What you need to know about this group of uncomfortable skin disorders that occurs in dogs
Pemphigus is a group of autoimmune skin diseases that can be found in humans, cats, dogs, and even horses. There are four main types, all of which affect the skin:
The most common form, PF is often seen in older and mature pups. With this type of pemphigus, the superficial layers of your dog’s skin are impacted. Symptoms include pus, crusts, erosions, ulcers, and hair loss. Some breeds have a predisposition to it, while it might be drug-induced in other breeds, like Doberman Pinschers.
The first to ever be described in veterinary medicine in 1989, and the most severe. With PV, autoantibodies bind to a protein in your dog’s keratinocytes—which is deep within the skin—and create a blister. This makes PV the toughest form of pemphigus to treat.
In humans, PE is also known as Senear-Usher syndrome. PE is the mildest form of pemphigus and primarily affects the head, nose, and years. Certain breeds are also predisposed to PE.
Lastly, pemphigus vegetans is the least common form of pemphigus. Unlike the other three, proliferative lesion (wart-like growths) appear instead of ulcers or erosions.
Pemphigus is classified as an autoimmune disease, meaning the body’s immune system identifies the body as a foreign object, implementing defense mechanisms to protect itself. Other common types of autoimmune disease are IBS and polyarthritis. Pemphigus is not contagious, however, you should not breed from a dog that suffers from it, as the genetic underpinnings are yet to be understood.
Despite it being a painful (sometimes fatal) ailment in dogs, there’s less research on this disease than other autoimmune diseases. However, researchers believe pemphigus is caused by a mix of both genetic disposition and environmental triggers.
These breeds are prone to pemphigus foliaceus:
👉 Animals are most often middle-aged when the onset of Pemphigus occurs.
Like many other skin conditions, diagnosis can prove difficult. The skin has a limited number of reactions, so the symptoms are similar to allergies, intolerances, eczema, and dermatitis.
Your vet may begin with bloodwork, which just involves routine testing to rule out other conditions. If your dog’s condition is still a mystery after that, your vet may suggest more tests. This involves doing a biopsy of the tissue, which is done either while under anesthesia or with a local block.
Once a sample is collected, it’s sent to a specialist for review. The specialist will look for cells present, which indicate an autoimmune response. These cells are called acantholytic keratinocytes, and they are often surrounded by neutrophils. Blood tests can also show antibodies in the bloodstream.
You should think about any incidents that may have triggered the onset of pemphigus. For example, have you used any new products on your dog? Has his diet changed? Have you and your dog been walking in new and unfamiliar places?
Your vet wil likely check for secondary infections, especially if your dog has been behaving lethargic.
Several factors go into how pemphigus is treated. Depending on which of the four types it is, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs may be used. Often, long-term therapy will be used to manage the condition. In severe cases, or with severe types, like pemphigus vulgaris, there may be a poor prognosis, or your vet may suggest euthanasia out of compassion.
Diagnosis can cost from $300 to $1,000, depending on testing and if you need a specialist. Multiple diagnostic methods may be used, which will inflate the price. However, only your vet can diagnose pemphigus.
The onset of clinical signs can be either rapid or very slow. The onset of symptoms is not linear: they may decrease, only to rapidly spike again. Common areas for the symptoms to show are the mouth, nose, face, and footpads.
