What it is
Skin is built in layers held together by tiny anchoring fibres made of a protein called collagen. In this inherited disease that protein is faulty or missing, so the layers are not firmly joined. Under friction they slide apart, fluid fills the gap and a blister forms, which soon breaks into a raw sore.
Signs appear in the first weeks of life, wherever the skin or the lining of the mouth meets pressure or rubbing: the paw pads, the mouth, the ears and the joints that touch the floor. The nails can be poorly anchored too.
Living with the condition means sparing the skin. Soft bedding, gentle handling, no rough play and a smooth collar or harness all reduce rubbing. Watch how your puppy eats when its mouth is sore, and look closely at every new sore so that infection is not missed.
Signs you may notice
- Blisters in the mouth
- Raw patches on the paw pads
- Scabs on the ears or joints
- Loose or shed nails
- Reluctant to eat
- Drooling
Blisters, raw patches and scabs may appear in a puppy's mouth, on the paw pads, the ears or other places that get rubbed, and nails may come loose or fall off. Some puppies find eating painful and are reluctant to eat.
When to see a vet
Have a vet look at any puppy that develops blisters, raw patches or loose nails. Sores that ooze, smell or spread, or a puppy that stops eating, need a vet the same day.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.