Successful medical and surgical treatment of dermal arteritis of the nasal philtrum in a Saint Bernard dog

Abstract

Sarah Vuolo, Lisa Peters, Louis Licari Department of Emergency and Critical Care, Fox Valley Animal Referral Center, Appleton, WI, USA Abstract: A four-year-old neutered male Saint Bernard dog presented with a 2 year history of nasal philtrum ulceration and recent recurrent arterial hemorrhage from this region. Dermal arteritis of the nasal philtrum was diagnosed and the patient was started on immunosuppressive medications. Clinical signs continued to recur until surgical resection of the lesions was performed. Dermal arteritis of the nasal philtrum is a rare phenomenon but should be considered in certain breeds. Surgical removal of affected tissue should be considered when medical treatment fails. Long-term management with cyclosporine was initiated which has not been previously described in the literature. Keywords: dermal arteritis, immunology, nasal resection, immunosuppression