Immune System Disorders in Dogs

There are a variety of different immune system disorders that manifest themselves in dogs. The common characteristic they all share is that they occur when the immune system begins malfunctioning--either it fails to do its job in protecting your dog's health or it begins attacking healthy cells. According to veterinarian Kathleen Hutton, the various immune system disorders can be very serious and may result in disability or death. Talk to your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your dog has an immune system disorder.

This immune system disorder occurs when the immune system begins to attack healthy red blood cells, mistakenly believing that they are dangerous or foreign bodies. As the red blood cell count decreases, your dog may show the classic signs of anemia. Dr. Hutton has found that these symptoms may include loss of appetite, fatigue and weakness. The dog's gums may also be paler than normal and his eyes may take on a yellowish tint. Typically, a veterinarian will prescribe steroids to treat dogs with this disorder. According to the Morris Animal Foundation, this disease kills approximately 50 percent of the dogs it affects.

Dogs are also susceptible to lupus, an autoimmune disease that also occurs in humans. It is rare in dogs, but when it does occur, it causes the immune system to target the dog's skin and joints. The disease may first be noticed as recurrent skin problems or joint pain that causes limping. Treatment of this disease is usually focused on alleviating the pain caused by symptoms, and it rarely cures the underlying disease.

Arthritis and skin disorders are other types of immune system disorder in dogs. Arthritis occurs when the immune system turns on the dog's body and begins attacking healthy joints. According to Dr. Hutton, the symptoms may include fever and limping--often affecting different legs at different times. When the immune system attacks healthy skin cells, as it does in immune system disorders of the skin, the dog may show signs of skin irritation. These typically look like red and scaly patches or pimple-like sores or blisters. Like many of the other immune disorders, steroids are the primary treatment option.

According to veterinarian Jean Dodds, Immune system disorders are becoming more common in dogs, although the reason for this is not completely understood. Dodds has found that several breeds of dog have increased risk for immune system disorders, including great danes, akitas, dachshunds and poodles. Akitas and dachshunds, in particular, have high risk for immune system disorders of the skin. In addition, German shepherds and Siberian huskies may be more likely to develop lupus than other dog breeds.

Dr. Jean Dodds has found that a number of cases of immune diseases are brought on by adverse reactions to the vaccines that puppies and dogs receive. Dr. Dodds has avoided vaccinating some dogs at high risk for immune disorders and has created a vaccination schedule for other at-risk dogs that provides more time between vaccinations. See Resources below for the complete vaccination schedule developed by Dr. Dobbs. This may be helpful in preventing some cases of immune disorders, but most veterinarians agree that genetics and environmental factors are the primary causes behind most cases of immune disorders in dogs.