Use of corticosteroids and aurothioglucose in a pygmy goat with pemphigus foliaceus.

Pemphigus foliaceus was diagnosed in a 20-month-old female pygmy goat. The goat had a 3-month history of chronic exfoliative dermatitis and was examined after developing alopecia and severe, asymmetric, diffuse flakes of dry, nonadherent skin scales. Pemphigus foliaceus was diagnosed on the basis of dermatohistologic findings and was confirmed by analysis of results of direct immunofluorescence testing of perilesional specimens obtained by use of a punch biopsy. The goat was successfully treated with prednisolone (immunosuppressive induction dosage; 1 mg/kg of body weight, IM, q 12 h). Remission was achieved in 1 week and was maintained by use of prednisolone (immunosuppressive maintenance dosage; 1 mg/kg, IM, q 48 h). Treatment with aurothioglucose (1 mg/kg, IM, q 7 d) that was initiated during administration of prednisolone and was continued after discontinuation of corticosteroid administration failed to prevent redevelopment of pemphigus foliaceus.