Mucocutaneous lupus erythematosus in Dogs

Breeds documented
1
Published sources
1

Overview

Painful sores around body openings are the main feature of this form of lupus affecting the skin. It belongs to a group of autoimmune diseases, in which immune defenses damage the body's own tissues. Sores most often involve the anus or genital area, although the lips and skin around the eyes can also be affected. Itching is usually limited, but touching the sores, urinating or passing stool can hurt.

Signs to watch for

  • Open sores around the anus or genital area
  • Sores along the lips or around the eyes
  • Crying or discomfort when urinating or passing stool
  • Darkened skin around sores or where sores have healed

Usually begins in middle adulthood; most reported dogs first showed signs between four and eight years.

When to get help Book a vet visit promptly for persistent sores around body openings or painful toileting.

Diagnosis and tests

Vets assess where the sores occur and take skin samples for examination under a microscope. A biopsy, which removes a small piece of affected skin, helps identify the pattern of immune damage. Bacterial infections can obscure those findings, so the vet may need to treat an infection before sampling.

Breeds with documented risk

1 breed

By breed size
  • 1 Large

Inheritance

  • Not yet known

    None of the sources we use states how this is inherited in dogs yet.

We've gathered what published sources say about this condition, so you can talk it through with your vet. It isn't veterinary advice: you and your vet know your dog best.

Sources

  1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov