Long-term successful management of an idiopathic interstitial pyogranulomatous/granulomatous dermatitis and folliculitis by omega 3 fatty acid in a dog

• Published in: Comparative clinical pathology 2021-06, Vol.30 (3), p.335-339
• Main Authors: Moosavian, Hamidreza, Mashayekhi-Goyonlo, Vahid, Rajayee Mousavi, Seyed Alireza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Case Report; Cyclosporins; Dermatitis; Erythema; Fatty acids; Folliculitis; Hematology; Immunosuppressive agents; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Omega-3 fatty acids; Oncology; Pathology; Patients; Prednisolone; Side effects; Skin diseases; Skin lesions; Ulcers
• ISSN: 1618-5641; 1618-565X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00580-021-03238-9

Granulomatous and pyogranulomatous skin lesions in dogs are clinically heterogeneous diseases with different treatment outcomes. Sometimes for long-term management in dogs that exhibit severe symptoms of immune-mediated cutaneous lesions, long-term administration of immunosuppressive agents is required, although these agents have some unwanted side effects. On the other hand, the effectiveness of these medications may not be desirable in some patients. So, the use of alternative and complementary agents with remarkable efficacy and less unwanted side effects can be valuable and interesting for long-term management of the lesions. In the present study, a 7-year-old female mixed dog was presented with an acute onset of severe and generalized asymmetrical nonpruritic and scaly cutaneous lesions that led to erythema and ulcers. Clinical signs and histopathological studies as well as other laboratory tests failed to demonstrate any etiological agent, and the patient was diagnosed with idiopathic interstitial pyogranulomatous/granulomatous dermatitis and folliculitis. No remarkable improvement was observed following prednisolone administration for 2 weeks. Surprisingly, the clinical signs completely alleviated after 3 weeks of cyclosporine and 1 month of omega 3 oil administration. The dog was followed up for 4 years. The patient was completely dependent on omega 3 oil, as the lesions recurred whenever the treatment with omega 3 was discontinued. In conclusion, it appears that omega 3 fatty acid was effective for the long-term successful management of an idiopathic interstitial pyogranulomatous/granulomatous dermatitis and folliculitis without other parenteral administration in a dog.