Eleven cases of vesicular cutaneous lupus erythematosus in Shetland sheepdogs and rough collies: clinical management and prognosis

A cutaneous ulcerative disease is recognized to affect the adult Shetland sheepdog and rough collie. This has a distinct clinical and histological appearance consistent with a vesicular variant of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (VCLE). Retrospective information on the clinical outcome and response to therapy was collected from 11 cases of histologically confirmed VCLE. In 8/11 dogs the onset of disease was in the summer; in three dogs recrudescence occurred in subsequent summers. In eight dogs the skin disease was judged to be 75-100% controlled with therapy after a minimum follow-up of 9 months. Successful treatment in seven of these cases comprised immunosuppressive doses of oral glucocorticoids, alone (one dog), in combination with azathioprine (five dogs) and doxycycline (one dog). One case responded to topical fluocinolone. Three dogs were euthanised for reasons directly related to the disease, one prior to initiating any therapy. Vesicular cutaneous lupus erythematosus in the rough collie and Shetland sheepdog can be a debilitating skin disease which is best managed with aggressive immunosuppressive therapy. Sun avoidance or the use of sunscreens is an important additional management recommendation.