelash-like hairs (distichia) grows out of the sebaceous gland openings at the edge of the eyelid. Since these misplaced, hard hairs grow toward the eyeball, they cause permanent irritation and damage to the cornea. Another form of distichiasis is ectopic cilia. These are scattered hair follicles that grow out of the inside of the eyelid as individual bristly hairs or as a whole tuft of hair, standing perpendicular to the cornea and causing permanent irritation to the eye. Ectopic cilia are most commonly found on the upper eyelid in dogs and very rarely in cats.
For people who have always been around dogs, talking to their four-legged friends is probably easy and almost second nature. But at the beginning of the relationship, it is important to immerse yourself in the dog's world and meet it where it is coming from. So you have to learn its language—not the other way around.
A doping scandal in dressage riding brought this condition to the attention of riders and owners a few years ago. But what exactly is this condition? More and more horses, especially sport horses, are now affected by this neuromuscular disease, the causes of which are still largely unknown. It is considered incurable and can severely impair a horse's performance. Large, heavy horses between the ages of 4 and 7 are particularly at risk, as are horses with naturally high muscle tone. Male horses are more commonly affected than mares.
The West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitoes between birds, but also to humans, horses, and other mammals. For a long time, it only occurred on the African continent. However, since 1999, the West Nile virus has also spread to the US. In 2018, it was detected for the first time in birds and two horses in Germany (Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt). Since then, infections have occurred in the summer and fall months. Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony are particularly affected. However, more and more cases are now also occurring in Thuringia, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Bavaria. West Nile infection is a notifiable animal disease.
Testicular tumors are the second most common type of tumor in male dogs and account for four to seven percent of all tumors in dogs overall. There are different types of tumors, with dogs with one or two undescended testicles (= cryptorchidism) having a significantly increased risk of developing a testicular tumor.
The prostate gland is the most important sex gland in male dogs. It is located behind the bladder and surrounds the beginning of the urethra. The secretion produced by the prostate gland is a component of semen and is ejaculated together with the sperm produced in the testicles. Prostate disorders are usually diagnosed in older, unneutered male dogs. These disorders can cause various changes in the gland.
Claw disorders are relatively rare in dogs. However, injuries, excessive licking or poor grooming can cause the claw bed to become inflamed due to the penetration of bacteria or fungi. Symmetrical lupoid onychodystrophy (SLO) is the most common form of claw bed inflammation in dogs. This rare but extremely painful disease of the claw bed mainly affects large dogs (Great Danes, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, German Shepherds) and can be triggered by various factors.
This brain disorder, which has not yet been fully researched in dogs, causes seizures that can be very frightening for dog owners. Epilepsy can be treated very effectively with medication, but its cause is still not fully understood.
Behind this complicated name lies an aggressive form of cancer in dogs, also known as malignant histiocytosis, which mainly affects Bernese Mountain Dogs, Retrievers and Rottweilers and is one of the most common causes of death in these breeds as a hereditary disease. It primarily affects male dogs between the ages of two and eight. The disease is relatively rare in other dog breeds.
The soft palate is a muscle extension approximately 10 cm long that separates the nasal cavity from the throat. As the name suggests, dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) describes a change in position in which the soft palate temporarily or permanently covers the epiglottis, leading to coughing, difficulty swallowing, and breathing problems.
There are all kinds of dangers lurking for cats, not only outside but also in the home. Young, playful, and curious kittens are particularly at risk. Therefore, take the necessary safety precautions before a cat moves in with you. With the right knowledge, you will be on the safe side.
