Familial Dermatomyositis in Dogs
Description of the Disease and Clinical Picture
Familial dermatomyositis in dogs is a hereditary, idiopathic inflammatory disease of the skin and muscles. It most commonly occurs in puppies aged between 2 and 6 months. Dogs of the Collie and Shetland Sheepdog breeds are predisposed. In most cases, skin changes are localized to areas of mechanical trauma, mainly on the face, around the eyes, muzzle, and ears, as well as on the carpal and tarsal joints, digits, and the tip of the tail. Symptoms include alopecia, erythema, scales, crusts, ulcerations, and scars. Myositis often occurs months after the appearance of skin changes and can vary in intensity. Some dogs are asymptomatic, while others experience symmetrical atrophy of the masseter and/or temporal muscles. In severe cases, generalized symmetrical muscle atrophy occurs.
 
Therapy
The diagnosis is made by ruling out other diseases and through histopathological analysis of skin and muscle samples. For affected dogs, skin injuries and exposure to sunlight should be prevented. Treatment consists of managing secondary infections and administering omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, as well as vitamin E. In severe cases, the use of pentoxifylline and corticosteroids in anti-inflammatory doses is recommended.
 
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