Periodical recurrences of interdigital blood blisters on the forelimbs of seven dogs

Abstract

Periodically repeating interdigital blood blisters were observed on the forelimbs of seven dogs: three Pekinese, three shih tzu, and one French bull dog. Average age of onset was 4.3 years old. Acute swelling along with lameness bilaterally or unilaterally appeared mainly at the 2nd and the 4th digital areas. The lesions healed within a few days, but reappeared repeatedly around one week to two months later. Anteflexion, and valgus of the forelimbs were prominent in all cases. Four cases with long-term observation were treated with carbazochrome sodium sulfonate hydrate as vascular reinforcement and went into remission. We speculate that vesicular rupture due to breed-related or age-related fragility associated structural distortion may play a role as a pathogenesis.