A CASE-REPORT OF SUPERFICIAL NECROLYTIC DERMATITIS IN A BEAGLE DOG WITH DIABETES-MELLITUS

A case of superficial necrolytic dermatitis in a young laboratory beag le dog with diabetes mellitus was investigated. Macroscopically, the s kin lesion was restricted to paws showing erosion and swelling of the interdigital areas. The most predominant histopathological feature was upper-epidermal vacuolation of keratinocytes. In the pancreas, the nu mber and size of islets were found to be markedly reduced, and only gl ucagon-positive cells were detected. In the liver, severe and widespre ad vacuolation of hepatocytes was observed. Blood biochemical assays s howed that the serum glucose and plasma glucagon levels were increased . In addition, levels of individual amino acids varied markedly, altho ugh the total amino acid concentration was within the normal range. Fr om these results, it was suggested that the skin lesion in this case w as primarily caused by hyperglucagonemia in diabetes mellitus.