Dermatology

Question 1

What is it likely to be - age signalment

Answer 1

Environmental AD: 6mo-3yo

Food-induced AD: any age, but 30% <1yo

Endocrinopathies/neoplasia: middle aged/older

Demodicosis: especially puppies/ elderly animals

Autoimmune/immune mediated, most ectoparasites: any age

NB Young pruritic puppy
Ectoparasites / food-induced AD&raquo_space; environmental AD

Question 2

Causes of skin disease

Answer 2

Ectoparasitic
Microbial - bacterial, fungal, viral, protozoal
Allergic
Immune-mediated/autoimmune
Wound

Question 3

How does skin disease present

Answer 3

Pruritus
Ulcerative disease
Non-pruritic alopecia
Draining sinuses
Scaling disease
Ear disease
Cutaneous masses
Crusting
Claw disease

Answer 4

Coat comb/brush - Fleas, lice

Acetate tape strip unstained
Skin scrapings (superficial)
- Surface parasites (e.g. Cheyletiella, D gatoi, lice, Neotrombicula)

Skin scrapings (deep)
- Deep parasites(e.g. D canis/cati/injai, Sarcoptes)

Trichograms - Demodex canis/cati (see root)
Lice/Cheyletiella (eggs ‘nits’on shaft)

Question 5

Two types of pruritis

Answer 5

Pruriceptive pruritis - stimulation of peripheral receptors in skin - skin disease

Neuropathic pruritis - generated in CNS
- lesion of PNS or CNS
- Circulating pruritogens
- Pharmacological
- Psychogenic

Question 6

4 cutaneous reaction patterns of cats

Answer 6

1. Self-induced alopecia (SIA)
2. Face, head and neck pruritus (FHN)
3. Miliary dermatitis (MD)
4. Eosinophilic granuloma complex (EGC)

Self induced alopecia
- Bilaterally symmetrical alopecia, hair often stubbly, damaged distal tips on trichograms

Face head and neck pruritis
- Check flea control, other ectoparasites - D.cati

Milliary dermatitis
- Papulocrustous lesions - esp on dorsum

Eosinophilic granuloma complex
- Well demarcated solid raised yellow to pink plaques/nodules
+- eroded/ulcerated surface
+- crist
Any site- but especially caudal thighs, oral cavity
Eosinophilic plaques - raised flat topped erythematous plaques - usually ventral abdomen/caudal thigh - secondary bacterial infection common
Indolent ulcer - on mucocutaneous of upper lips - uni/bilateral - rarely painful/pruritic

Commonly
- FAD - flea allergic dermatitis
- FFA - feline food allergy
- FASS - Feline atopic skin syndrome

Question 7

Causes of pruritis

Answer 7

Hypersensitivity
Parasites
Microbial infection
Others - contact, neoplasia