What is the Treatment for SLE in Dogs?
SLE can be managed, not cured, while the disease itself is chronic (signs of SLE can be acute, chronic, or both). Lifelong medical management is necessary at all stages.
As SLE affects many systems in the dog’s body, we recommend using multiple supplements to help support the body.
Treatment is mainly aimed at decreasing the inflammation and autoimmune activity, which is why western treatment centers around anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medications such as steroids, and sometimes includes additional immunosuppressants such as azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, or cyclosporine.
Prognosis depends entirely on how each dog (or cat) is affected, but owners can expect that their pets will require lifelong treatment.
In general, autoimmune diseases can be helped holistically by a restricted protein diet, probiotics, antioxidants, herbal supplementation, and fatty acid supplementation.
As SLE affects many systems in the dog’s body, we recommend using multiple supplements to help support the body. All supplements can be taken together and should be given at the therapeutic dosage or higher (please call an NHV Pet Expert if you have dosage questions).
How Your Vet Will Diagnose SLE in Pets
There is no single test to diagnose SLE. Blood tests and urine analysis are required for diagnosis. Some dogs and cats test positive for ANA (anti-nuclear antibodies). Diagnosis is typically made using a combination of a positive ANA test with one significant sign plus two less significant signs of SLE. It can be difficult to make a positive diagnosis since other problems, such as drug reactions, cancer, kidney disease, muscular-skeletal disorders can all have many of the same signs or symptoms.
Limping That Switches Legs
Lupus can also cause muscle pain which results in a dog limping and crying when attempting to stand or walk. The limping can switch between legs since the muscle pain is often in more than one place and an attempt to pet a dogs leg that has lupus may even result in a dog crying if it is hurting enough.