Panniculitis & Vasculitis
Panniculitis is the inflammation of the subcutaneous fat tissue. Skin nodules may be ulcerated and develop draining tracts.
Vasculitis is structural damage to and inflammation of the vascular wall. Damaged blood vessels leak tiny amounts of blood.
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Causes of Panniculitis
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According to Go Pets America, various vaccines, other injections, bacteria and fungi may cause panniculitis. Blunt trauma, chronic pressure or decreased blood supply may lead to traumatic panniculitis. Vascular disease, including systemic lupus erythematosus, drug reactions, infection, or internal malignancy can cause infectious panniculitis.
Symptoms of Panniculitis
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A dog suffering from panniculitis will have lesions over the neck and trunk. Ulcers can appear on the paws, lips, tail and oral mucosa. Some nodules may rupture and leave an oily brown or blood-tinged discharge. Signs of scarring may appear. Along with with multiple lesions, signs may include anorexia, lethargy, fever, and depression.
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Treatment
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A veterinarian may remove the nodules surgically. If an infectious agent is the cause, treatment may include draining the toxic liquid or administering antibiotic therapy for a secondary infection. Corticosteroids can be used for multiple sterile lesions. Once the underlying cause is corrected, most canines recover, but some experience recurrences of the problem.
Causes of Vasculitis
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Causes of vasculitis include infectious pathogens or adverse drug reactions, or underlying internal disease. Infectious causes include parasitic, viral, ricketsial and bacterial.
Symptoms of Vasculitis
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Tiny red spots appear on gums or whites of the eyes. Physical symptoms include swelling, ulceration, necrosis of affected skin. Look for signs of underlying infectious or immune-related diseases that may include lethargy, pain or weight loss.
Diagnosis and Treatment
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Diagnosis includes serial blood cultures, urine culture, lymph node aspiration, heartworm antigen testing, urine culture, and culture of lesion tissue. The veterinarian may evaluate for an adverse drug reaction.
Treatment is administered according to the condition. Corticosteroids usually provide improvement in clinical signs, but do not cure vasculitis. Dogs may experience relapses after treatment stops.
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References
Resources
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