Nodular Dermatofibrosis - Inherited Health Disorder
Nodular Dermatofibrosis is a health disorder when lumps form on the dog skin. These lumps can grow and, in severe cases, thmeasuring from 0.1 to 2 inches ose on the feet often ulcerate or cause foot deformities and lameness. This skin disorder is usually associated with underlying canine kidney or uterus cancer (in unspayed female dogs).
If you noticed lameness and any unusual growths on the dog's legs, and that your dog drinks and urinates more than usual, has blood in the urine, lost his appetite, vomits and loses weight, then kidney, uterus cancer or intestinal polyps should be considered as a possible cause of these symptoms.
Although the diagnosis is fairly simple, there is no treatment for this condition. It is thought to be hereditary.
Can I breed a Dog Affected by Nodular Dermatofibrosis?
Affected dogs should NOT be bred. The mean age at the first detection of nodular dermatofibrosis in dogs is 3-5 years, therefore it is very important for the young dogs to be tested for microscopic kidney lesions as early as 1 year of age before the dogs are used for breeding to detect possible disease carriers. The most commonly affected breed is German shepherd dog, but has also been reported in Golden Retrievers and some other breeds.