A range of immune-mediated diseases affect dogs, from hemolytic anemia to skin diseases, causing suffering that requires long-term immunosuppressive treatment with its own welfare implications.
Dogs with immune-mediated diseases suffer from both the primary disease and the treatment. IMHA causes profound anemia and its associated weakness and breathlessness. IMTP causes bleeding risk and anxiety from spontaneous bruising and hemorrhage. Pemphigus creates painful oral and skin ulcers. High-dose steroid treatment causes its own welfare impacts: extreme hunger, muscle weakness, increased urination, susceptibility to infections, and behavioral changes. The prolonged nature of treatment - often 6 to 12 months - means these welfare impacts extend over a significant portion of the dog's life. Monitoring for disease relapse after treatment creates ongoing anxiety for owners and regular veterinary visits that are stressful for many dogs.