Diagnostic features, confirmation and disease progression in 28 cases of lethal acrodermatitis of bull terriers

Lethal acrodermatitis (LAD) is a genetically determined metabolic disease o f bull terriers first described in the USA in the 1980s, In this study, the largest so far reported, 28 bull terriers born in the Uh were diagnosed as suffering from LAD, and the clinical findings and the progression of the d isease with time are described; The main characteristics of LAD are stuntin g, splayed digits, eating difficulties, skin disease of the face and feet, and increased susceptibility to microbial infections, In older dogs, parony chia, nail disease and hyperkeratosis of the footpads develops, becoming se vere in dogs over six months of age, A diagnosis of LAD can be strongly sus pected in any bull terrier showing a combination of the aforementioned sign s from an early age, Dermatohistopathological demonstration of marked parak eratotic hyperkeratosis is strongly supportive of the diagnosis of LAD and, in association with the typical clinical findings, is sufficient to confir m a diagnosis. Although many of the clinical signs and the pathology of thi s condition suggest zinc deficiency, the measurement of blood zinc levels a s a diagnostic aid is of limited value.