Autoimmune Disease in Dogs: Types, Causes, and How To Treat Them

Autoimmune diseases in dogs occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own healthy cells, tissues, or organs instead of protecting them from illness. These conditions can affect many parts of the body—including the skin, joints, blood cells, muscles, and internal organs—and may cause a wide range of symptoms, from fatigue and lameness to skin lesions and life-threatening anemia. 

While autoimmune diseases are relatively uncommon, they can be serious and often require lifelong management. 

Early diagnosis and treatment are important to help control the immune response, reduce symptoms, and improve a dog’s quality of life. 

Understanding the signs, causes, and treatment options for autoimmune disease can help pet parents know when to seek veterinary care and what to expect after a diagnosis. 

What Is Autoimmune Disease in Dogs?

An autoimmune disease in dogs occurs when the immune system, responsible for protecting against foreign invaders, mistakenly targets its own body’s proteins and cells instead of external threats. 

This immune response creates immune complexes that can harm tissues and organs, leading to various symptoms.  

While not typically an immediate emergency, untreated autoimmune diseases can have serious consequences that can be fatal.  

Types of Autoimmune Disease in Dogs 

Autoimmune diseases in dogs can manifest in various ways, affecting different parts of a dog’s body. Some common types include: 

• Pemphigus foliaceus: Targets skin cells, causing cracks, fissures, pustules, scaling, and infection 

• Pemphigus erythematosus: Affects skin on the face, particularly in certain breeds like German Shepherds, Collies, and Shetland Sheepdogs 

• Pemphigus vulgaris: Rare and severe; can lead to skin lesions, including erosions and vesicles, affecting various parts of the body, including the lips, nose, nailbeds, and other skin areas 

• Bullous pemphigoid: Separates the top and middle layers of the skin 

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): Affects multiple systems, creating symptoms including lameness, skin lesions, anemia, kidney failure, and seizures 

• Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE): A benign form of lupus that affects the skin of only the nose and face 

• Myasthenia gravis: Impairs neuromuscular junctions, leading to muscle weakness that can manifest as difficulty eating or swallowing, regurgitation, and generalized limb weakness that often is worsened with exercise 

• Granulomatous Meningoencephalitis (GME): Inflammation that typically affects the blood vessels of the brain and spinal cord, causing seizures, blindness, circling, and abnormal gait 

• Masticatory myositis: Targets muscles used for chewing; typically affects large-breed dogs and leads to painful and swollen muscles, a reluctance to eat, difficulty swallowing, and eventual weight loss 

• Glomerulonephritis: Impacts kidney function, and includes symptoms associated with kidney failure, such as an increased thirst and urination, muscle wasting, lack of appetite, and swelling of the limbs and abdomen 

• Polyarthritis: Causes joint inflammation, triggering lameness and arthritis 

• Uveodermatologic syndrome (Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like Syndrome): Targets melanin pigment and frequently results in blindness, affecting breeds such as the Akita, Old English Sheepdog, Golden Retriever, Husky, and Irish Setter 

• Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS): Commonly referred to as “dry eye”; occurs in about 1% of the canine population, and more so in Shih Tzus, Cocker Spaniels, Boston Terriers, and Pekingese 

• Pannus (chronic immune-mediated superficial keratitis): A progressive, non-curable disease that damages the cornea and leads to blindness 

• Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP): Affects platelets, the cells responsible for blood clotting, leading to extensive bruising and potentially hemorrhage 

• Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA): Impairs the red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the tissues, resulting in weakness, pale gums, difficulty breathing, and/or collapse 

While IMHA, IMTP, and pemphigus foliaceus occur in dogs more commonly than other autoimmune diseases, overall, autoimmune disease is uncommon in dogs. 

Causes of Autoimmune Disease in Dogs

Autoimmune diseases in dogs can affect any breed, but they are more frequently observed in unspayed females. 

Contributing factors include genetics (with a higher occurrence in purebreds), cancer, or environmental influences like UV light, infections, medications, or other medical therapies. 

Dogs diagnosed with one autoimmune disease are more likely to develop other immune-mediated diseases. 

How Veterinarians Diagnose Autoimmune Disease in Dogs

Diagnosing autoimmune diseases in dogs can be challenging. 

Such a diagnosis is often made through a process of exclusion, which means that other possible causes are ruled out and the true underlying cause remains unknown. 

Veterinarians typically use blood work, urine tests, and other screenings to identify potential issues. 

In some cases, a biopsy or advanced imaging such as a CT scan or MRI may be necessary. 

While not all tests are 100% confirmatory, when analyzed together with the symptoms, there can be sufficient information to make an immune-mediated diagnosis.  

Treatment of Autoimmune Disease in Dogs

Because autoimmune disease in dogs occurs due to an over-reactive and inappropriate immune system, treatment aims at suppressing the immune system. 

This is often approached using prescription medications called immunosuppressants. 

Steroids, like prednisone, are often prescribed at high doses and are the most effective, though they have adverse side effects. 

To minimize or avoid these side effects, other immunosuppressive drugs, like cyclosporine or mycophenolate, may be used in conjunction with steroids. 

Because certain drug combinations appear to work better for specific conditions and have a variable response in the individual, be sure to partner with your veterinarian for the best therapy options for your dog.  

Because many dogs suffering from the negative effects of autoimmune disease experience pain or discomfort and poor quality of life, pain medications will often be prescribed, like gabapentin. 

Many dogs with autoimmune disease also have secondary infections, and antibiotics, like Clavamox, may be needed.  

Additionally, topical therapies, such as ointments, shampoos, or conditioners, are often prescribed in conjunction with oral medications as an effective way to target localized lesions and decrease the dose of oral medications. 

Affected dogs typically don’t require a change of diet or supplements, but some dogs with long-lasting kidney issues or glomerulonephritis can benefit from prescription diets such as Royal Canin Renal. 

Dogs affected by IMHA or IMTP may require supplementation with iron or vitamins. 

In the acute hospital setting, dogs may require: 

• Blood transfusions 

• IV fluids 

• A feeding tube 

• Medication to prevent seizures, like levetiracetam 

• Anticoagulants to help prevent blood clots, like clopidogrel  

• Anti-nausea and antiemetic medications to prevent vomiting, like Cerenia 

• Oxygen therapy 

• Therapeutic abdominocentesis, where fluid is drained from the abdomen 

• Thoracocentesis, where fluid is drained from the body. 

Recovery and Management of Autoimmune Disease in Dogs

Autoimmune diseases in dogs vary in prognosis. 

For example, dogs with DLE typically show improvement within eight to 12 weeks. 

However, those with myasthenia gravis have about a 33% chance of improving, going into remission, or not surviving. Complications from the disease and the treatment itself can lead to the humane euthanasia of many dogs.  

While autoimmune diseases are not curable, they can be managed with lifelong medications, such as steroids like prednisone. 

It may take months to see significant improvement. 

Once symptoms are resolved, your veterinarian may recommend tapering drug therapy to the lowest effective dose to manage symptoms while minimizing side effects. 

Relapses can occur, but tapering drugs benefits your dog in the long run. 

Regular follow-up and monitoring are vital to prevent relapse and assess drug side effects. Always adhere to your vet’s recommendations and consult them before discontinuing or self-tapering medications. 

Prevention of Autoimmune Disease in Dogs

Unfortunately, most autoimmune disease in dogs cannot be prevented, but a prompt diagnosis followed by immediate treatment can be lifesaving. 

Be sure to have your dog examined by their vet at the first sign of a problem. 

Be sure to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for recheck examinations to minimize relapses. 

Additionally, make sure that all veterinary providers are aware of your dog’s condition and what medications they are taking. 

Dogs that are genetically prone to autoimmune disease may manifest signs of disease following anything that stimulates their immune system.  

Their immune system can be stimulated from things they get exposed to in the environment, like allergens or infections.  

The immune system can also be stimulated by medications or vaccinations. If your dog has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, be sure to let your vet know before scheduling vaccines in the future.  

Since suppressing the immune system can increase the risk of developing other infections like urinary tract infections, regular screening and monitoring for potential infections are essential for your dog’s long-term health. 

UV light can also exacerbate certain diseases, so try to limit sun exposure by walking your dog in the early morning or late evening and use a pet-approved sunscreen on the bridge of the nose and non-haired skin when necessary.