HYPERADRENOCORTICISM WITH SEVERE CALCINOSIS CUTIS IN A DOG

A 9-year-old female mixed-breed dog was presented with dorsal alopecia , severe pruritus, swelling at the elbows, and a 2 year history of pol yuria and polydipsia. The dog had been treated with prednisolone by an other veterinarian for circumscribed dorsal alopecia for about 4 month s before the presentation. Physical examination revealed bilaterally s ymmetrical alopecia extending over the face, tail and extremities; sev ere calcinosis cutis including the areas surrounding the elbows and ta rsal joints; pendulous abdomen with hepatomegaly; thin skin pyodermas, and seborrhea sicca. Hematological examinations revealed alanine tran saminase and alkaline phosphatase activity Based on the skin biopsy an d endocrine assays, the dog diagnosed with pituitary dependent hyperad renocorticism (PDH). Treatment with antibiotics, antihistamines, and c hlorhexidine was effective in treating the skin lesions. About 3.5 mon ths after the initial presentation, most alopecia, mosi alopecia and c alcinosis cutis was improved.