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The pruritic dog (Proceedings)
Pruritus 1. Unpleasant sensation that provokes desire to scratch.
Pruritus
1. Unpleasant sensation that provokes desire to scratch.
2. Most common symptom in dermatology
3. Epicritic (sharp, specific) vs Protopathic (generalized) itch
4. Frustrations often makes this a multiple veterinarian disease!
Pruritic Dermatoses
Allergic dermatitis
Parasites
Infectious
Neoplasia
Hormonal diseases?
Drug eruption
Immune mediated
Must make accurate diagnosis for effective treatment
History and owner assessment is very important
Allergic Dermatitis
1. Flea Allergy - Used to be most common, is it still?
2. Atopy – Second most common?
3. Adverse Reaction to Foods
4. Contact Allergy – rare, does it occur in cats?
Food Allergy?
Adverse reaction to food maybe a better name
Not all food reactors are immunologic
Not all immunologic food reactors are IgE mediated
Clinical signs similar to atopics
Test diet length from 4-10 weeks
Eukanuba KO
Eukanuba FP
Hills Z/D, D/D novel protein, Purina H/A
Royal Canin diets
Home-cooked diets
20% of food reactors may only exhibit otitis externa
80% of food reactors have otitis externa
Serologic tests are worthless
IDAT
Gastroscopic Testing
EARS AND REARS?
Parasitic Dermatoses
Scabies
Demodicosis
Cheylitiella
Otodectes
Pediculosis
Helminths
Scabies
Intense pruritus in the dog
Lateral elbows, hocks, ventral thorax and ear margins are most common affected areas
Usually! poor response to GCC therapy, may actually cause mites to increase
Contagious to other pets and humans (especially if dog sleeps in bed with owner)
Physical examination
Skin scrapings of nonexcoriated papules usually best areas to find mites (ear margins and ventral thorax)
Always treat if suspect
Ivermectin, Selamectin (Revolution), Moxidectin (Advantage Multi),
Lime Sulfur dips
Infectious Dermatoses
Staphylococcus - Staph allergy/hypersensitivity is rare, often thought must show vasculitis on dermatopathology
Malassezia – Allergy to antigens or fermatation products. Desensitization Candidia
Dermatophytosis – Rare, usually T. mentagrophytes
Neoplasia
CTCL – Variable from none to extreme
Mast Cell Tumor
Hormonal Dermatoses
Hypothyroidism?
Cushing's Disease?
Calcinosis cutis – can often be very pruritic. Especially a problem if Iatrogenic.
Sertoli Cell Tumor – Rare, but some cases of hyperestrogenism are pruritic
Drug Eruption (variable pruritus)
TMS
Cephalosporins
Erythema multiforme
TEN – Most severe form, often fatal
What is Atopic Dermatitis?
Chronic, recurrent disease
Caused by hypersensitivity to environmental allergens
Mites, dust, pollens, molds, insects
Strong breed predisposition (Retrievers, Bulldogs, Terriers, Dalmatians, Shar Peis, Lhasas, Shih tzu,
Individual allergic threshold for each dog
Distribution of Pruritus and Skin Lesions in Atopy
Diagnosis of Atopy
History
Physical Examination
Allergy Testing
IDAT vs In Vitro Allergy Testing
Iintradermal Allergy Testing (IDAT)
The gold standard of allergy testing!
In vivo test
Tests for IgE, IgG4, and other mediated allergic responses
Highest percentage of responders to hyposensitization therapy.
Requires referral or increased training
Expense of maintaining allergens
Needs to be off antihistamines and steroids
Atopy Treatment
Pharmacotherapy
Cyclosporine
Corticosteroids
Antihistamines
Antimicrobial therapy
Antibacterial, antifungal
Superficial or deep infections
Steroid Therapy
Use low potency oral meds
Use every other day therapy
0.1-0.2 mg/kg of prednisone/olone often effective
Temaril-P-Dosage??
Antimicrobial Therapy
Concurrent skin infections common with atopic dermatitis patients
Superficial and/or deep pyodermas (bacteria – Staphylococcus pseudintermedius or yeast – Malassezia pachydermatis)
Both pathogens can also act as allergens and exacerbate the atopic lesions
Antibiotics
Cephalosporins
Clindamycin, Doxycycline
Clavamox
Antifungals
Ketoconazole
Itraconazole
- Fluconazole
When do I use Atopica?
Atopics who fail to respond to immunotherapy or during induction of immunotherapy
Older animals especially diabetics who cannot tolerate GCC
When Do I Not Use Atopica?
Generalized Demodicosis
Scabies
Early atopics
Dogs with malignancy
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