What's causing my German Shorthair Pointer's nose to peel and scar?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Tawket. I worry that she could have an autoimmune skin disease. This is where the dog's body attacks its own skin cells resulting in an ulcerated and cracked nose. A common type of this disease is known as discoid lupus. There are other types as well though. It is typically diagnosed by a skin biopsy. I would ask her veterinarian if this is a possibility. I hope this information helps!

There are breeds of dogs that are prone to a seasonal lightening of the nasal planum (the hard, tough, hairless end of their nose). Sometimes referred to as “Snow Nose” these dogs (Siberian Huskies, Labradors and Golden Retrievers) can have darker noses in the summer months and lighter noses in the winter. These same breeds plus German Shepherds, Samoyeds, Afghan Hounds and Dobermans (among others) can also experience a gradual or waxing and lightening or fading of their nose color over time. This condition is known as “Dudley Nose." Vitiligo is a progressive disease in which the melanocytes are gradually destroyed causing unpigmented areas on the skin. They develop pigment loss from their skin or hair on their heads, but it can occur in other locations too. In some cases, antibodies against melanocytes have been identified in the serum of infected dogs indicating an immune component to the disorder. And skin biopsies of the affected areas will typically reveal a total lack of any remaining melanocytes. What all three of these causes for depigmentation have is common is the fact that they are not a disease that can bother or hurt your dog at all. There is no reason to worry about them and there is nothing to be done to ‘correct’ them. The depigmentation is purely cosmetic. Some depigmentation is cause for concern. For instance, any contact dermatitis/irritation can cause depigmentation as can certain chemicals in rubber that can affect the production of melanin pigment where the rubber touches the skin. The administration of certain drugs like ketoconazole, procainamide, and vitamin E have been reported to cause generalized changes in coat color in dogs, and injections of other drugs (glucocorticoids, for instance) can cause localized loss of pigment. Additionally, hormonal disorders (imbalances of thyroid, adrenal or sex hormones) can alter pigmentation as can bacterial and fungal infections and even cancers (neoplasias). Immune-mediated diseases also occur in dogs where the dog’s own antibodies attack different parts of the skin resulting in depigmentation. I recommend getting your dog seen by your vet just to be safe. She is young for some of these conditions to occur, but nothing is impossible.

This looks like lupus (DLE) which is an autoimmune disorder. Here is an article about this problem: http://www.marvistavet.com/discoid-lupus-erythematosus.pml This is not something you can really treat at home. You can minimize the affects by keeping him out of direct sunlight. You need to work with your vet on how to manage this as medications are needed to suppress the immune system to stop the inflammation. He will also need some antibiotics until this is under control. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

This looks like a localized area of infection. This could be caused by an allergy, by her rubbing her nose against something (like a fence or crate) or could be a sign of an underlying autoimmune disease like lupus or pemphigus. I would recommend taking Bambi in to the vet to be examined. Your vet may recommend antibiotics and a topical ointment to help the nose clear up. Your vet may also recommend doing a cytology or biopsy of the area which will help further determine what the cause of the lesions are. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Summer. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. She may have a common condition known as hyperkeratosis of the nasal planum. If this is not the case, a more serious condition such as an autoimmune disease should be considered. Discoid lupus usually appears as a cracked, bleeding and ulcerated nose. This is diagnosed by a skin biopsy. I hope this information helps!

From the photos it appears that the lesion is affecting both the mucosa of his nose and also his skin. This could be some sort of deep bacterial infection or perhaps something like ringworm (which humans can get). It is also very concerning however for an autoimmune condition. I recommend to have a Bosco visit his veterinarian with in the next day for an exam. The doctor may try treatment or testing for an infection. The doctor may also recommend a biopsy. A biopsy is needed to diagnose an autoimmune condition. Best of luck. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Aww poor Grizzlu that must be very painful! That looks like very severe dermatitis. Some causes of this are bacterial and fungal infections, autoimmune disease, severe allergies, mites and even cancer. Please take Grizzlu to see a veterinarian as soon as you can. Whatever caused this it looks like it is now infected and she likely need antibiotics, topical treatment and possible other oral medications like corticosteroids.