Lupas

[suzyb991]

I'm back and wondering if anyone has had experience with lupas. My airedale was diagnosed with insulinoma and has done very well on a new diet and 4 small meals a day. However he was back to the vet this week, because the bridge of his nose seemed to be infected. He is on antibiotics again to attempt to clear the infection.
The vet called today to see how he was doing and mentioned that with his compromised immune system, lupas could be the reason for his infections - initially it was in his jaw, cleared with antibiotics and now the nose.

[Dr Lee]

Here is a good explaination by a veterinarian named Dr Lundgren:

Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE)


Authored by: Becky Lundgren, DVM

Known as collie nose, discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is an inflammatory skin disease seen in dogs and, very rarely, in cats. It usually affects the face and nose. It’s possible that DLE is a non-systemic type of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but it isn’t as serious as SLE.

Owners usually first notice a loss of pigmentation around the dog’s nose. In some dogs, the bridge of the nose, the lips, the skin around the eyes, the ears, and the genitals may also be affected. DLE can change the surface of the nose from its normal cobblestone texture to smooth. Ulcerated sores may eventually occur. Some dogs find the disease really irritating and annoying, while others don’t seem to notice it much.

There is some thought that DLE could be a seasonal disease, because it’s affected by the ultraviolet rays in sunlight and is usually more of a problem in summer. It’s seen more often in high altitude locations where exposure to ultraviolet light is increased.

It’s most often seen in Brittanys, Collies, Shetland sheepdogs, German shepherds, German shorthaired pointers, and Siberian huskies. Females are at slightly more risk than are males. Dogs with DLE are often predisposed to squamous cell carcinoma.

Diagnosis can be confusing, as the same signs can be seen in such conditions as solar dermatitis, pemphigus, and ringworm. In addition, the antinuclear antibody (ANA) tests that are positive in SLE are usually negative in DLE.

Oftentimes the only treatment needed is to keep the dog out of a lot of sunlight, or at least out of sunlight during the middle of the day. Sunscreens without zinc oxide can help. Of course, dogs may want to lick the sunscreen off, so keep an eye on the dog when you use it. Use sunscreen made for dogs, because the sunscreens made for people contain ingredients (particularly zinc oxide) that are poisonous if ingested. Topical corticosteroids can be used if needed. Severe cases may require the use of oral corticosteroids, such as prednisone, or immunosuppressive medications such as azathioprine. Oral vitamin E and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids can help, but several months of treatment are needed with those supplements before any effect can be seen.

Like SLE, treatment is life long, although DLE can have a long remission time during which sores don’t occur. Unlike SLE, DLE is not potentially fatal.

[totallyhip]

We thought or think that Luke has Lupus. Only because his nose was discoloured and really dry all the time. I did a bit of research on it and found some herbal remedy online that helped. It was from Natural Canine
http://www.naturalcanine.com/html/lupus.html

We used the cream and the pills. It actually really helped clear it up. The vet recommended we do testing. How they do that is punch little pin like holes into his nose to take samples and test it. Then if it is Lupus to put him on antibiotics for his whole life. I wasn't too keen on the idea. The only thing that affected him was his dry discolored nose.

Now we are careful about taking him outside when its sunny. He wears sunscreen on his nose! The sun makes it worst. And we give him Omegas and vitamin E oil (daily) that he takes in gel tabs and also we put it topically on his nose once a week or once every 2 weeks. He is fine.

[kandy]

One of our GSD's had lupus. His was fairly severe, his nose and snout was constantly raw and the blood vessels in his eyes protruded, which gave him a very nasty look (big black dog, blood red eyes). I don't know what medications he was on because I was too young, but I know that he lived a good long life even with the condition.

[totallyhip]

Lupus in animals is different than Lupus in humans. When I first thought it was Lupus I panicked and thought the worst. My vet's advice was "stay away from the internet and just call me we can talk about it" He said people tend to jump to the worst conclusions first

[babyrocky1]

Originally Posted by totallyhip

Lupus in animals is different than Lupus in humans. When I first thought it was Lupus I panicked and thought the worst. My vet's advice was "stay away from the internet and just call me we can talk about it" He said people tend to jump to the worst conclusions first

OOPS already messed up the best advise of staying away from the internet..
okay.. sooo heres my story.. My poor Rocky.. ten going on elven, had redness and sometimes bleeding around his nose.. white face, wheres a muzzle. ofcourse I thought it was an irritiation from the muzzle cuz hes had so many, this has gone on for months though with the nose but every time I go to take him to the vet, he starts to heal.. I had never heard of this lupas til yesterday, PawsWay had a free vet... showed it to him.. he thinks Lupas.. the not so scary kind..!!!!
BUT he also thinks Rock should have a biopsy.. my vet doesn't take payments. and I don't have the cash or credit..

what if I do the older dog blood work which it s time for anyways and ask them to treat him for the benign lupas which I now believe he has.. of course, thats assuming they concur with the first vet.. cuz how will an expensive and uncomfortable biopsy help him since it would only indicate REALLY BAD DISEASE which I cannot treat financially and dont know about morally either.. and I don't think.. I PRAY he doesn't have. Does this make any sense.. I tend to ramble when I'm completely freaked out about my boys health!

[totallyhip]

they wanted to biopsy Luke's nose too. We said no way that's what they do...they punch little holes in it. The outcome would be that he would be put on antibiotics. We are not fans of antibiotics for us or the dogs. So we went the natural route.

[babyrocky1]

thanks Totally Hip, its hard to go against the advise of a vet, and I don't know that mine would advise a biopsy as they tend to go with the simplest thing first and if a cream could help him, I would just like him treated... I have read all sorts of stuff now and it does seem that the skin form of lupas, cant think of hte name now is what he has cuz it started in the summer.. his nose looks pretty bad but doesn't bother him.. still it bleeds and scabs... poor guy!

But your guy did or didnt have it? Will vitamin E help if he does have it?
I have him on a raw diet and give him salmon oil for his omegas.

[babyrocky1]

also, there has never been any discolouration.. just the scabs..