free shipping over $100 (USA & Canada)

1-877-937-4372 the pet expert hotline

free shipping over $100 (USA & Canada)

ES Clear™ for dogs

A Vet-Approved Natural Canine Cancer Support Supplement

USD $44.95
ES Clear™ for dogs USD $44.95 Add to Cart

Vet Talk: Lupus in Dogs – Everything You Need To Know

Vet Talks 3 min read
Vet Talk: Lupus in Dogs – Everything You Need To Know

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a fairly rare and potentially fatal autoimmune disease that mostly affects dogs. Although rare, it is believed that many cases of SLE go undiagnosed. In today’s blog, we’ll touch on what to look for (signs and symptoms of SLE in pets) and how to best manage your pet with SLE.

There are 2 forms of autoimmune disease. One is called Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, which affects multiple systems within the body. The other form is called lupus erythematosus (DLE), which affects mostly the skin. SLE is the more serious form of the disease. In SLE, the dog’s immune system fights itself by forming antibodies that attack its own cells and tissues. SLE results in overall inflammation of the body and can lead to potential organ damage; it’s important to be aware of the disease so management can begin as soon as possible.

The most common signs of SLE are arthritis that affects several joints, uncomfortable muscles, shifting lameness, skin sores, and blisters, protein in the urine, decreased platelet and white blood cell count, fluctuating fevers, and immune-mediated hemolytic anemia.

Some breeds of dogs like Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, German Shepherds, Afghan Hounds, Beagles, Poodles, and Irish Setters are more at risk of SLE.

One of the reasons for the disease going undiagnosed is that the signs and symptoms of the SLE are similar to other health issues pets may have, such as drug reactions and cancer.

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.

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).

Recommended NHV Supplements For SLE in Dogs

NHV ES Clear to help with overall immune function and support hemoglobin levels.

BK Detox, which is good for pets with compromised immune systems. It acts as a support for the blood and helps flush toxins and impurities. It is also high in antioxidants.

NHV Felimm, which will continue to help support the immune system, detoxify the blood and lymphatic system.

NHV Multi Essentials, plant-based nutritional support. Extra nutritional support is especially important since a low protein diet is recommended for pets with SLE.

NHV Turmeric, which is high in antioxidants, helps scavenge free radicals and is good support for heart health and arthritis.

NHV PetOmega 3 to make sure your dog has those essential fatty acids and for it’s anti-inflammatory actions.

NHV Yucca to help with digestion and inflammation. With lupus, the body is in an inflamed state and the Yucca will help.

We hope you do reach out if you have any questions with your dog or cat who may be suffering from lupus. We are available for a holistic vet consult, which can be booked here.

Dr. Hillary Cook DVM

Dr. Hillary Cook DVM

Dr. Hillary Cook is a graduate of Virginia Maryland Regional Veterinary Medical school. She has been practicing holistic and integrative veterinary medicine for over 20 years. She certified in Veterinary acupuncture and is fully qualified in Western and Chinese herbalism. She is the owner of Animal Wellness Center, an integrative veterinary clinic in Crozet, VA. She enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of pets including dogs, cats, and chickens. When time allows, you can find her in the garden or on the tennis court!

Published: May 10, 2017

16 replies

  1. Jill Carson says:

    My daughter has a German Sheppard with Lupus. His eye lid is encircled with blood. Can you recommend a supplement that can help this poor lovable family pet that is so good with the little children. Thank you.

    1. NHV Natural Pet Products says:

      Oh Jill, we’re so sorry your sweet grand-pup is going through this Lupus is an autoimmune condition, so we recommend products which help to balance the immune system. ES Clear can help support immune system health, as well as Natures Immuno. Other symptoms of Lupus can be addressed on a symptomatic basis. For your pup, Ey Eas may be beneficial depending on what’s causing the troubles. You may be interested in reading Dr. Cooks blog about Lupus here: https://nhvpethealth.com/vet-talk-lupus-in-dogs-everything-you-need-to-know/

      Please don’t hesitate to reach out any time you have any questions

    2. NHV Natural Pet Products says:

      Hello Jill,

      We are so sorry to hear of your daughters German Shepard’s condition.

      A few supplements we can recommend you’ll find within the article. In particular, our veterinary team in this case would recommend Yucca, Turmeric and Milk Thistle. These products will help to support the immune response, organ function and reduce inflammation.

      We wish this wonderful German Shepard and his beautiful, caring family the very best and we hope to support this fur kiddo continue living his life with your precious children.

  2. Lori says:

    my German shepherd, Gretchen, was recently diagnosed with SLE lupus. Her toenails started falling off. Do you have a product that will help prevent them from falling off?

    1. NHV Natural Pet Products says:

      Hello Lori,

      We’re so sorry that your beloved Shepard is going through this, it’s so hard when our beloved pets are ailing. Although we do not have a product to prevent the nails from falling off, there are supplements you can use to strengthen their hair, skin and nails as well as support their compromised immune system. Petomega 3 will provide essential fatty acids that help to support healthy skin, hair and nails. Multi Essentials will provide essential vitamins and minerals that your pets system may not be able to sustain and ensure that your pet has the tools to fight the illness.

      Please reach out should you have any questions or concerns and we are more than happy to help you and your beloved fur kiddo

  3. Ellana says:

    Hello…My 4 year old Cocker Spaniel has a dx of DLE Lupus. We have him on antibiotics and steroids for the moment. I’m looking for a more natural way of managing his lupus. I have read about Sulfer, Vitamins B&E, plus Omegas. I’m not sure where to start. Any information that youo can provide to me would be great. His current Vet is open to natural methods but has no experience with supplements. I have him on a limited ingredient dog food. Thank you so much.

    1. Raphael M says:

      Hi Ellana, we’re so sorry to hear about your furbaby. You can definitely follow Dr. Cook’s recommendation on the blog for the treatment of Lupus. The recommended supplements are:
      – ES Clear to help with overall immune function and support hemoglobin levels.
      – BK Detox, which is good for pets with compromised immune systems. It acts as a support for the blood and helps flush toxins and impurities. It is also high in antioxidants.
      – Felimm, which will continue to help support the immune system, detoxify the blood and lymphatic system.
      – Multi Essentials, plant-based nutritional support. Extra nutritional support is especially important since a low protein diet is recommended for pets with SLE.
      – Turmeric, which is high in antioxidants, helps scavenge free radicals and is good support for heart health and arthritis.
      – PetOmega 3 to make sure your dog has those essential fatty acids and for its anti-inflammatory actions.
      – Yucca to help with digestion and inflammation. With lupus, the body is in an inflamed state and the Yucca will help.

  4. My 12 yr old dog (lab, pit ,German shepherd)was diagnosed lupas in January steroids did not help. she slowed down this month and took a dramatic decline this weekend. We have to help her up and walk cause she stumbles, she’s gets hot easily, decline in eating and now only soft food small pieces. She sleeps all day long. She got disoriented going to her dog door and had a panic attack because she also had no idea how to back up. Calling vet in morning, but just found your website thought I’d express my concern. Daisy is my baby.

    1. Team NHV says:

      Hi Brandi,

      Oh dear, we’re sorry to hear that your pupper has been diagnosed with Lupus . We can imagine how incredibly difficult it is to see her in pain and not acting like herself and refusing to eat. We asked our in-house-vet Dr. Aline what she recommends that would help your sweet girl, and this was her recommendation:

      “For her case, since it’s an autoimmune disease we’d recommend Yucca, and since she’s having some neurological disorders we’d add Natures Immuno, Petomega 3, and Turmeric as well.
      Diet will be important too so it’s always good to check with the vet for a balanced diet that could provide good support for this condition and we can also recommend a Nutritional Plan.”

      We’re here for you and Daisy whatever you two need, Brandi. We are sending you both love and positive thoughts and are always here for you for any questions you may have.

      Yours in wellness,
      Karin
      Team NHV

  5. Marlena Tempelers says:

    My 19 months old French Bulldog is diagnosed with Steroids Responsive Meningitis Arthritis and she is now on Prednisone. I am giving her raw lean diet, veggies, fruit, Omega 3 such as sardines, green lipped mussel. But I want to add supplements in her diet, especially to detox her body. Are these supplements can be taken together with Prednisone?

    1. Team NHV says:

      Hi Marlena,

      Thank you for reaching out to us.

      We’re sorry to hear about your pup’s diagnosis, we can’t imagine how tough this has been on you. Please know that we’re always here if you ever need anything at all. We can tell you’ve been taking such great care of your sweetheart and we couldn’t be more thankful for you!

      Thank you for your great question as well! Our supplements are totally safe to be used in conjunction with traditional medication, we just suggest spacing out about 20 mins to 2 hours between when you administer her medication and our supplements, just to avoid overwhelming her.

      We have a few suggestions that we think could help to keep your little one as comfortable and as happy as possible:

      First, we’d recommend our Yucca supplement. This powerful supplement can help to reduce discomfort, support joint health, and can help to stimulate appetite.

      More on Yucca for you:

      https://www.nhvnaturalpetproducts.com/yucca-appetite-stimulant-for-dogs

      Next, we’d suggest BK-Detox. This supplement can help to flush toxins, scavenge free radicals, and supports against fungal, viral, and bacterial infections.

      Here’s more information on BK-Detox for you:

      https://www.nhvnaturalpetproducts.com/bk-detox-canine-immune-system-support

      Lastly, because your sweetheart is taking traditional medication, we recommend using Milk Thistle because medications can be hard on a furkiddos liver. Milk Thistle can also help to detoxify the liver and improves liver and kidney function.

      Here’s more on Milk Thistle for you:

      https://www.nhvnaturalpetproducts.com/milk-thistle-for-liver-disease-in-dogs

      We hope that all this helps! Please feel free to reach out to us any time you need us. Sending you lots and lots of love!

      Yours in wellness,
      Team NHV

  6. Liz says:

    My 10-year-old Cane Corso has been diagnosed with lupus for the last 6 months it is eating the paws off of her feet her toenails are falling off and her face is a meth mess she is on four steroids a day and also I put paw balm on her all over her face and feet and have booties for her feet which leave huge dry scabs hanging off and when she walks leaves bloody marks on the floor what could I do to help her please

    1. Team NHV says:

      Hi Liz,

      Thank you so much for reaching out to us.

      We can’t imagine how uncomfortable your little sweetheart must be right now. Thank you so much for being there for her when she needed you most.

      We have a few suggestions that we think could help to keep your little one as comfortable as possible:

      First, we’d recommend Yucca. This all-natural supplement can help to reduce discomfort, stimulate appetite, and works as a natural steroid.

      Here’s more information on Yucca for you:
      https://www.nhvnaturalpetproducts.com/yucca-appetite-stimulant-for-dogs

      In addition to Yucca, we’d also recommend Natures Immuno. This is our medicinal mushroom blend that can help balance the immune system, fight off chronic infections, and promotes heart and cardiovascular health.

      Here’s more on Natures Immuno for you: https://www.nhvnaturalpetproducts.com/natures-immuno-medicinal-mushroom-blend-dogs

      Please feel free to reach out to us any time you have a question, or even if you just want to chat. We’re always here for you!

      Sending lots of love to you and your sweet furkiddo!

      Yours in wellness,
      Team NHV

  7. Team NHV says:

    Hi Terry,

    Thank you so much for reaching out to us.

    We’re so sorry to hear about your little ones lupus diagnosis. We can’t even imagine how stressful this all must be for you and your precious girl. Please know that we’re right here with you any time you need us, feel free to reach out.

    Our main recommendations for lupus in dogs would be our Natures Immuno, as well as our Felimm.

    Natures Immuno is our medicinal mushroom blend that can help to balance the immune system, fight chronic viral infections, and can help to reduce inflammation.

    More on Natures Immuno here: https://www.nhvnaturalpetproducts.com/natures-immuno-medicinal-mushroom-blend-dogs

    Felimm can help to detoxify the lymphatic system, support upper respiratory tract health, and contains powerful antioxidant properties.

    Here’s more on Felimm: https://www.nhvnaturalpetproducts.com/felimm-for-canine-viral-infections

    As you’ve already said, we definitely recommend adding Milk Thistle to your girls regimen as well! Especially since she’s on pharmaceuticals that can be tough on the liver and kidneys over time.

    To help with her breathing, we would suggest our Resp-Aid formulation. The herbs in this blend can help to promote healthy breathing, reduce coughs, and can help to relieve congestion.

    More on Resp-Aid here: https://www.nhvnaturalpetproducts.com/resp-aid-for-dog-respiratory-infection

    Please let us know if you have any questions whatsoever, we’d be more than happy to help.

    Sending lots of love and healing energy your way!

    Yours in wellness,
    Team NHV

  8. ken mott says:

    I was told my Australian shepherd has cutaneaus lupus or phemphigus.
    I have been treating it well animax appointment and vitamin E and niacin supplements.
    with no success.

    1. Team NHV says:

      Hi Ken,

      We’re sorry to hear about your little one’s condition. We understand how frustrating it can be to see your precious pet suffer from diseases.

      To help support their condition, we recommend trying our Natures Immuno, Stimmune, and Yucca, as they may offer support for furkiddos with lupus.

      Natures Immuno is a medicinal mushroom blend specifically designed to help balance the immune response, which is essential in autoimmune diseases like lupus. It may also promote the health of vital organs, which can be negatively affected by lupus.

      Stimmune is formulated to provide immune support and contains beneficial herbs such as Astragalus, which has been recognized for its potential benefits in cases of auto-immune disease. Additionally, Asian Ginseng is included in the formula to help increase energy levels.

      Yucca is another supplement with anti-inflammatory properties. In cases of lupus, where the body experiences inflammation, Yucca can help soothe the inflammatory response.

      We hope this information helps! Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any further questions.

      Yours in wellness,
      Team NHV

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like