This question was provided by Manson Publishing as part of the OVAL Project. See more small animal dermatological questions |
A 3-year-old female Siberian husky dog is presented for the complaint of ‘crusties’. The owner reports the dog has pruritic crusty lesions on the face and ears. On dermatological examination, the lesions around the eyes are symmetrical, and similar lesions are present on the ear margins, chin, ears, footpads, and pressure points. The skin is thickened and hyperkeratotic crusting is present. The dog is healthy otherwise. The dog is fed a complete and balanced diet. Two littermates, owned by other people, have similar lesions.
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What is the most likely diagnosis and how should this be confirmed? | Zinc-responsive skin disease. The signalment, clinical signs, and affected littermates are compatible with zinc deficiency. The diagnosis could be confirmed by skin biopsy.
This is called syndrome I of zinc-responsive skin diseases. |
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How should the dog be treated, and how soon would resolution of clinical signs be expected? | This dog needs 1 mg/kg of elemental zinc each day.
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What endocrine disease may play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease? | Thyroid hormones are important in the absorption and utilization of zinc. Dogs that develop spontaneously occurring hypothyroidism may develop clinical and histological signs of zinc-responsive skin disease. |
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