What Is Calcinosis Cutis?
Calcinosis cutis is a skin condition in which calcium salts collect in the deeper layers of the skin. The deposits form hard, gritty, raised patches or plaques that can crack open, ooze chalky material and become infected. It mainly affects dogs and is uncommon in cats.
Most common cause
In dogs, calcinosis cutis is most often a sign of too much cortisol, either from Cushing’s disease or from long-term steroid medication such as prednisone.
Causes
- Excess cortisol: natural Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism) or high-dose, long-term corticosteroid treatment
- Kidney disease: imbalances in calcium and phosphorus can cause deposits
- Local injury: calcium can deposit in damaged skin after injections, pressure sores or trauma
- Puppies: a self-limiting form occasionally appears in young, fast-growing large-breed dogs
Signs to Watch For
- Firm, white-to-yellow, gritty bumps or plaques, often along the back, neck, armpits or groin
- Thin skin, hair loss and crusting around the lesions
- Itching, licking or discomfort
- Open sores that ooze chalky material or become infected; see pyoderma
- Signs of Cushing’s such as excessive thirst, a pot belly and panting
Diagnosis
Your vet may suspect it from the look and feel of the plaques, but a skin biopsy confirms the diagnosis. Blood and urine tests, and often an adrenal function test, look for Cushing’s disease or kidney problems behind it.
Treatment
- Treat the underlying cause: manage Cushing’s disease, or slowly taper steroid medication under your vet’s guidance. Never stop steroids suddenly.
- Skin care: medicated baths, topical treatments and antibiotics for any secondary infection
- Topical or injected medications in some cases to help dissolve deposits, under close vet supervision
- Surgery: occasionally used to remove small, localized deposits
Outlook
Lesions usually improve slowly over several months once the cause is controlled. Skin can stay fragile for a while, so keep the area clean and watch for infection. Ask your vet about regular rechecks if your dog is on long-term steroids, especially as part of senior dog care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is calcinosis cutis contagious?
No. It is caused by calcium deposits in the skin, not an infection, though the sores can pick up bacteria.
Will the bumps go away?
Often yes, gradually, once the underlying cause is treated. Large or long-standing deposits may leave scars.
Can cats get calcinosis cutis?
It is rare in cats and is usually linked to kidney disease or local injury rather than steroids.
Noticed hard, gritty patches on your dog’s skin? Find a veterinary clinic near you for an exam.