Diagnosis and management of pemphigus foliaceus in a dog

A Labrador dog was presented with complaint of repeated skin problem with hair fall and bleeding from ear pinna, face, leg and tail along with pain while walking. On clinical examination, the animal had high temperature of 104.2⁰ F along with bilateral symmetrical alopecia, erosive erythematous lesions on limbs, foot pad, tail and facial region. Pustules were seen on ventral abdomen and inner aspect of thighs. Haemogram revealed leukocytosis, lymphopenia and granulocytosis with mild anaemia. Skin scraping was positive for Demodex spp. of mite and impression smear was positive for budding yeast cells of Malassezia and neutrophils. Biopsy of the skin revealed exfoliative lesion with superficial acantholysis of epidermis along with acantholytic process in the external root sheath of hair follicle and collection of neutrophils suggestive of Pemphigus foliaceus. The animal was successfully treated with Prednisolone, Cephalexin, Amitraz, Ivermectin and Ketoconazole. The animal made an uneventful recovery.