Intro to Dermatology Flashcards
What are the 4 most common clinical signs at presentation of dermatological consultations: DOGS
- most common = pruritus
- Swellings
- Otitis
- Alopecia
(added to Stephen’s lecture = pruritus, alopecia, crusting, scale, nodules)
What are the 4 most common clinical signs at presentation of dermatological consultations: CATS
- most common = Swellings
- Pruritis/ otitis
- Alopecia
(added to Stephen’s lecture = pruritus, alopecia, crusting, scale, nodules)
What are the most common causes of presenting dermatological problems? DOGS
Most common =
Bacterial infection, neoplastic, parasitic
What are the most common causes of presenting dermatological problems? CATS
Most common = bacterial infection, parasitic
Anal sac disease
6 differences between cats and dogs in dermatological cases
- 2ndry bacterial skin infections much more common in dogs
- Cat bite abscess is the most common feline infection
- Primary infections e.g., dermatophytosis or viral are uncommon, but more common in cats than dogs
- Endocrinopathies are rare in cats although more common in dogs
- Neoplasia more common in dogs
- Parasites and allergy are common in both
List of common pitfalls in dermatological cases
- Disregarding history
- Failure to appreciate clinical signs
- Not taking a logical, problem oriented approach
- Errors in taking diagnostic samples
- Errors in allergy testing (it is not a diagnostic test)
- Errors in interpreting results
- Errors in therapy
What signalment do we need to consider when taking dermatological history
Age Breed sex Coat colour Weight (change)- hyperthyroidism = gain Affected relatives
What signalment is an important factor for the start of disease?
AGE
List some diseases and at what age we commonly see it starting
- Non-food induced atopic dermatitis - 75% cases between 6 months and 3 years. Most by 6
- <1 year = Parasites, congenital, food induced atopic dermatitis
- ADult = immune mediated, endocrine, food induced atopic dermatitis
- Elderly -
Neoplastic, metabolic, food indced atopic dermatiits
Some breeds are more prone to issues….
Brachy
Westie predisposed to atopic dermatitis, demodicosis and Ichthyosis
Intact male dogs more likely to get….
Sertoli cell tumours causing endocrine alopecia
What animals are more likely to get squamous cell carcinoma?
UV light induced
De-pigmentated skin
White hair coats
Sparsely haired region
Dilute breeds
e.g. White haired cat with squamous cell carcinoma on sparsely haired light coloured skin (ears and nose)
What are some chronic dermatological diseases caused by
allergy
metabolic
endocrine
neoplastic
What are some acute dermatological diseases
parasites
infectious
immune-mediated
hypersensitivity
Dermatological history: duration is significant….
If a condition is Waxing and waning what are on your ddx?
What about if
Progressive
What about if intermittent
Waxing and waning=
allergic
immune-mediated
Progressive=
metabolic
endocrine
neoplastic
Intermittent =
parasites
infections
allergy (seasonal)
‘A rash that itches’ or ‘An itch that rashes’?
e.g., the primary clinical sign of atopic dermatitis is itch
Atopic dermatitis = itch first- pruritis first then lesion after
What are indications animal is itchy
scratch, bite, lick, chew, nibble, shake, rub, flap ears, ‘scoot’, licking, nibbling
Distribution of itch should mak you think…..
dorso-lumbar =
e. g., dorso-lumbar fleas
e. g., feet, face, ear pinnae, ventrum +/- perineum atopic dermatitis
How do we measure pruritis ?
Visual analogue scale (VAS)
Seasonality
spring-summer
late summer
Spring – summer
e.g., atopic dermatitis
most start seasonal
seasonal flare
Late summer – autumn
harvest mites
cow pox virus
Visual analogue scale
a subjective measure of pruritus
0-10 10 being extreme 0 being normal dog
If animal recently travelled abroad what skin things do you need to consider?
leishmaniasis, babesia, erhlichia, dirofilaria
