Quick overview of foundational diagnostic strategies in feline dermatology

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In a session delivered at WVC 2025 titled From skin scrapes to culture: The base kitchen tools for feline dermatology, Domenico Santoro, DVM, DrSc, MS, PhD, DECVD, DACVD, DACVM, explained that although cats often display similar clinical patterns, the underlying pathologies can vary greatly. This variability makes it all the more important to employ a careful, methodical diagnostic approach.

Patient history

Santoro opened his session by stressing the importance of a detailed patient history. He noted that in feline dermatology—more so than in canine cases—collecting an accurate history is indispensable. “Being able to ask the right questions and extract the necessary information is essential,” he explained. This detailed history sets the stage for all subsequent diagnostic tests, ensuring that clinicians are better prepared to interpret physical findings in the context of each patient’s unique background.

Cytology and trichography

Moving from history to hands-on techniques, Santoro highlighted impression cytology as one of the simplest yet most effective methods. He noted, "The impression, to me, is probably…the easiest to do and the most informative [diagnostic] that we have." By gently pressing a slide against an affected area, veterinarians can quickly capture critical cellular details. This rapid technique provides immediate insights into inflammatory processes, the presence of fungal elements, or other abnormalities.

Another key technique discussed was tape cytology, which is useful for sampling dry lesions or hard-to-reach areas such as interdigital spaces. Santoro pointed out that while the method is straightforward, its success depends on precise application to ensure maximum sample yield without compromising the diagnostic quality.

Santoro also covered trichography—the valuable art of hair plucking. He advised that collecting hairs by hand (as opposed to using forceps) minimizes trauma and preserves the integrity of hair shafts. This method can reveal subtle structural abnormalities and even parasitic infestations that might otherwise go unnoticed, he said.

Superficial vs deep skin scrapes

A significant portion of the session was devoted to differentiating between superficial and deep skin scrapes. Santoro explained that for broad sampling in cases such as suspected scabies, superficial scrapes are sufficient, as they do not induce capillary bleeding. In contrast, deep skin scrapes are performed until slight bleeding is observed—an indicator that the scrape has reached the dermis. Santoro stated, “And that's [how] you know that you are in the dermis. That's really the only way to know..."

This visible bleeding signals that the scrape has reached the deeper dermal layer, which is important for detecting conditions such as demodicosis where mites reside deeper in the skin, he said. By appropriately selecting between these 2 techniques, clinicians can ensure that they’re sampling the correct tissue depth to capture the subtle differences in pathology.

Takeaways

Through the presentation, Santoro reinforced that these techniques are both cost-effective and highly informative. By combining a thorough patient history with methods such as impression and tape cytology, trichography, and targeted skin scrapes, veterinarians may significantly enhance their diagnostic accuracy. "Diagnostics are essential for the dermatology practice…They're very easy…extremely informative, and most of these methodologies cost nothing, or close to nothing,” he said.

Reference

1. Santoro D. From skin scrapes to culture: The base kitchen tools for feline dermatology. Presented at: WVC; Las Vegas, NV. March 2-5, 2025.