3 must-reads on dermatology

Photo: Watcharin/Adobe Stock

Canine dermatitis

Veterinary dermatology care can make all the difference in an animal’s quality of life. Knowing how to diagnose, treat, and manage specific ailments affecting the skin can ultimately lead to an animal’s relief and comfort. The 3 following articles offer information and insights for veterinary professionals, from best practices when managing food allergies, to diagnosing and managing anal sac diseases, to the prevalence of allergy-related claims.

• Diet trials: The true test of food allergies: As veterinary dermatology has advanced, there has been a notable increase in the diagnosis of food allergies. At the Fetch dvm360 conference in Nashville, Tennessee, Julia E. Miller, DVM, DACVD, helped attendees better understand their food allergic patients, and the best ways to diagnose them.
• Getting to the bottom of anal sac diseases: Anal sac diseases can cause discomfort in animals while they sit or defecate, causing them to scoot, lick, or bite at the area. Miller stresses that, although not glamorous, these signs are important, and she explains methods for diagnosis and management.
• The prevalence of allergy-related claims: Trupanion, the pet insurance provider with more than 1 million pets currently enrolled, aimed to evaluate the most common claims submitted by pet owners between 2019 and 2023. At the top of the list are allergies. The company revealed analytical insights into allergen claims, including top geographic regions and dog breeds with the most cases.