Ulcerative Dermatitis In A Young Dog
A 2 year old intact male German Short-Haired Pointer presented for skin, foot pad and oral mucosa ulceration and sloughing of one day duration. One week previously he was treated for inappetence and sialorrhea with doxycycline and firocoxib. Subsequently, he was treated for mouth and lymph node swelling with cephalexin, famotidine and prednisone. Onychoptosis began one day later, followed by skin and foot pad sloughing. At the Cornell University Hospital for Animals physical examination revealed sloughing of the foot pads on all four feet; sloughing of the skin and mucous membranes with ulceration and crusting around the mouth, eyes, inside the ears, scrotum, anus and patches on his thorax and limbs; onychoptosis of multiple claws; and enlarged mandibular lymph nodes. Euthanasia was elected, and necropsy was performed. Histopathology revealed multiple distinct histologic patterns most suggestive of a cutaneous drug reaction, with features consistent with toxic epidermal necrosis, pemphigus foliaceous and pemphigus vulgaris.