Hep atop athy and dermatitis in a dog associated with the ingestion of mycotoxins

A five‐year‐old German shepherd dog was presented with a severe scrotal dermatitis of four weeks duration which had failed to respond to antibiotic and corticosteroid therapy. Dermato‐histopathology indicated that the lesion was a necrolytic process suggestive of the hepatocuta‐neous syndrome. Clinical biochemistry investigations indicated the presence of acute hepatocellular damage and cholestasis. The animal was fed a biscuit meal which was damp and mouldy. Penicillium vindication was grown from this feedstuff and three mycotoxins, citrinin, ochratoxin A and sterigmatocystin, were found; substances which have been associated with renal and hepatic lesions in dogs and laboratory animals. Symptomatic therapy and nutritional management, led to rapid clinical improvement. Subsequent plasma biochemistry confirmed that hepatic enzyme activities were returning to normal levels.