35 Familial canine dermatomyositis
CASE HISTORY
The history in this case was as follows:
• Scaling and crusting lesions over the bridge of the nose and pinnae that had first become apparent at 3–4 months of age.
• These lesions had waxed and waned since then and had shown improvement for variable periods of time following antibacterial therapy.
• Most recently, a papular and nodular eruption had developed over the skin on the trunk and limbs, and pruritus had been evident.
• The dog had shown intermittent hind limb lameness and had seemed stiff, particularly in the mornings. She had a tendency to ‘shift’ her weight from one hind limb to the other when affected in this way. The owners reported the hind limb abnormalities had appeared after the onset of skin lesions.
• This was a house dog. There are no other pets in the household, no evidence of zoonosis and no history of travel abroad.
CLINICAL EXAMINATION
Clinical findings in this case were:
• Examination of the skin revealed focal, well-demarcated patches of shiny-appearing alopecia over the bridge of the nose, forehead (Fig. 35.1) and hindquarters (Fig. 35.2). There were two slightly crusted erosions over the convex aspect of the left pinna and a focal crusted erosion above the left eye (Fig. 35.1).
• Examination of the trunk revealed a generalized eruption consisting of focal alopecia, scaling, and crusted papules and erosions (Fig. 35.2).
Figure 35.1 Multifocal, well-demarcated alopecia and crusting. Crusted erosion is seen above the left eye.
