I Need to Know About Epidermal Dysplasia in a Westie?
Question by puddlesgal: I need to know about Epidermal Dysplasia in a Westie?
Has anyone had a Westie treated for this disease? In the Kansas City area?
Best answer:
Answer by Angel Barbie
Description: Epidermal dysplasia (synonym: armadillo syndrome) is a disorder that begins with erythema (reddening) and pruritus (itching) of the skin, especially on the feet, legs and the ventral parts of the body. The disease will intensify with widespread erythema developing. Alopecia (hair loss) and chronic inflammatory changes enter the picture. With time, the dog’s skin becomes lichenified (thickened), hyperpigmented (black), greasy and malodorous, which has led to the eponym “Armadillo Westie Syndrome”. Generalized severe pruritus develops.
Age of Onset: Armadillo syndrome appears at a few weeks to a few months of age. Both sexes are affected.
Diagnosis: A progressive dermatosis that does not respond well to treatment, the breed and the early age of onset suggests epidermal dysplasia.
Treatment: There appears to be two forms of the disease. In one, all treatment fails; in the other, high doses of systemic corticosteroids for a short period of time often brings a favorable response. Therapy should be attempted, allowing a reasonable time for possible recovery, before euthanasia is performed.
Epidermal Dysplasia is a hereditary, very severe skin disorder reported most often in West Highland White Terriers.
The early signs of epidermal dysplasia usually occurs between 6 and 12 months of age. Intense itching and skin inflammation are the primary symptoms. The initial distribution of lesions is on the abdomen, extremities, and face. The lesions become more spread with alopecia, thickening and hardening of the skin, greasy skin, and foul odor. Inflammation of the ear with excessive earwax buildup, secondary bacterial skin and lymph node infections are common. Malassezia is frequently identified although it is not found in all dogs with epidermal dysplasia. It is often, but not always, associated with secondary Malassezia infection.
Diagnosis The early age of onset of severe inflammation and itchiness rapidly progressing to chronic lesions in a West Highland White Terrier is one of the reasons for suspecting the disorder. A tentative diagnosis is made from skin biopsy findings. A definitive diagnosis of epidermal dysplasia can be made only with characteristic clinical and histologic findings and can be assessed only by evaluating response after appropriate topical and systemic antimicrobial therapy.
Treatment and Prognosis Epidermal dysplasia is usually nonresponsive to medical therapy with drugs including antibiotics, antiinflammatory doses of glucocorticoids, antiseborrheic shampoos, vitamin A alcohol, systemic retinoids, vitamin E, and essential fatty acids. The prognosis is poor, especially if the condition is chronic and severe secondary changes have occurred. In dogs with secondary Malassezia invasion, there may be significant improvement in itchiness and skin condition with ketoconazole (Nizoral) and twice-weekly application of topical ketoconazole (Nizoral shampoo) for 3 to 4 weeks.
Recurrence of the Malassezia infection is common. Periodic ketoconazole shampoos help to prevent relapses. A sulfur and benzoyl peroxide shampoo has also been helpful in long-term management of some cases. For cases in which the chronic cutaneous changes have not occurred, there may be a dramatic response to oral prednisone or prednisolone until the condition is controlled followed by a gradual decrease in the dose to alternate-day for long-term maintenance. Before such therapy is used, allergies are to be ruled out and the side effects associated with chronic steroid therapy should be considered.
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