Successful treatment of iatrogenically developed cutaneous calci-fication by tetracycline in labrador retriever

Abstract

An older of about 11-year-old Labrador retriever dog developed arthrosis especially in the right elbow with a traumatic loosened fragment that was removed in a small operation. The dog was treated first with conventional antiinflammatory drugs, e.g., paracetamol, paracetamol-codeine combination, meloxicam, and finally carprofen-tramadol combination. After these treatments failed to give an adequate response, 40-80 mg methylprednisolone was administered i.m. or s.c. at one to two-month intervals. Skin dermatitis with marked hair loss appeared with clinical appearance of impetigo-like purulent infection seen as multiple lesions. Therefore, cephalexin was administered orally for 4 weeks together with topical antimicrobial treatments with chlorhexidine. In addition, nodular itchy tumors developed. Skin biopsies taken both from areas of dermatitis and nodular lesions revealed marked skin calcification that was treated with oral tetracycline 500 mg bid for 2 months and thereafter 500 mg per day for another 2 months. The itch disappeared in 2 weeks, dermatitis in about 2-3 weeks, and nodular tumors disappeared, and the hair regrew in about 3 months after the end of tetracycline treatment.