Uveodermatologic syndrome, also known as Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome, is a disease that impacts your dog’s eyes and hair.

Uveodermatologic syndrome causes an inflammation in your dog’s eyes that leads to blindness. Your dog’s eyes will be red and appear painful. His pupils will be constricted and his eyes may be cloudy. Your dog might also seem to have reduced vision. For example, he will begin to bump into and trip over things. 3 to 6 months after the disease begins to attack your dog’s eyes, his coat will begin to whiten. The whitening will be most commonly limited to his facial hairs. Your dog’s skin will also begin to lighten, and this lightening will usually be most obvious on his nose, lips, eyelids, footpads and scrotum.

It is not known how your dog may contract uveodermatological syndrome. However certain cold-weather breeds, such as Akitas and Siberian Huskies, seem to be at higher risk.

A biopsy is needed to properly diagnose uveodermatological syndrome.

The treatment of uveodermatological syndrome is usually focused on preventing further eye damage as eye damage is generally the most serious consequence of uveodermatological syndrome. Treatment includes topical corticosteroid ophthalmic solutions and oral corticosteriods. Dogs afflicted with uveodermatological syndrome will require lifelong treatment.

There is no known prevention for uveodermatological syndrome.

No, you cannot contract uveodermatological syndrome from your dog.