Infective Panniculitis
If your dog has developed skin lesions, there are many possible diagnoses. Infective panniculitis is one cause of skin lesions. It occurs when bacteria establish themselves in the panniculus, the layer of fat under the skin. Infective panniculitis can be diagnosed through a straightforward test performed in your veterinarian's office. There are several treatment options.
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Signs
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Panniculitis first manifests itself in the form of lumps under the skin, usually on the dog's neck or body, but sometimes on the feet. The lumps may rupture through the skin and show up as lesions--little brown, red or black bumps. There can be one lesion or many. The lesions may ulcerate and begin to drain. This can happen to dogs of any age and either sex. Dachshunds, miniature poodles, collies and German shepherds appear to be predisposed to panniculitis, according to gopetsamerica.com and vetconnect.com.
Causes
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Infective panniculitis results when bacteria or fungi establish themselves in the subcutaneous layer of fat. Your dog could also develop sterile nodular panniculitis from trauma or chronic pressure, a foreign body under the skin, an immune disorder or some other underlying disease. Panniculitis can also be a reaction to a vaccine or subcutaneous injection of medication.
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Diagnosis
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If your veterinarian suspects panniculitis as the cause of your dog's skin lesions, she may perform a skin biopsy using a needle to suck out the material inside the lesion. If this shows bacteria or fungi, it confirms the diagnosis of infectious panniculitis. Pure fatty material or other kinds of debris in the biopsy may confirm the other types of panniculitis.
Treatment
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Your veterinarian may opt to excise a single lesion surgically. If your dog has infective panniculitis, your veterinarian may also prescribe antibiotics. If your dog has multiple lesions, the treatment is usually a combination of prednisone or another steroid medication, together with daily vitamin E.
Risk of Recurrence
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With treatment, many dogs can be free of panniculitis. Some go into long-term remission, while others are subject to recurrence. If the lesions do recur, your veterinarian may try alternate day glucocorticoids or a combination of glucocorticoids and azathioprine.
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