Uveo Dermatological Syndrome

Inflamed Eyes, Pale Coat Symptoms of Rare Uveodermatological Syndrome

One of the rarer conditions that can strike your dog is known as Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome (VKH) or uveodermatological syndrome (UDS). In humans the disease is caused by an autoimmune response in which the person's own T-cells mistakenly attack the body's melanin-forming cells. These are the cells responsible for the color of a person's skin, hair and eyes. Specifically, the disease attacks the front portion of the eye, known as the uvea, which is the dark portion of the eye containing blood vessels. In many cases the iris also is involved, and occasionally the back portion of the eye is affected as well.It's not yet known how UDS occurs in dogs, but it's believed to also be connected to the autoimmune response. Other potential, but not yet proven, causes include infections, metabolic disease, tumors and trauma or injury to the eye. [...]

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