Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex in Dogs

Eosinophilic granuloma complex commonly occurs in cats and horses, not dogs; however, it has happened. Symptom onset may occur slowly or quickly, may seem mild to severe, and typically appears as some type of skin related reaction. If you see a rash on your dog’s skin or a growth appears that wasn’t there before, go see your veterinarian. Any illness related to symptoms dealing with the skin can lead to secondary infections quickly it not treated. Dogs recover well from eosinophilic granuloma complex with antibiotics and additional steroids if needed.

Eosinophilic granuloma complex in dogs is rare but possible. The symptoms can range from mild to more severe and can manifest in a variety of ways. If your dog develops any type of skin irritation or growth, go see your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Symptoms can vary in each case of a dog diagnosed with eosinophilic granuloma complex and may include:

• Rapid onset
• Nasal and muzzle swelling
• Pain
• Exudation
• Large, swollen erythematous lesions on the muzzle, head, pinna, and periocular area
• Bumps and nodules on the body

Types

Eosinophilic granuloma complex is actually a term used to describe different diseases that all cause skin inflammation and irritation. It affects each pet differently but in the majority of cases, the same symptoms were found.

Canine eosinophilic granuloma causes yellow raised nodules to develop on the skin. The degree of pruritus varies in each case so presence or absence of this symptom is not indicative to the cause. 

Canine eosinophilic furunculosis is the second disease that is covered by this term. This disease leads to symptoms similar to that of a bug sting reaction. The muzzle will swell, it onsets rapidly, and lesions may appear.

The cause of eosinophilic granuloma complex in dogs is when he has an abnormal reaction to an insect bite or condition that causes a hypersensitive reaction. It can closely resemble other illnesses but the cause is from the dog’s immune system itself overreacting. It can be considered an auto-immune disease in which the immune system responds to a non-threat like it is one.

When diagnosing eosinophilic granuloma complex in dogs, the veterinarian will take an impression of the lesion onto a slide so she can view it under the microscope. If your dog does have eosinophilic granuloma complex, the impression will reveal eosinophils. The lesions are similar to other diseases in the animal world, so further diagnostics may need to be run to check for the differential factor of if the lesion is infiltrating other regions.

She will also want to perform general blood work as part of her diagnostic workup. A chemistry panel and complete blood count will be performed to give the veterinarian a general look at your dog’s blood values. Certain white blood cells will be elevated indicating a cause of his symptoms. This will also allow her to check for other underlying issues that could be affecting his health.

Most dogs respond well to antibiotics alone. However, many dogs also require an additional corticosteroid to help lessen their symptoms. If symptoms reoccur, you simply administer more medication and the issue should resolve. However, do not self-diagnose your dog. There are other things that could be causing these symptoms and it needs to be addressed properly.

Other medications and therapies may be administered according to your dog’s needs. The veterinarian may want to keep him temporarily for observation, or she may want to see him again in a few days for a recheck.

Most dogs recover fully with antibiotics and steroids if needed. However, this can become a chronic condition and can stay dormant in your dog’s system. Symptoms can periodically reappear, especially in times of stress when your dog’s immune system is at its weakest. However, you will simply need to treat it like you did before and it should resolve. 

As soon as you notice some sort of issue with your dog’s skin, take him in to see his veterinarian. While it might seem like a small irritant on his skin, it can quickly develop into something more severe. Also, there is always a chance of a secondary infection developing or other medical condition. While you cannot prevent it from occurring in your dog, you can do your best to respond to it and treat it appropriately.