English Cocker Spaniels (ECS) suffer from a distinctive form of chronic pancreatitis (CP) associated with large numbers of duct and vein-centred T-lymphocytes on histology. Recent studies show a predominance of IgG4 positive plasma cells on immunohistochemistry in affected dogs, suggesting a disease similar to human IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). IgG4-RD typically affects older men and multiple organs, particularly causing inflammatory mass lesions in the pancreas and dry eye, dry mouth and glomerulonephritis. We recognized a similar spectrum of diseases in ECSs presenting to our centre with CP and observed an over-representation of roan dogs. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features of these ECS.

ECSs with CP presenting to the QVSH between December 2011 and March 2017 were recruited. CP was diagnosed either with pancreatic histology (n=2) or with both elevated cPLI and abnormal pancreatic ultrasound (n= 9, of which one had positive fine needle aspirate cytology). Case records were searched for details of signalment, clinical and clinicopathological findings, particularly evidence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS); xerostomia; proteinuria or other immune-mediated diseases.

Twenty ECS presented with suspected CP but only 12 dogs fulfilled the strict inclusion criteria. There were 8 females and 4 males. Median age was 9 years (range 4.3 years–14 years). Six out of 10 dogs were blue roan and 1/10 was orange roan. All dogs had gastrointestinal signs and pain. Seven out of 10 dogs where tears were checked had KCS. Six out of 7 cases had dry oral mucous membranes suggesting xerostomia; 8/11 dogs had proteinuria (urine protein:creatinine ratio range 0.7–8.3). Four cases had UPC <2 but in 2/4 cases it increased >2 on subsequent visits. Glomerulonephritis was confirmed post mortem in one dog. Two dogs had atopy; one had inflammatory bowel disease and one had pemphigus foliaceus. Three dogs had biliary tract disease. One dog had epilepsy and two dogs developed intervertebral disc disease. Three dogs had large mass lesions in the pancreas which resolved on symptomatic treatment.

CP in ECSs shows remarkable clinical similarities to human IgG4-RD with a high prevalence of KCS, xerostomia, proteinuria and other immune-mediated diseases. Affected dogs can present with benign mass-like pancreatic lesions. The disease appears to be more common in blue roan dogs.

Disclosures

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