Sterile nodular dermatitis in dogs.

The types of canine sterile nodular dermatitis discussed in this article have in common the clinical presentation of nodules or plaques; however, they differ in many aspects such as breed predilection, distribution and evolution of cutaneous lesions, systemic involvement, response to therapy, and prognosis. The definitive diagnosis should be based on multiple skin biopsy results. Other ancillary tests may be indicated in cases of systemic involvement. In addition, serum alpha1 antitrypsin can be measured to demonstrate the association between nodular panniculitis and serum alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency. A better understanding of the etiopathogenesis of each of these interesting skin conditions necessitates extensive and systematic diagnostic approaches.