Shelter Dog Diagnosed With Rare Disorder – See How Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Altered Her Appearance
Faith, a Pit Bull living in Kansas City, Missouri, is not your typical rescue dog. Born with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Faith’s story has captured the hearts of many after her foster parent shared her journey on TikTok. Faith’s striking appearance—wide-set eyes, splayed toes, curled ears, and the absence of eyelids—are physical signs of this rare condition. But it’s the underlying challenge of her skin’s fragility that sets her apart.
After noticing her unusual features, Faith’s foster family had her undergo a skin biopsy, which confirmed the EDS diagnosis. In many shelters, a diagnosis like this would lead to euthanasia due to the complexity of her care needs. But Faith’s fate took a different turn when the shelter reached out to Paws-N-Claws, a rescue in Iowa known for taking on special cases.
Paws-N-Claws then connected Faith with Sara, an experienced foster parent specializing in dogs with medical needs. Sara’s months of dedication and care gave Faith the chance to heal and thrive until she was adopted into a loving forever home with her two new moms.
Faith’s journey not only highlights the struggles that come with EDS in dogs but also the power of compassion and rescue efforts.
@pitbulls.rescues.kcmo #PawsnclawsIowa #ehlersdanlossyndrome #ehlersdanlos #foryoupage #fyp #fosterlife #fostercare #puppytiktok #rescuelife @pnciowa ♬ I'M FEELING LUCKY – Ellen Once Again
Ehler-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) in Dogs
According to David Grant, a veterinarian with 25+ years of experience, “Ehlers-Danlos syndrome refers to a group of inherited connective tissue disorders resulting in defective collagen synthesis.”
The condition was first identified in humans by Danish dermatologist Edvard Ehlers and French dermatologist Henri Danlos in the early 20th century.
To date, seven primary types have been classified, impacting joints, skin, and blood vessels. The most prevalent form is characterized by joint hypermobility. Classical types 1 and 2 involve skin manifestations with varying severity levels. The extremely rare dermatosparaxis type is marked by exceptionally fragile skin prone to tearing.
In veterinary medicine, this disorder has been observed in various domestic animals, including sheep, cattle, mink, dogs, and cats. Notably, most reported cases in animals involve impaired skin extensibility.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in Dogs Symptoms
Dr. Grant says the disease has a genetic basis, which means that puppies are typically at increased risk of inheriting and developing the condition. Additionally, he lists the following symptoms that are commonly found in dogs with EDS:
- Skin Hyperextensibility: Skin is extremely stretchy and can be stretched to abnormal lengths.
- Easy Skin Tears: Skin tears easily, even with minor trauma.
- Large Wound Formation: Minor injuries can result in large, gaping wounds with minimal bleeding.
- Frequent Wound Repair: Undiagnosed cases often involve repeated veterinary visits for wound suturing.
- Poor Wound Healing: Wounds may break down despite careful suturing, leading to excessive scarring.
- Joint Hypermobility (rare): Joints may exhibit excessive flexibility and mobility.
One dog parent describes on Reddit how fragile is their dog’s skin. User, r/Pharose, explains, “He has a small hi-vis jacket that he sometimes wears in rainy weather, which has Velcro straps, but one day we were taking his jacket off and the Velcro made contact with his fur and it took off a small patch of hair AND skin with it! The patch of skin was about as big as a dime but shaped like a triangle, and we could see right to the flesh under the skin.” In the comment section, the user has confirmed that their dog has EDS.
Diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in Dogs
Here is how EDS can be diagnosed:
Step 1: Veterinary Check-up
Your vet will examine your pet and ask about their medical history. They’ll look for signs like:
- Frequent skin tears and wounds.
- Slow healing or reopening of wounds.
- Scars from past wounds.
Step 2: Identifying Suspicious Signs
- If your pet has repeated minor injuries that tear their skin.
- If wounds take longer to heal or break open again.
Step 3: Further Tests
- Skin Stretch Test: Measures how stretchy your pet’s skin is. If a dog’s skin stretches more than 14.5% of its body length.
- Skin Biopsy: A sample of skin is examined under a microscope. It helps identify abnormal collagen (a protein that gives skin strength).
What Do the Test Results Show?
- Abnormal collagen fibers that are broken or disorganized.
- Special stains (like Masson’s trichrome) can highlight these abnormalities.
Step 4: Confirming the Diagnosis
If the vet is still unsure, they may use a powerful microscope (electron microscopy) to confirm.
Treatment of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in Dogs
EDS is an incurable disease in dogs, as per Dr. Grant. It is usually inherited from parents, so the first thing to remember if you have a dog with EDS is to not breed them.
There are ways to manage Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in dogs so that their quality of life is not affected and they can live up to their normal life expectancy. Here is how:
- Walk your dog on a leash while avoiding areas with thorns or sharp objects.
- Remove/cover sharp furniture edges in your home.
- Monitor for disorders that cause itching.
- Keep their nails short and blunt so they don’t harm themselves accidentally.
- Their wounds require prompt veterinary attention and gentle treatment with mattress sutures. Allow extra time for healing and monitor closely for signs of infection or wound breakdown.
