Cutaneous mucinosis in a Shar-pei dog: case report

Abstract

Cutaneous mucinosis is an autoimmune disease that consists of the exacerbated deposition of mucin in the skin. It mainly affects Shar-pei dogs due to a characteristic phenotype represented by thickened skin with multiple folds. This condition can present itself through focal, multifocal or diffuse lesions, ranging from mild to severe, in addition to lymphedema in the limbs This paper reports a case of four years old dog, that manifested skin changes, initially with edema and hematoma in the pelvic limbs that later evolved resulting in the skin degradation and ligaments exposure of the affected limb. Histopathological examination diagnosed cutaneous mucinosis. Treatment applied included the administration of oral corticosteroids, along with topical dressings that involved cleaning the lesions and applying appropriate ointments. The objective of this report originated from the severity of the clinical signs presented by the patient and the remarkable effectiveness of the treatment applied, which resulted in the skin restructuration.