Autoimmune skin diseases in dogs including pemphigus and lupus cause painful blistering, crusting, and ulceration that require prolonged immunosuppressive treatment with significant welfare impacts.
Dogs with pemphigus foliaceus develop widespread pustules and crusts across their face and feet that are painful and intensely pruritic. Paw involvement makes walking painful — every step compresses inflamed, crusted skin. Facial crusting causes discomfort during eating and grooming. The high-dose prednisone required for initial control causes its own welfare costs: polydipsia, polyuria, increased appetite with associated distress when hunger is not met, muscle weakness, and susceptibility to infections. Tapering to maintenance doses reduces these side effects but may allow disease flares. Dogs with SLE face systemic disease affecting multiple organs simultaneously, compounding suffering. The chronic nature of management means affected dogs and their owners live with ongoing medical complexity for years.