Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Erosive and ulcerative stomatitis in dogs and cats: which immune-mediated diseases to consider?
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 2023
- Authors:
- Bizikova, Petra et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Some dogs and cats can develop serious immune-related diseases that affect their mouths, leading to painful sores and ulcers. Conditions like pemphigus vulgaris, which causes blisters, can quickly turn into these painful lesions. Other diseases, such as lupus or reactions to medications, might also cause mouth issues, but they can show signs in other parts of the body too. To figure out what's going on, vets often need to take a small tissue sample for testing, and treatment usually involves medications that suppress the immune system, like steroids. The outcome depends on the specific disease and how well the pet responds to treatment.
Abstract
Immune-mediated and autoimmune diseases of the skin often present with oral cavity involvement. Autoimmune subepidermal blistering diseases and pemphigus vulgaris are classic examples. While the primary lesions (vesicles and bullae) are relatively specific, these fragile lesions evolve rapidly into erosions and ulcers, which are lesion types that overlap with many diseases. Furthermore, some immune-mediated diseases such as severe adverse drug reactions, lupus diseases, canine uveodermatological syndrome, and vasculitis, may or may not involve the oral cavity, and often nonoral clinical manifestations are more diagnostic. In these situations, disease knowledge combined with signalment, lesion distribution, and history help to narrow the differentials. Surgical biopsy is required for confirmation in most diseases, while immunosuppressive treatments most typically involve glucocorticoids with or without nonsteroidal immunosuppressants.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37059419/