Equine Dermatology Flashcards

1
Q

Where is the equine skin thickest and thinnest? Why?

A
  • THICKEST = dorsal head, neck, thorax, tail head
  • THINNEST = ears, axillary, inguinal, perianal

prey species - predators are large carnivores that jump on their back to hunt

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2
Q

What glands are unique about the equine skin? What is their subcutaneous space like?

A

sebaceous and sweat glands are larger and more numerous compared to other LA species

more connected - SQ injections of fluids or medications are much more uncomfortable

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3
Q

What is an ergot?

A

vestige of digits 2 and 4, cornified tissue on the flexor surface of the fetlock

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4
Q

What is a chestnut?

A

vestige of digit 1, keratinized area of the medial aspect of the radius

  • no vascularization or nervous tissue
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5
Q

What is the hoof?

A

keratinized covering of digit 3

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6
Q

What type of hair do horses have? What influences replacement?

A

simple primary

  • photoperiod (Spring/Fall)
  • ambient temperature
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7
Q

What parts of the horses’ hair do not shed? What 2 hormones affect their coats?

A

mane, tail, fetlock

  1. thyroid - increased growth
  2. glucocorticoids - hypertrichosis associated aith PPID (Cushing’s) in older horses
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8
Q

Horse medical history associated with dermatologic disease:

A
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9
Q

Herd medical history associated with dermatologic disease:

A
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10
Q

What are important aspects of the physical exam for diagnosing dermatologic disease?

A
  • note the general condition of the horse, including hair coat and hooves
  • assign a condition score
  • assess all systems
  • examine hair coat closely, including mane and tail
  • evaluate all lesions
  • record the distribution, description, and document (photos)
  • palpate what you cannot see
  • examine diet, teeth, housing, etc
  • herd problem: examine all affected animals
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11
Q

What part of the physical exam is especially important for diagnosing pediculosis? What are the 2 main distributions of lesions?

A

lice - careful evaluation of tail and mane

  1. mane, tail, fetlock, pastern - sucking
  2. dorsolateral flank - biting
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12
Q

How does the type of lice affect treatment options?

A

sucking lice respond to oral/systemic Ivermectin

biting lice do not undergo prolonged injection of fluids from its host and eat dander, so they respond better to topicals and dusts

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13
Q

Pediculosis, mane:

A

sucking!

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14
Q

What is the most common use for fungal culture/ID? How is it done? What is also part of the examination?

A

identification of dermatophytes (ringworm)

  • clean hair gently with alcohol
  • let hair dry
  • pluck out several strands
  • place hair in Sabourands +/- Cycloheximide (slows down growth of non-pathogenic fungi) agar

examining hair directly under the microscope

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15
Q

What are 2 common fungi that cause dermatological disease in horses?

A
  1. Microsporum macroconidia
  2. Trichophyton macroconidia
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16
Q

What is the purpose of performing skin scraping? How is it performed?

A

identifying ascariasis - mange, mite infestation

  • pick an edge of affected area
  • use a dulled #10 blade held at an angle, squeeze skin, and scrape
  • wipe on slide and add mineral oil
  • examine for mites
17
Q

What is the purpose of a sweat test? How is it performed? What is the normal response

A

test horse’s ability to sweat and diagnose anhidrosis

  • create four, 10-fold dilutions of epinephrine or terbutaline (1 IU:1000, 1 IU:10000, 1 IU:100000, 1 IU:1000000
  • clip and mark neck with dilutions
  • inject o.5 cc

sweat at all dilutions in 15-30 mins

18
Q

What is the purpose of intradermal skin testing? How is it performed?

A

identify causative irritants in the horse’s diet or environment

  • select antigens, histamine as a positive control, and saline as a negative control
  • clip and mark neck
  • intradermal injection of 0.1-0.2 cc of antigen at each site
  • injection blebs should be of equal size
19
Q

How does the time of a reaction to an intradermal skin test show the cause of the reaction?

A
  • 30 mins = acute
  • 3-4 hrs = cell-mediated, delayed response
  • 12-24 hrs = cell-mediated, delayed response
20
Q

What is the purpose of skin biopsies? How are they performed?

A

tumor classification +/- removal

  • pick the border of the lesion, clip, and scrub gently
  • inject 1-2 cc of lidocaine SQ (won’t affect histopath!)
  • apply biopsy to skin, rotate, and lift sample
  • cut away fibrous cord of SQ tissue
  • suture with 2-0 dermalon
  • use for culture and histopathology
21
Q

Where on a lesion is a biopsy taken?

A

on the border —> get to compare abnormal and normal

22
Q

What is the purpose of debulking and removing masses? How is it performed? When is it commonly rechecked?

A

ID border of abnormal tissue

  • clip, wash, and block SQ
  • incise 1/4-1/2 inch beyond border
  • place removed tissue in formalin for histopathology
  • close wound if tension permits - if not, keep it covered, clean, and have insect repellent

10-14 days, can remove sutures

23
Q

What are common causes of itchiness in horses?

A
  • Culicoides hypersensitivities
  • ventral midline dermatitis
  • pediculosis (lice)
  • mite infestation (mange)
24
Q

What is culicoides hypersensitivity? When is it most commonly seen?

A

type I hypersensitivity caused by biting midges

warm months, progressively gets worse as summer goes on

25
Q

How do horses present with Culicoides hypersensitivity? How is it diagnosed?

A

scales, crusting, and excoriations affecting the tail, mane, chest, rump, and belly +/- rump, submandibular space, ears

clinical signs, seasonality

26
Q

What is likely occurring in these horses?

A
  • broken off manes
  • rubbing causes thickened skin
  • rubbed skin off tailhead
  • dryness

Culicoides hypersensitivity

27
Q

How can Culioides hypersensitivity be treated? What do severe cases require?

A
  • limit development of wet areas and manure buildup
  • apply fly spray (Absorbine Ultra Shield) or repellent cream (pyrethrin)
  • use fans in barns and keep horses inside at dusk and dawn
  • specialized turnout fly sheets
  • prophylactic anti-histamines (must be given before the emergence of insects)

corticosteroids (Dexamethasone, Prednisolone) + clean/treat secondary skin infections/inflammation (Staph)

28
Q

What causes ventral midline dermatitis? How do horses present?

A

hypersensitivity reaction to insect bite or parasite migration (rare Onchocerca)

scales, crusting, and excoriations limited to the ventral midline

29
Q

How is ventral midline dermatitis treated?

A
  • deworm with Moxidectin/Ivermectin to eliminate Onchocerca
  • wash +/- antibiotic therapy
  • apply fly spray (Absorbine Ultra Shield) or repellent cream (pyrethrin)
  • specialized turnout fly sheets
  • prophylactic anti-histamines

(the sooner the better)

30
Q

What is pediculosis associated with? How do horses present?

A

lice infestation most common in the winter or early spring in horses with poor, dirty housing conditions

  • extremely itchy - alopecia, scales, thickened skin, patchy coat
  • usually multiple horses affected, especially young, old, and sick
31
Q

What are the 2 major groups of lice affecting horses?

A
  1. SUCKING - Haematopinus asini in the mane, tail, fetlock, or pastern
  2. BITING - Damalinia equi on the dorsolateral trunk or neck
32
Q

How are sucking and biting lice treated? What else is done to prevent more infections?

A

SUCKING - Ivermectin every 2 weeks for 3-4 treatments or Moxidectin every 4 weeks for 2 treatments

BITING - powders (Sevin) containing malathion, rotenone, or coumaphos dust applied weekly for 3-4 weeks

clean up the environment, grooming tools, and pads

33
Q

What are 4 most common causes of ascariasis in horses?

A

MANGE MITES

  1. Sarcoptes equi
  2. Chorioptes equi
  3. Demodex
  4. rarely Psoroptes equi
34
Q

What lesions are most commonly seen with ascariasis? What are the 3 distributions?

A

itchy papules, crusts, and scales

  1. SARCOPTIC - body mange = head, neck, shoulders
  2. PSOROPTES - mane mange = mane base, ears, fetlock, tail base
  3. CHORIOPTIC - leg mange = pastern, feathering
35
Q

How is ascariasis diagnosed? 4 treatments?

A

mange = skin scrape

  1. organophosphate sprays - Lindane
  2. lime sulfur shampoo
  3. Frontline spray on
  4. Ivermectin - 2-3 doses
    (ALL HORSES IN CONTACT)
36
Q

Chorioptic mange:

A
37
Q

What are some other causes of itching in horses?

A
  • habronemiasis (summer sores)
  • phycomycosis
  • cutaneous onchocerciasis
  • oxyuriasis
  • Staph folliculitis