Dermatology

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common endocrine disease in dogs and cats characterized by an absolute or relative deficiency of insulin. This results in a decreased ability of cells to take up and utilize not only glucose, but also amino acids, fatty acids, and electrolytes. In addition the lack of insulin results in increased gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, lipolysis, ketogenesis, and protein catabolism.

Alopecia in the dog is a common clinical finding. It is most commonly associated with pruritus due to allergic skin disease. There are also many causes of nonpruritic alopecia. Since the skin and hair can only "react" in a limited manner regardless of the triggering event, signalment, history (hx), physical exam (PE) and laboratory testing (eg skin scrapings, skin biopsies, fungal cultures, endocrine testing, intradermal testing, etc) all may be needed to help determine the underlying cause.

Non-responsive or chronic and recurrent otitis externa is a common reason for pet owners to leave their regular veterinarian and seek second (and third, fourth and fifth........) opinions. Proper management of these conditions takes a co-ordinated approach that includes strong history taking skills (keeping in mind the primary, predisposing and perpetuating factors involved in otitis), a thorough physical and otoscopic evaluation, appropriate diagnostic tests and the institution of a sound therapeutic plan that addresses the underlying factors while treating the current condition.

Skin disease is the second most common reason for a pet to be presented to a family veterinarian (Hill, 2006). The most common reason is preventive care! Pruritus is the most common dermatological presenting complaint along with "I need to stop that disgusting licking noise that my dog does at night!"

Once we have ruled out the possibility of parasites and treated a secondary microbial dermatitis, our history taking skills and physical examination will often point to an allergic etiology as the cause of the pruritus. In the non-seasonal dog, rule outs will include an adverse food reaction and environmental allergy.

Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease) results from failure of the adrenal glands to secrete glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. Most cases of hypoadrenocorticism are due to primary adrenal failure, resulting in deficiency of usually both cortisol and aldosterone from the adrenal cortex.

The owner of this retriever first noticed the golf-ball-sized mass three days before presentation.

Use skin cytology to diagnose Malassezia dermatitis.

What's causing this cat's pruritic generalized crusting dermatitis?

Specific steps you can take to help affected dogs.

Read this report of the successful treatment of two dogs.

Self-traumatizing disorders can occasionally start as a behavioral pathology.

Thomas P. Lewis II, DVM, DACVD, discusses the possible concerns of this drug combination on the liver.

What are the dermatologic effects of steroids?

Use this information to successfully answer clients' questions about their pets' dermatology issues.

Eosinophilic granuloma complex is a dermatologic condition most commonly seen in cats. Allergies such as food allergy, atopy and insect hypersensitivities have been associated with this syndrome. If the allergic cause for this dermatitis is not found than the EGC is described as being idiopathic.

Feline alopecia is a common dermatologic presentation because of the overt clinical findings observed by the owner. Alopecia can broadly be categorized into traumatic induced, hair follicle/shaft damage, and hair cycle abnormalities.

Bacterial skin infections represent a common condition affecting the canine and is often recurrent. The infective organism most frequently isolated is Staphylococcus intermedius although other species of staphylococcus may be involved.

The hypothyroid patient can present with countless symptoms, all related to the underlying cause. As is the case with allergic dermatitis, these patients are typically pruritic, however the pruritus in these situations is due to secondary bacterial and yeast infections, not an allergic disorder.

Cutaneous or subcutaneous nodules are relatively common problems in the dog and cat with assorted etiologies to be considered. The diagnostic pursuit is often critical to attaining a definitive diagnosis for optimal clinical management.

Some of the most common canine cutaneous tumors include: histiocytoma, mast cell tumor, and the adnexal tumors. Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides) is a pruritic neoplasia of older dogs with a poor prognosis.

Much has changed in the management of bacterial skin diseases in veterinary patients since the recognition of methicillin resistant (?-lactam antibiotic resistant) staphylococcal skin infections and their significance in both the human and veterinary medical communities. Awareness and responsible use of antibiotic medications is a must when dealing with these emerging pathogens.

Draining tracts or fistulous tracts are tract lesions that connect with a central area or focus of inflammation to the skin's surface. Draining tracts are most commonly associated with nodules which are large (greater than 0.5 cm), firm, raised usually circular lesions that extend down into the dermis.

Etiology is a type I hypersensitivity predominantly but a type III and type IV reaction may also occur. Animals are predisposed to develop food allergy through undefined genetic factors.

Several different diagnostic and medical treatment options exist for treating otitis in dogs and cats. It is important that the veterinarian know all of the options that are available so that they can make recommendations to the pet owner.

Veterinarians are always in search of the "magic bullet" to treat their dermatologic patients. This desire to obtain better treatments has lead to the discovery of many new therapies and new dermatological applications for older medications. Many of the newer treatments that we will discuss been recognized in veterinary medicine because of successes being reported anecdotally.

The combination of clinical diseases observed in pruritic dogs has been a consistent finding over the decades. The occurrence of the atopic dog with flea allergy dermatitis and secondary bacterial pyoderma led to the common expression in th '80's of the Southeastern Triad not that the S.E. has any royalty rights to this combination of clinical problems.

Diagnosis of pruritic dermatopathies requires the dedication of collecting an historical account of the problem complete with all interrelationships of seasonality, in-contact animals, human disease and treatment, including specific drugs, treatment regimens and therapeutic outcome.

Despite the advent of newer demodicidal therapeutics, management of the chronic relapsing or refractory demodicosis cases remains a frustration. Conservative therapy continues to represent the preferred approach to localized demodicosis in the juvenile. Benzoyl peroxide gel or cream is often selected as an initial choice.

Dermatophyte fungal infection remains as one of the most over-diagnosed and under-diagnosed diseases in dogs and cats. The clinical presentation may be variable and can even resemble neoplasia.