These skin lesions are a marker for serious systemic disease, and therefore the prognosis is guarded to poor. Prognosis and specific treatment depend on the nature of the underlying problem. Corticosteroid therapy may improve the skin lesions, but may also potentiate concurrent problems such as diabetes mellitus. Zinc, protein, and fatty acid supplementation have been tried with limited success. This is a rare, idiopathic disease characterized by nodular to plaque-like lesions associated with collagen degeneration.
Lesions occur in the mouth and on the skin.
The pathogenesis is unknown, but proposed mechanisms include vasculitis, microangiopathy, a fibrinolytic disorder, a phagocyte function disorder, a catabolic enzyme release disorder, and a cell-mediated immunity disorder. Some feel that this is a hypersensitivity disorder. Multiple cutaneous papules, nodules, or plaques may occur over the ventral abdomen, prepuce, or flank. Cutaneous lesions usually are non-pruritic and painless. Dogs are otherwise healthy.