What is Systemic Autoimmune Disease?
Systemic autoimmune disease is rare and occurs at any age. It occurs when high levels of antigen-antibody complexes form and deposit throughout the body, attacking cells, organs and tissues as they would normally attack diseases.
Systemic autoimmune disease refers to a number of autoimmune diseases in which a dog’s immune system begins to fight itself and its own protective antibodies, attacking its cells, organs, and tissues.
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Symptoms of Systemic Autoimmune Disease in Dogs
Symptoms may vary widely, depending upon the location of the immune complexes. Common symptoms across all types include:
- Lethargy
- Anorexia
- Fever
Additional symptoms are specific to certain types and are distinguished by the bodily system affected.
Hypoadrenocorticism (Addisons Disease)
Occurs when antibodies attack a dog’s adrenal gland. Symptoms include:
- Muscle weakness
- Depression
- Weight loss
- Collapse and shock
- Kidney failure
- Lack of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Increased thirst and/or urine production
Hemolytic Anemia
Occurs when antibodies attack a dog’s red blood cells. Symptoms include:
- Anemia
- Free hemoglobin in blood and urine
- Jaundice
- Lethargy
- Blue, reddened, swollen, ulcerated or crusted extremities
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Swollen spleen
Systemic Lupus Erythematous (Lupus)
Is a multiple organ autoimmune disease that occurs when antibodies attack cells, organs and tissues throughout a dog’s body. Symptoms can vary according to the disease’s progression and the sites affected although they include:
- Arthritis in multiple joints
- Hair loss
- Production of dandruff
- Skin ulcerations and crusting of extremities
- High body temperature
- Loss of appetite
- Anemia
- Weight loss
Thrombocytopenia
Occurs when antibodies attack a dog’s platelets, hindering the blood’s ability to clot properly. Can occur as a secondary condition to Systemic lupus erythematosus. Symptoms include:
- Hemorrhages and/or internal bleeding
- Nosebleeds
Myasthenia Gravis
Occurs when antibodies attack acetylcholine receptors in your dog’s muscles. Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter that controls muscle function. Symptoms include:
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue
- Disinterest in exercise
- Difficulty swallowing
- Regurgitation of food
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Occurs when antibodies attack immunoglobulin G, which regulates your dog’s circulation. Symptoms include:
- Lameness
- Elevated body temperature
- Lack of appetite
- Swollen joints
- Restricted or nonexistent joint movement
- Dislocated joints
- A clicking, cracking or grating sound when joints are manipulated
Lymphocytic Thyroiditis
Occurs when antibodies attack your dog’s thyroid. Symptoms include:
- Hair loss
- Thinning skin
- Muscle weakness
- Slow heart rate
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dry eye
- Hyperpigmentation of skin
- Dandruff
- Lethargy
- Obesity
- Cold intolerance
- Fat deposits in the corner of the eye
Bullous Autoimmune Skin Disease
Occurs when antibodies attack your dog’s skin. Subsets and their symptoms are as follows:
- Pemphigus Vulgaris
- Erosions/ulcers around orifices which secrete discharge and crust over
- Depression
- Lack of appetite
- Pemphigus Foliaceus
- Pustules under skin surface
- Crusting
- Dandruff
- Loss of hair
- Excessive itchiness/scratching
- Hyperpigmentation, typically black in color
- Peeling foot pads
- Often found in the head and nose
- Pemphigus Vegetans
- Pustules
- Crusting
- Formation of papilloma, what looks like small warts
- Often found in groin area
- Pemphigus Erythematosus
- Sores secreting discharge
- Crusting
- Excessive itchiness/scratching
- Often found around the eyes, ears, and bridge of the nose
- Bullous Pemphigoid
- Erosions/ulcers around orifices which secrete discharge and crust over
- Depression
- Lack of appetite
- High body temperature
Breeds Affected
- Autoimmune Haemolytic Anemia
- Breeds - most often found in Cocker Spaniel, Old English Sheepdog, and Poodle breeds
- Gender - Is more often found in female than male dogs
- Autoimmune Thrombocytopenia
- Breeds - most often found in the Poodle breed
- Gender - Is more often found in female than male dogs
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Breeds - most often found in German Shepherd and Poodle breeds
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Breeds - most often found in toy breeds
Causes of Systemic Autoimmune Disease in Dogs
There is no identifiable cause of systemic autoimmune disease. While not a cause, ultraviolet light can exacerbate the disease.
Diagnosis of Systemic Autoimmune Disease in Dogs
Diagnosis of systemic autoimmune disease is difficult, as all dogs don’t exhibit the same symptoms, and many symptoms overlap with other diseases.
The veterinarian will conduct a comprehensive blood panel measuring complete blood count in order to measure red and white blood cells and determine if your dog has a low platelet count, low blood cortisol, and blood chemistries in order to determine if your dog tests positive for anti-nuclear antibodies, thyroid hormone levels, high plasma potassium concentrations, high calcium concentrations, high blood urea and creatinine. These blood metrics will determine if you dog has a systemic autoimmune disease, and if so, what type. For instance, a positive anti-nuclear antibodies test indicates lupus, a low platelet count indicates thrombocytopenia, low thyroid hormone level indicates lymphocytic thyroiditis.
Treatment of Systemic Autoimmune Disease in Dogs
Your dog may or may not require hospitalization, depending on the severity of the symptoms. In cases of extreme red blood cell destruction, your dog will need to be hospitalized in order to manage red blood cell levels. However, in many situations, the disease can be treated on an outpatient basis. Corticosteroids like prednisone are prescribed to decrease inflammation and autoimmune activity. Often, this will be supplemented with a secondary immunosuppressant, such as azathioprine, cyclophosphamide or cyclosporine. Additional treatment will depend upon the type of autoimmune disease.
- Hypoadrenocorticism - Requires long-term mineralcorticoid therapy, likely with fludrocortisone acetate, in order to restore salt and water balances.
- Hemolytic Anemia and Thrombocytopenia - May or may not require a blood transfusion and surgical removal of your dog’s spleen.
- Myasthenia Gravis - Requires cholinesterase inhibiters, such as pyridostigmine bromide, injected daily.
- Rheumatoid arthritis - Requires aspirin, only in the absence of lupus and thrombocytopenia. Additionally, your dog will be prescribed cytotoxic drugs (or antineoplastics), which target and attack the dangerous antibodies. Common cytotoxics include azathioprine and cyclophosphamide. An additional tactic may be gold salt therapy, which helps to reduce further inflammation and slow progression of the disease.
- Systemic Lupus Erythematous (Lupus) - Requires cytotoxic drugs, such as azathioprine and cyclophosphamide.
- Lymphocytic Thyroiditis - Requires synthetic thyroid hormone replacement therapy to return to normal thyroid functioning.
- Bullous Autoimmune Skin Disease - Requires cytotoxic drugs azathioprine or cyclophosphamide, gold salt therapy, and limiting exposure to sunlight. Autoimmune skin diseases are exacerbated by ultraviolet light.
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Recovery of Systemic Autoimmune Disease in Dogs
Prognosis of dogs with systemic autoimmune disease varies widely, with some dogs dying of complications and others living a relatively healthy life with treatment. However, treatment will likely be necessary for your dog’s entire life. You must monitor you dog carefully for symptoms of side effects, and the veterinarian will likely require frequent checkups in order to make sure the treatment is appropriate. The frequency of checkups will likely decrease over time.
When you dog comes home, it is important to provide a comfortable, quiet space for recovery, possibly in a cage, until your dog is healthy enough to move around more. Continue to be aware of your dog’s exposure to sunlight, limiting outdoor exercise to dawn and twilight times. Other specific treatments will require additional precautions. For instance, in the case of kidney complications, the veterinarian will likely prescribe a specific diet.
Systemic Autoimmune Disease Average Cost
From 2 quotes ranging from $650 - $2,500
Average Cost
$1,400
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Systemic Autoimmune Disease Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
English staffordshire bull terrior
Rhino
7 Years
0 found this helpful
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Crusty Skin Sores ,Limping, Chewing
Crustyskinsores,Limping,Chewingpaws
We are concerned that Rhino has had this skin condition for over 2 months, weeping crusty skin legions that are resistant to any antiobotics or topical lotions, and his limp which our vet originally thought was cruciate ligament disease is getting worse every day. Could this be autoimmune disease?
Jan. 31, 2018
0 Recommendations
Without examining Rhino I cannot say whether the cause is due to an autoimmune disease or another cause; cruciate ligament tears can be determined with a thorough examination and x-ray but the crusty lesions may be caused by infection, parasites, internal disease among other causes. I cannot really give you much guidance unfortunately here as I haven’t examined him. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Jan. 31, 2018
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Great Dane
Duke
2 Days
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0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Itching
Dandruff
Cysts
Eye Swelling
Well our Duke has been a mystery dog. He has tested negative for all auto immune diseases. We have had blood work, cat scan, ultra sound, joint taps, lung wash name it i feel like we have done it. He has been on prednisone since 6 months and the minute we try getting him off he gets a fever, high heart rate, swollen eyes. The minute we put him back on everything disappears. Up to this point we have tried cyclosporine and worked great and then his gums became swollen. Well his nose has become raw with little scabs, he has a left swollen eye and super watery. We took him to the optometrist and he truly thinks it’s autoimmune. I’m torn with what to do. Try different meds? MRI? Higher his dosage of prednisone? He has great energy right now? Eats and goes to the bathroom normally. Help!
Dec. 9, 2017
0 Recommendations
It does sound like Duke has an autoimmune disease, at this point if he is getting a scabby nose it may be worth taking a biopsy of the scab for analysis by a Pathologist to determine a cause. If the prednisone is working, I would keep him on the lowest dose possible to suppress the symptoms from presenting; I really in this position cannot recommend anything other than that. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Dec. 9, 2017
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German Shepherd Dog
max
2 and a half
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hello i have a GMS male 2 and a half years old he almost died within a week we save him last moment by giving prezolon after we have made a ton of blood tests he was diagnosed with egephalitis-autoimmune disease also the doctor gave him azathriopine day after day after 3 months he is very well he is strong and healthy but we have aggression problem he doesn't recocnize us all of a sudden while he seats he gets up and growl to people he grow up with and to me also he looks at us suddenly out of the blue like we are strangers he had done it to me twice just before the disease strike him but now it gets worse rapidly generali he was and he is a very loving dog very sweet like a huge puppy we have stopped the medication 2 weeks now i was wondering if he has a brain damage by the disease or blindness that makes him dangerous and if it is a permanent brain damage is there a way that can be fixed or it will get worse ?
Oct. 4, 2017
0 Recommendations
Behavioural changes are not uncommon in these cases and may continue after recovery; it is important to start behavioural therapy to help calm Max and to establish you as the leader of your group (alpha male of the pack). Punishing aggressive behaviour is important and to be persistent with it, especially in a dog like a German Shepherd as you don’t want this aggression to be directed at anyone else. Given Max’s circumstances, it may be worth consulting with a Behaviourist to see what may be able to be done. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
https://wagwalking.com/condition/meningoencephalitis
Oct. 4, 2017
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Australian Cattle Dog
Buster
7years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Sore Joints, Itching, Licking, Weight Loss, Muscl
Our Australian Cattle Dog, for 2 1/2 months, has had, itching, scabs, through out his body, loss 10 #, muscle deterioration, sore joints. We treated first for , poison oak, did not clear up, then allergies, on allergy food, and only has worsen. Complete blood panel is normal, could it be Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?
Aug. 30, 2017
0 Recommendations
It is possible that Buster is being affected by an autoimmune disease like systemic lupus erythematosus as the symptoms may involve both skin lesions and joint pain; other possible causes may be infectious or other immune disorders. For SLE, an ANA test is the test of choice for making a diagnosis; for this type of case I would recommend visiting a Dermatologist to take a look to narrow down the possible causes. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Aug. 30, 2017
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Systemic Autoimmune Disease Average Cost
From 2 quotes ranging from $650 - $2,500
Average Cost
$1,400
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Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
