Vet Med - Czech, 2025, 70(6):185-195 | DOI: 10.17221/10/2025-VETMED

Uveodermatological syndrome in dogs: A review of diagnosis, management, and ophthalmic patient needsReview

P Zubricky, A Balicka ORCID..., Z Drahovska, M Lapsanska, A Trbolova ORCID...
Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, Slovak Republic

Uveodermatological syndrome is a widely recognised disease that continues to raise significant concern among both veterinarians and pet owners. Its aetiology, although still unclear, is believed to involve an autoimmune origin and genetic predisposition. The most common clinical signs include skin depigmentation, alopecia, poliosis, and, most frequently, granulomatous panuveitis. Affected dogs often develop secondary complications owing to persistent intraocular inflammation, such as cataracts and glaucoma. Although immunosuppressive therapy often yields a favourable response, recurrence is commonly observed. In some cases, uveodermatological syndrome presents a clinical challenge, as patients may experience adverse effects from medications, without which irreversible blindness may ensue.

Keywords: autoimmune diseases; canine; depigmentation; uveitis

Received: February 11, 2025; Revised: May 22, 2025; Accepted: May 22, 2025; Prepublished online: June 25, 2025; Published: June 30, 2025  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Zubricky P, Balicka A, Drahovska Z, Lapsanska M, Trbolova A. Uveodermatological syndrome in dogs: A review of diagnosis, management, and ophthalmic patient needs. Vet Med - Czech. 2025;70(6):185-195. doi: 10.17221/10/2025-VETMED.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Angles JM, Famula TR, Pedersen NC. Uveodermatologic (VKH-like) syndrome in American Akita dogs is associated with an increased frequency of DQA1*00201. Tissue Antigens. 2005;66(6):656-65. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    2. Asakura S, Takahashi T, Onishi T. [Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome (uveitis diffusa acuta) in a dog]. Jpn J Vet Med. 1977;(673):445-55. Japanese.
    3. Baiker K, Scurrell E, Wagner T, Walker D, Solano-Gallego L, Holt E, Smyth B, Summers BA, Schoniger S. Polymyositis following Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome in a Jack Russell Terrier. J Comp Pathol. 2011 May;144(4):317-23. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    4. Barros PSDM, Safatle AMV, Malerba TA, Yrio K, Alvarenga J, Larsson MHMA. Uveite e dermodespigmentacao (Sindrome de Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada) em caes Akita [Uveitis and depigmentation (Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome) in Akita dogs]. Braz J Vet Res Anim Sci. 1991;28(1):75. Portuguese. Go to original source...
    5. Blackwood SE, Barrie KP, Plummer CE, Taylor D, Nunnery CM, Seltzer JD, Ben-Shlomo G, Brooks DE. Uveodermatologic syndrome in a Rat Terrier. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2011;47(4):e56-63. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    6. Cottell BD, Barnett KC. Harada's disease in the Japanese Akita. J Small Anim Pract. 1987;28(6):517-21. Go to original source...
    7. Denerolle P, Tessier M, Molon-Noblot S. [Nerve lesions in a Siberian Husky suffering from a uveodermatological syndrome]. Prat Med Chir Anim Comp. 2000;35(4):273-8. French.
    8. Dubielzig R, Ketring KL, McLellan GJ, Albert DM. Veterinary ocular pathology. 1st ed. Philadelphia: Saunders; 2010. 456 p. Go to original source...
    9. Egbeto IA, Garelli CJ, Piedra-Mora C, Wong NB, David CN, Robinson NA, Richmond JM. Case series: Gene expression analysis in canine Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada/uveodermatologic syndrome and vitiligo reveals conserved immunopathogenesis pathways between dog and human autoimmune pigmentary disorders. Front Immunol. 2020;11:590558. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    10. Gaudreau LP, Moy LJ, Lindsay F. An unusual cause of vertigo, tinnitus, and hyperacusis: Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome. Ear Nose Throat J. 2012;91(12):E7-9. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    11. Gelatt KN. Veterinary ophthalmology. 6th ed. Hoboken: Wiley Blackwell; 2021. 2752 p.
    12. Gould D, McLellan GJ. BSAVA manual of canine and feline ophthalmology. 3rd ed. Quedgeley, Gloucester: British Small Animal Veterinary Association; 2014. 424 p.
    13. Inomata H, Sakamoto T. Immunohistochemical studies of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease with sunset sky fundus. Curr Eye Res. 1990;9(Suppl_1):35-40. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    14. Kang M, Sung H, Daeyoung K, Park H. Uveodermatologic syndrome in a Siberian Husky: Clinical and histopathological findings. Pak Vet J. 2013;34:140-2.
    15. Kang MH, Lim CY, Park HM. Uveodermatologic syndrome concurrent with keratoconjunctivitis sicca in a miniature poodle dog. Can Vet J. 2014;55(6):585-8.
    16. Kern TJ, Walton DK, Riis RC, Manning TO, Laratta LJ, Dziezyc J. Uveitis associated with poliosis and vitiligo in six dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1985;187(4):408-14. Go to original source...
    17. Laus JL, Sousa MG, Cabral VP, Mamede FV, Tinucci-Costa M. Uveodermatologic syndrome in a Brazilian Fila dog. Vet Ophthalmol. 2004;7(3):193-6. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    18. Lavezzo MM, Sakata VM, Morita C, Rodriguez EEC, Abdallah SF, Da Silva FTG, Hirata CE, Yamamoto JH. Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease: Review of a rare autoimmune disease targeting antigens of melanocytes. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2016;11(1):29. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    19. Lindley DM, Boosinger TR, Cox NR. Ocular histopathology of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome in an Akita dog. Vet Pathol. 1990;27(4):294-6. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    20. O'Keefe GAD, Rao NA. Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease. Surv Ophthalmol. 2017;62(1):1-25. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    21. Pandiani C, Beranger GE, Leclerc J, Ballotti R, Bertolotto C. Focus on cutaneous and uveal melanoma specificities. Genes Dev. 2017;31(8):724-43. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    22. Pye CC. Uveodermatologic syndrome in an Akita. Can Vet J. 2009;50(8):861-4.
    23. Read RW, Holland GN, Rao NA, Tabbara KF, Ohno S, Arellanes-Garcia L, Pivetti-Pezzi P, Tessler HH, Usui M. Revised diagnostic criteria for Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease: Report of an international committee on nomenclature. Am J Ophthalmol. 2001;131(5):647-52. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    24. Romanowski J. A uveodermatological syndrome in an Akita dog. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 1985;21:777-80.
    25. Sakamoto T. Class II major histocompatibility complex on melanocytes of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease. Arch Ophthalmol. 1991;109(9):1270. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    26. Sarna T. New trends in photobiology. J Photochem Photobiol B. 1992;12(3):215-58. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    27. Scott D. Immune-mediated disorders. In: Scott DW, Miller WH Jr, Griffin CE, editors. Muller & Kirk's small animal dermatology. 6th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2001. p. 667-79. Go to original source...
    28. Sigle KJ, McLellan GJ, Haynes JS, Myers RK, Betts DM. Unilateral uveitis in a dog with uveodermatologic syndrome. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2006;228(4):543-8. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    29. Tham HL, Linder KE, Olivry T. Autoimmune diseases affecting skin melanocytes in dogs, cats and horses: Vitiligo and the uveodermatological syndrome: A comprehensive review. BMC Vet Res. 2019;15(1):251. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    30. Thomas O, Chahory S. [A case of uveodermatologic syndrome in a Bernese Mountain dog]. Prat Med Chir Anim Comp. 2009;44(2):55-61. French. Go to original source...
    31. Yamaki K, Gocho K, Hayakawa K, Kondo I, Sakuragi S. Tyrosinase family proteins are antigens specific to Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease. J Immunol. 2000;165(12):7323-9. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    32. Zarfoss MK, Tusler CA, Kass PH, Montgomery K, Lim CC, Mowat F, Thomasy SM. Clinical findings and outcomes for dogs with uveodermatologic syndrome. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2018;252(10):1263-71. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content