Veterinary Guide to Panniculitis in Dogs (2025)🐶 

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

🔍 Introduction

Panniculitis is inflammation of the subcutaneous fat (panniculus). While uncommon, it can signal trauma, infection, autoimmune disease, or idiopathic origins. Timely diagnosis and treatment are key to avoiding complications. 🩺

💡 What Is Panniculitis?

• Inflammation of the fat layer under the skin, often causing firm or soft nodules, sometimes ulcerated, which may drain oily or sanguinous fluid.
• May be solitary or multifocal; systemic signs—fever, lethargy, inappetence—may wax and wane with lesion development.

⚠️ Causes & Risk Factors

• Infectious: bacterial, fungal—requires culture to identify pathogens.
• Non-infectious: trauma, injections, pancreatitis, autoimmune disease, vitamin E deficiency, drug reactions.
• Sterile idiopathic: often idiopathic; Dachshunds, Miniature Poodles and Collies appear predisposed.

🚨 Clinical Signs

• Firm or soft subcutaneous nodules on trunk, neck, flanks; may ulcerate or drain oily or bloody fluid.
• Often non-painful, but systemic illness—fever, malaise, reduced appetite—is common.

🔬 Diagnostic Approach

• Fine-needle aspiration or biopsy confirms panniculitis and rules out infection or neoplasia.
• Culture of biopsy or aspirate rules out bacterial/fungal causes.
• Clinicopathologic tests (CBC, chemistry, urinalysis) help identify systemic disease like pancreatitis or autoimmune disorders.

🛠 Treatment Strategies

• Surgical excision: ideal for solitary nodules.
• Infectious forms: treat underlying infection with appropriate antimicrobials.
• Sterile idiopathic cases:
  • Immunosuppressive therapy—corticosteroids, cyclosporine, tetracycline + niacinamide—often effective.
  • Vitamin E supplementation may help mild cases.

📈 Prognosis & Follow‑Up

• Prognosis is good when underlying cause is identified or idiopathic disease responds to therapy; sterile nodules often regress within weeks.
• Recurrences occur in some cases and may require long-term therapy.
• In systemic disease—like pancreatitis or IBD—treating that condition resolves panniculitis.

🛡 Prevention & Care Tips

• Avoid unnecessary injections or trauma at predisposed sites.
• Monitor and treat underlying diseases proactively (e.g., pancreatitis, IBD, autoimmune disease).
• Breed screening for predisposed breeds; implement dietary support such as vitamin E supplementation.

🔧 Tools & Services

• Ask A Vet App: 24/7 guidance on initial evaluation, biopsy decisions, treatment plans, and progress monitoring 📱

✅ Final Thoughts

Panniculitis in dogs can be a benign, surgically resolved issue or a marker of systemic illness. With accurate diagnostics, immunomodulatory or surgical therapy, and proactive follow-up, most dogs recover well. Tools like Ask A Vet support owners in managing this condition with confidence into 2025 and beyond. 🐾❤️

Download the Ask A Vet app today for expert support with skin nodules, biopsy planning, and long‑term care tracking. 📱💡