A 12 year-old female toy Poodle was presented with polyria, polydipsia, polyphagya, progressive alopecia and blindness. The animal was cachetic, with simmetric bilateral alopecia of the torso, abdomen and limbs. The skin was hyperpigmented, thin and hypotonic with seborhea and interdigital pioderma. The dog also had keratoconjuntivitis sicca and bilateral cataracts. Hyperglicemia, glicosuria and anemia were confirmed by laboratory exams and a working diagnosis of Diabetes meilitus was established. A low-dose dexamethasone (0,01mg/kg/IV) supression test was performed to rule out hyperadrenocorticism and was normal (basal value = 3.4mu/dl and 8 hours post-dexamethasone = 1.5,mug/dl). Insulin therapy was initiated and resulted in remission of all clinical signs, with body weight recovery, polyuria and polydipsia resolution and complete hair coat regrowth within 3 months. We concluded that the dermatosis in this case was associated to metabolic alteration related to insulin deficiency.
dog; diabetes; skin; alopecia; dermatology
