Skin and Kidney Vasculopathy
Inherited disorders of blood vessels are rare in veterinary medicine. However, four canine breeds (Scottish terrier, German Shepherd, beagle and greyhounds) may develop idiopathic (unknown cause) or inherited vasculopathy (inflammatory disease of blood vessels or vasculitis).
Signs
Familial vasculopathy of German Shepherd dogs is a rare disease of blood vessels affecting primarily the paws of puppies. Pedigree analysis indicates the autosomal recessive inheritance. The characteristic feature is swollen depigmented paw pads. Erosions and ulcerations with crusting occur. The pads may lose pigment before ulcerating. Although the paw pads are predominantly affected tissues, similar lesions may develop on the ears, tail tip and nose area Hair loss is often noted around the pad margins and other affected areas. Other signs include lethargy, fever and pain.
Breeds at Risk
The majority of cases have been reported in German Shepherd dogs and Jack Russell terriers. However, new cases have been observed in Fox terriers and Miniature schnauzers.
Vasculopathy of Greyhounds
Vasculopathy of Greyhounds is a highly characteristic skin and kidney disease that is observed almost exclusively in young adult Greyhounds from racing environments. Skin lesions consist of well-defined deep ulcers which start as dark red skin patches. Most dogs exhibit seven to more ulcers from 1 to 5 cm in diameter. Usually new lesions do not develop after the initial lesions begin to heal. Other signs of the disease include lethargy, excessive thirst, fever, diarrhea, vomiting and acute kidney failure. Recently this disease has been reported in Great Dane.
The vasculopathy of Greyhounds is caused by Shiga toxin-producing bacteria Escherichia coli (STEC).
References
- Thelma Lee Gross. Skin Diseases of the Dog and Cat
- Bernard F. Feldman, Joseph G. Zinkl, Nemi Chand Jain. Schalm's Veterinary Hematolog
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