Disease Ontology ID: DDTO:0000987

Disease Description: One of many skin diseases caused by an autoimmune mechanism.

Inherit Mode: unknown

Disease Symptom: Pemphigus foliaceus and erythematosus develop around 4 years of age. P. erythematosus is thought to be a milder form of p. foliaceus. Both conditions begin with pustular, crusty lesions on the face and ears. However with p. foliaceus, the lesions spread to the feet, the groin and other areas; there may be itching and pain; and severely affected dogs may lose their appetite and become depressed. Loss of pigment in the nose is common with both forms of pemphigus, and this results in photodermatitis - increased sensitivity to the sun's rays so that the condition is worse in sunny weather.

Disease Cause: -

Disease Diagnose: P. foliaceus is the most commonly seen form of pemphigus; however it is still uncommon. Your veterinarian will base the diagnosis on your history of how the condition developed, physical examination of your dog, and tests such as skin scrapings and smears, skin biopsy, and immune testing to rule out other causes of similar skin lesions such as a bacterial or fungal skin infection, mites, seborrhea, dermatomyositis, and lupus erythematosus.

Treat Method: Treatment is based on suppressing the inappropriate immune response. For pemphigus foliaceus, steroids (as a cream, or orally as a tablet - prednisone) are used to accomplish this. Once the condition is under control, your veterinarian will reduce the dosage to every second day to avoid the side effects which can occur with these drugs. Long term treatment is generally necessary. Where prednisone is not effective (as is sometimes the case), your veterinarian will try other immunomodulating drugs or chrysotherapy (gold salts). For dogs that have lost pigment in the nose, protection against the sun is important to prevent flare-ups of the condition. Keep your dog out of the sun between 10:00 and 3:00 and/or use suncreens on the nose with SPF of 15 or higher. The milder form, pemphigus erythematosus, may be successfully treated with sun avoidance and glucocorticoids applied to the skin. If this is ineffective, oral glucocorticoids or other drugs may be required.

Breeder Advice: It is advisable not to use affected dogs in breeding programmes, even though inheritance for these conditions has not been worked out.

Disease Description Source: Link