Dog Lupus Erythematosus

Lupus erythematosus is another common problem often affecting joints. Here again the laboratory tests and X rays are necessary for diagnosis. In many cases corticosteroids and aspirin have kept this disease in remission for years. The dog lupus erythematosus is actually the result of the auto immune disorder. The immune system of the affected dog actually produces antibodies to kill the cells and tissues of the dog’s body in order to protect itself. This disease quite severe in form and can be very painful and troublesome in at all it occurs in the dog. The following are some information on dog lupus erythematosus.

Dog Luspus Erythematosus Information

• The disease results damage and inflammation of tissues of the skin in the regions of heart, lungs, kidney, joints, the nervous system and also the blood.
• When the disease occurs at one time more than organs are severely affected. If at all the disease occurs the severity of the disorder can be reduced to a great extent but in most cases the disease is actually irrecoverable.
• On the incidence of the disease the dog should be taken under life long treatment.
• The disease must not be mistaken with another disease called the discoid lupus erythematosus. To detect the incidence of the disease right diagnosis is must.
• The word lupus in Latin means wolf. The disease is so named that one of the symptoms of the onset of the disease is that in humans some individuals when gets affected by the disorder gets facial rashes that give the appearance of the face as like that of a wolf.
• All breeds of dogs can suffer from the disease but medical examinations have shown that there are certain breeds of dogs that are more prone to the development of the disease than those belonging to other breeds. The breeds like the Afghan hounds, Beagles, German Shepherd dogs, Irish setters, old English sheep dogs, poodles, rough collies and Shetland sheep dogs are vulnerable to the disease.
• The middle aged dogs and especially the female dogs are more prone to the disease compared to the male dogs belong to other age groups.
• The common symptoms of the disease include the incidence of the non erosive poly arthritis. The non erosive poly arthritis is actually a form of arthritis that affects several joints at one point of time.
• Apart from pain in the joints the affected dog would also suffer from painful muscles, lameness, and formation of skin sores and blisters. The dog would also have presence of protein in the urine or the proteinuria, decreased platelet and white blood cell count. The poor pet would also suffer from frequent spells of fever and immune mediated hemolytic anemia or IMHA.