Dermatology

Diagnosing and treating the pruritic cat can be difficult due to the variations in clinical presentation and the large number of possible underlying causes. In addition, many cats over- groom and lick in hiding, i.e. they exhibit their symptoms in secret.

Pruritus is the most common symptom of skin disease in the dog, and having a methodical approach to itchy dog cases is critical in ensuring successful management. A thorough history, observant physical examination, and appropriate diagnostic tests are the fundamentals that will lead to effective therapy.

Seborrhea is the abnormal (increased) production of skin cells (keratinocytes) and sebum that manifests clinically as scale and / or increased oil secretions on the skin and hair coat. Most often seborrhea occurs secondary to another dermatologic problem; less often it is a primary problem.

On the inside: I run. And I wish I could refer them to someone else. And it does not help that we have little evidence-based studies to guide therapy for Pseudomonas otitis.

Cali was acquired by the owners at 8 weeks of age and has lived in Los Angeles her entire life. Her owner is a large animal veterinarian, and is very compliant. There are no other pets in the household, although she does frequent a barn where she does have some contact with horses.

Demodex spp are mites that normally inhabit hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Each animal (including man) harbors its own species-specific mite species.

While no day in veterinary practice is routine, there are weeks that are more filled with the usual offenders such as vomiting, diarrhea, and pets itching from allergies. You begin to yearn for an exotic diagnosis. In the dermatology world, diagnosing an immune mediated disease carries a sexier ambiance, shows your expansive knowledge, and gives you a swagger as you walk through the treatment room.

Pruritus, in its various forms, is a common complaint in small animal practice and has a multitude of causes. Many clients want to know what is making their pet itchy, they want an accurate answer quickly, and they want immediate relief for their pet.

Demodicosis is one of the most common and long-recognized skin diseases of animals, yet it is often overlooked, and we as a profession still struggle to find not only underlying causes but effective, safe treatments. This talk reviews the common and less known signs of demodicosis and current therapies.

Skin cytology is defined as the microscopic evaluation of material collected from the skin. Skin cytology can provide extremely valuable information as to type and degree of infection present, evidence or suggestive features of parasites, a normal or abnormal immune response, or demonstrate the presence of immune mediated or neoplastic diseases.

Here's what I like about skin: it's on the surface of the body. This minimizes the risk of me causing a hemorrhagic event when I do a biopsy of my organ of specialty. What I don't like is the skin has limited ways in which it manifests disease, so the symptoms of many diseases overlap.

What's the most likely diagnosis in this bulldog with progressive, minimally pruritic erythematous crusted plaques on its trunk and ventrum?

Use this guide to maximize your success with this indispensable in-house test.

A discussion on diagnosing and treating adverse food reactions.

Thyroid hormone is necessary to initiate the anagen phase of hair growth and all hair follicles, except those on the head and distal limbs, appear to be under its influence.

Antihistamines have variable efficacy in atopic dogs. If at least 3 different antihistamines are tried in an individual dog, you can reasonably expect to find one that works 25-40% of the time.

Got a thin skin about shrinking practice revenue? Offer relief for itchy patients and scratch your own itch to grow the bottom line.

Many otic medications require owners to blindly squeeze the bottle, leaving them unsure as to how much, if any, medication went into their pets' ears.

House dust mites are the most common allergen in people, dogs and cats. How did this get to be so common, and why is dust mite allergy such a problem?

There is more to know than Depomedrol!!!

Case 1 History: Questions to ask

Canine otitis externa is certainly one of the most common problems veterinarians are dealing with in small animal practice. However, recurrent ear diseases can be very challenging to manage and be quite frustrating for the practitioner as well as for the pet owner.

The following mystery cases will be analyzed from initial presentation to the final diagnosis, treatment, and follow up.

Otitis externa is an acute or chronic inflammation of the epithelium of the external ear canal which may also involve the pinna. It is a common disorder which may present as a primary complaint or concurrently with other problems.

Hair is rich in protein and its growth requires adequate nutrition and the metabolic capability to process and utilize those nutrients. The hair follicle has three phases of growth: anagen, catagen, and telogen.

Zinc responsive dermatosis is a nutritional skin disease that can be categorized as syndromes I or II.

Pruritus 1. Unpleasant sensation that provokes desire to scratch.

Dogs and cats are often presented with a complaint of scratching and chewing resulting self-inflicted trauma. Pruritus is a very unspecific clinical sign which can be caused by many different problems such as various ectoparasites, microbial infections and a wide range of hypersensitivities.

In the field of veterinary medicine we see a constant search for newer, more effective, and convenient but inexpensive drugs with lesser side effects. Not only new drugs are interesting, but old drugs are occasionally rediscovered for new indications.

Deadly dermatoses are defined as 1. Lethal diseases for the pet.