What is Idiopathic Furunculosis (German Shepherds)?
Furunculosis is a painful skin disease that causes pus-filled boils on the body of your dog. The boils often are recurring and may be found near your dog’s anus, in the webbing between your dog’s toes, or on his back, abdomen, back legs and nose. Treatment is effective, though recurrence is common.
Furunculosis is a skin disease that causes boils filled with pus. In cases of idiopathic furunculosis, the cause of the infection is not known. German Shepherds and breeds mixed with German Shepherds are predisposed to the condition.
Symptoms of Idiopathic Furunculosis (German Shepherds) in Dogs
Furunculosis is a skin disease that produces boils (also called furuncles) that are filled with pus. Often, the boils recur, typically on the nose, around the anus, back, abdomen, legs (particularly the lateral thigh), paws and muzzle. Other symptoms include:
- Pain
- Pus and/or bloody discharge oozing from the boils
- Over grooming where the infection is located
- Swelling or inflammation of tissue in the area that is infected
- In anal furunculosis, there may be straining when defecating
- Limping on the leg or foot that is affected
- The boils tend to develop quickly and lead to ulcerated skin
- Lesions in skin where there is hair will often be covered by crusts
- More advanced cases may lead to boils throughout your dog’s body, with the exception of his head, ears, and front legs.
Types
There are several types of furunculosis, to include:
- Interdigital furunculosis - The infection will be between the toes of your dog, showing up as boils in the webbing between the toes of your dog’s paws
- Anal Furunculosis - The infection will produce boils in the groin and anal areas of your dog
Causes of Idiopathic Furunculosis (German Shepherds) in Dogs
Idiopathic means “without known cause”. In cases of idiopathic furunculosis, it is not clear what it is that has caused the infection. Furunculosis that is not idiopathic may be caused by certain bacteria, for example Staphylococcal spp., as well as conditions that are not hygienic combined with a weakened immune system. Furunculosis that affects the skin is typically due to bacterial, fungal or parasitic infection. Canine atopy and demodicosis are conditions that are known to cause furunculosis.
Interdigital furunculosis may be caused by:
- Bacterial infection as well as short hairs in the webbing of your dog’s toes that become forced into hair follicles upon his walking, causing inflammation and secondary bacterial infection
- Material that gets into your dog’s paws may then be implanted in the skin
Anal furunculosis may be caused by there being feces in the anal area that will attach to the tail of your dog. The tail will then spread the feces around the perineal area. This will cause the skin under the tail of your dog (around the anus) to become inflamed and ulceration will occur, possibly leading to infection. German Shepherds and German shepherd mixes are more likely to suffer from this condition than other dogs.
Diagnosis of Idiopathic Furunculosis (German Shepherds) in Dogs
When noticing boils on your dog’s body, a trip to the veterinarian is in order. Your veterinarian will conduct a physical exam and consider your dog’s history. You will want to be prepared to tell your veterinarian when you first noticed the boil or boils on your dog, along with any other symptoms or changes in behavior that you have observed. Depending on the physical examination, your veterinarian may choose to get a closer view of the infection through skin scrapings, smears or fine needle aspirates in order to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment of Idiopathic Furunculosis (German Shepherds) in Dogs
Upon diagnosis, your veterinarian will likely recommend antibiotics and topical antimicrobials. In many cases, antibiotics are given for a long period of time. Other possible recommendations include:
- Keeping the infected areas clean
- Trimming the hair in or near the area(s) where the boils are located to allow the discharge to be cleaned
- Using an antibiotic skin wash
- In interdigital furunculosis, surgery to remove foreign bodies
- In anal furunculosis, surgery to remove tracts that have developed under the skin
When treatment is not successful, it is often due to the dose or duration of antibiotics not being enough. Other reasons for unsuccessful treatment include your veterinarian being unable to identify and resolve any predisposing factors, as well as your dog taking corticosteroids while receiving treatment for furunculosis.
Recovery of Idiopathic Furunculosis (German Shepherds) in Dogs
While your dog is undergoing treatment, you will want to keep the infected areas well ventilated and dry. In addition, it is important that you maintain proper hygiene for your dog and provide him with a diet that meets his nutritional needs in order to boost his immune system. This will help him better fight his infection. With treatment, you will typically notice symptoms receding within 4-12 weeks. It is fairly typical for symptoms to recede and then reoccur during treatment.
If your dog is predisposed to furunculosis, he will likely experience relapses. As furunculosis has a high likelihood of recurring, your veterinarian will probably recommend regular follow up visits. In some cases, the dog will require antibiotics throughout his life.
Idiopathic Furunculosis (German Shepherds) Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Has Symptoms
I am not sure if our daughters part German Shepard part Collie Dog has this condition but it sounds like it. He has been to several veterinarians and were told he has an autoimmune condition. He has allergies and will have episodes of heavy sneezing. He is constantly on prednisone. Whenever our daughter lowers the dose he starts the sneezing, loud breathing (sounds like his nose is stuffed up). This past year they have noticed after bathing (whether at a groomer or at home and now they are using medicated shampoo from the vet) anyways after bathing he gets these lesions on his back. They look terrible, bleed, ooze and he ends up getting shaved as they do smell. The Vet RX's 40 mg of prednisone and an antibiotic as well as something to clean the areas. I have been trying to google various things and found he may have Folliculitis or Furuncolosis? I really feel so badly for the poor dog and our daughter and son in law who are such great fur parents. Sometimes I think that since he is on prednisone for such a long time (many years) that this is not good. Eventually the lesions get better but it does take awhile. The dog is 6 years old and again been to regular vets and specialists. He recently went to a dermatologist vet who wants to do testing on him for allergies but he needs to be off the pred. for a month. I just thought I would write to see of you had any thoughts on this. Thank you.
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Our German Shepherd Sheeba, has had sores on her paw, above the pads more towards her andle, so this in not between the paws as usually reported. the were blister like and she licked it a lot.
Since seeing the vet and a biopsy being taken, they said it was furunculosis and have given her antibiotics. The area which had been shaved to operate has seemd to calm down a lot now and she does not lick it anymore, we are collecting the antibiotics tomorrow, 3 weeks worth so will she how she goes.
It has not bothered her in any way as she has not been in pain or limping and shes running around as her usual giddy self.
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I am 100% positive my 2yr ok German Shepard has a furuncle. It doesn’t seem to be bothering him for the most part other than some itching which I feel I have treated since he has stopped licking and biting at it for the most part. Would it be alright for him to go on hikes still with me?
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My 12 month old husky has a terrible rash on his back. Took him to the vet and they shaved his back under sedation and she diagnosed him with farunculosis. I have pictures I can upload
I’m curious how he could’ve gotten it. And if that is truly what it is
Also, he seems weak in his hindquarters and I don’t know if that’s because of the pain on his back or something else going on
I would love a second opinion
Thanks!
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Please try Vitamin E capsules! I highly recommend this. Our female German Shepherd a few years back had developed sores above her pads on hind legs. Which her immune system was attacking. I took her to different Vets multiple times, they put her on steroids and different ointments which would help a little but it kept coming back. They were going to send her to a specialty Vet next. But I kept googling different terms and found a Vetinarians notes on a case online using Vitamin E capsules. Just put the whole capsules in food. She weighs 70 lbs. I use 540mg daily. No sores for 3 years now! But she will have to remain on Vitamin for life. Hope this helps:)