Alopecia areata universalis in a dog

Abstract

To the best of the author's knowledge this is the first documented case of canine AAU. The clinical and histopathological features were consistent with a diagnosis of AAU as defined in humans. Treatment with oral ciclosporin resulted in near complete resolution of the alopecia, but after 5 months without treatment the alopecia did not relapse and spontaneous resolution cannot be ruled out.

Alopecia universalis in a dog with testicular neoplasia

“…A previous report of ciclosporin treatment of a dog with alopecia universalis documented only partial response . Likewise, another dog with alopecia areata had only partial response to ciclosporin alone before being lost to follow‐up .…”

Alopecia Areata in a Dog: Clinical, Dermoscopic and Histological Features

“…The dog of this report had only a partial delayed response to a short course of cyclosporine (1.5 months). Only one previous report has documented a similar clinical course in a cross-breed hunting dog [3]. Whether this outcome is due to the low level of cyclosporine in the skin of the treated dog or to a form of AA-like disease partially responsive to cyclosporine has not unfortunately been elucidated yet.…”

“…Canine AA-like lesions consist of well-demarcated alopecic patches frequently involving the face and head and extending to the ear pinnae and legs [1]. In some cases, hair loss can have a more generalized distribution and two dogs developing diffuse alopecia also including vibrissae and eyelashes have recently been reported [3,4]. In dogs with variable hair coat color, hair loss usually occurs first in dark brown or black areas and in a minority of cases the growth of white hair may precede the first alopecic lesions [1].…”

Saisonale Leukotrichie bei einem Deutschen Schäferhund

“…In der Veterinärmedizin basiert das Wissen über Therapiemöglichkeiten und Prognose der AA auf einer geringen Anzahl von Fallberichten. Einige Tiere reagierten gut auf immunsuppressive Dosen von systemisch applizierten Glukokortikoiden oder Ciclosporin (8,21). Die kanine AA hat ei-ne gute Prognose.…”

“…60% der Hunde zeigen eine spontane Remission mit komplettem Nachwachsen der Haare, wobei diese für einige weitere Haarzyklen depigmentiert bleiben können (21). Dokumentiert wurde der Fall eines Hundes, der einen generalisierten Haarverlust ähnlich der beim Menschen bekannten Alopecia universalis aufwies (8). Unter systemischer Therapie mit Ciclosporin kam es zu einer fast kompletten Remission.…”