Dermatology

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.

The first step in approaching the case of the "alopecic" cat is demystifying and differentiating the true motivation behind the activities of the over grooming cat from the truly intensely pruritic cat, which then drives the diagnostic tests for differentiating medical versus behavioral problems in the feline.

Recognizing breed associated or genetic dermatologic conditions can prove quite challenging on a daily basis. Such conditions are more obvious when multiple animals from a single litter are affected at birth, however clinical signs of many of these conditions are not present until adulthood and many animals have dispersed to new homes.

Canine and feline atopic dermatitis (atopy, allergic inhalant dermatitis) is a hereditary, pruritic (itchy) skin disease. The disease is caused by an allergic reaction to the inhalation of pollens, mold spores, dust, or epidermals (animal dander, feathers wool). Upon future challenge with that specific allergen, IgE molecules are bridged on the mast cell surface.

My goal is to provide you with a set of questions to guide you through the pitfalls and obstacles associated with diagnosing, treating and successfully managing canine and feline otitis cases. Let's get started!

Scaling or keratinization disorders are a common dermatologic condition in dogs. This dermatologic problem can be described in two methods (i.e. clinical signs and etiology).

The allergic patient can present with myriad symptoms, all related to the underlying cause. As is the case with atopic dermatitis, the symptoms manifested result from an "overproduction" of allergen specific IgE to environmental allergens.

There are many reasons to perform dermatologic diagnostics: to guide therapeutic choices, to make decisions regarding further diagnostic testing, to judge response to therapy as well as to actually make a diagnosis! Incorporating these tests into a busy practice schedule mandates that these tests be quick and easy to perform, useful information must be gained in an efficient manner and the results must be easily interpreted within the medical record.

Signalment: 3 years old, castrated male, DSH

Shampoo therapy is an important adjuvant therapy in pets for treating a variety of dermatologic conditions. In order to get the maximum benefit of the shampoos, the shampoos need to be used properly. Contact time is of utmost importance when using shampoos.

Feline otitis can be a challenging clinical problem. A commonly used clinical approach to treatment of canine otitis rarely yields satisfactory results when applied to cats.

The key to success when utilizing topical therapy involves an accurate assessment of the lesion or problem as well as an understanding of the basic principles of topical preparations. In addition, knowledge of the various formulations available as well as of the drugs and their limitations when applied topically, along with choosing an appropriate physical mode of therapy are all critical factors to consider when utilizing topical therapy.

Flea allergy continues to be a common condition affecting dogs and cats despite the major advances in the understanding of flea biology, the immune mechanisms of flea allergy and the availability of newer chemicals providing more optimal flea control.

We are fortunate to have a plethora of outstanding antiparasitic agents. In deciding upon which products to place on the shelf, several characteristics must be considered. The purpose of the presentation is to compare many of the available products, citing advantages and disadvantages.

The autoimmune skin disorders are a group of confusingly similar diseases. In this section the most common autoimmune skin diseases will be presented and they will be discussed from a clinical perspective. Most of the autoimmune skin diseases are treated similarly and this will be discussed in the last part of this section.

When you should add this condition to the differential diagnosis list.

A look at dermatologic disorders associated with endocrine disease.

How to obtain dermatophyte culture samples by using a toothbrush.

Where they annoying critters like to hang out.

Research and treatment modalities are evolving for atopic dermatitis, a chronic pruritic skin disease in dogs.

Dr. Paul Bloom suggests options for this Great Dane.

What condition do these skin lesions most likely represent?