Lethal Acrodermatitis information
a disease characterized by growth retardation, skin disease of the face and feet, diarrhea, pneumonia, eating difficulties and increased susceptibility to microbial infections.
Lethal Acrodermatitis(LAD) is a rare inherited disorder of Bull Terriers caused by zinc deficiency. It is characterized by progressive inflammation of the skin and is always fatal.

clinical signs of acrodermatitis may include:

* growth retardation
* chronic bacterial skin inflammation marked by pus-filled lesions (pyoderma)
* inflammation of the footpad tissues and nails usually accompanied by yeast and fungal infection and pus formation (paronychia)
* diarrhea
* pneumonia
* tail chasing behavior

Although some of these signs are characteristic of zinc deficiency which is not related to LAD, the combination of the above signs in young Bull Terrier puppies should strongly indicate that they suffer from LAD. Affected puppies are lighter in color, and, usually by 1 to 3 months of age, the skin on their feet is red, covered with cracks and crust.

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