Lupus is a type of autoimmune disease that causes the body’s own immune system to begin attacking itself. There are two different types of lupus in dogs, and they have different symptoms and effects on the body. Lupus can be a difficult disease to diagnose, and the treatments used to control the disease depend on the type of lupus that is occurring.
There are two forms of lupus that can occur in dogs, and the symptoms that appear in each of these forms are very different from one another. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, or SLE, is a disease in which the body attacks itself. The symptoms of SLE come and go, and the symptoms often follow a pattern or cycle. Discoid lupus is a form of lupus that only attacks the tissues in the face, particularly in the nose.
Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is an autoimmune disease wherein a dog becomes allergic to its own tissues. This disease results in crusting, depigmentation, redness, and ulceration of the nose. Fortunately, the prognosis for this disease is usually good, although treatment must usually be continued for life.
There are two types of Lupus disease that can occur in dogs: systemic lupus erythematosus, (SLE), or discoid lupus. If your dog is diagnosed with lupus, the treatment plan will depend on what type of lupus your dog has. While the effects and treatment plans for these two forms of lupus are very different, they are both caused by an autoimmune disorder which causes the body to attack itself.