Pruritus pt. 1 Flashcards
what is pruritis?
unpleasant sensation of the skin that provokes the urge to scratch

what are the 3 main causes of itch
infections
allergies
parasites
what will owners see with pruritis
biting
licking
chewing
scratching
gnawing
rubbing
T/F irrespective of cause, pruritic skin looks the same in mast cases
true
what clinical signs are seen on physical exam of a pruritic dog
alopecia, erythema, excoriations
followed by lichenification, hyperpigmentation, seborrhea
what allergens commonly cause pruritis in dogs
flea bite allergy
atopic dermatitis
cutaneous adverse food reaction
insect bite hypersensitivity/ contact dermatitis
vax/drugs/heat and cold/sunlight/stress
common ectoparasites causing pruritis in the dog
sarcoptes
demodecosis
cheyletiella
lice
chiggers
infectous causes of pruritis in dog
pyoderma - bacterial infection
dermatophytosis
yeast
lesions on the caudal dorsum is common with _____
flea allergy
lesions on the elbows and ears are common with _____
sarcoptic mange
feet licking, chewing can be indicative of _____
food allergy or atopy
what are some causes of pruritis that are not effected by seasonality
scabies
food allergy
flea allergy
atopy
secondary infections
demodecosis
how is pruritis graded
scale of 1-10
used as reference point for rechecks
which disease are extremely pruritic
scabies
flea bite allergy
food allergy
which diseases should be considered if the pruritis came before the lesion
allergies
scabies
what should be considered if lesions show up before the pruritis
demodecosis
dermatophytosis
what is often involved in cases of pruritis and should be checked
EARS!
what are common dermatological diagnostics/examinations
skin scrapes
hair plucks
cytology
flea comb
ear examination
therapeutic plan for pruritis
flea control
treat pyoderma if present
treat yeast infection
treat for sarcoptes spp. if suspected
treat ear disease if present
T/F most skin disease can be cured with one visit
False
rarely cured with on visit - many can be chronic or life long, but controllable
what is the number 1 cause of pruritis
FLEAS!!

what kind of hypersensitivity reaction is seen with flea bite dermatitis
type 1 hypersensitivity
what is the classical distribution with flea allergy dermatitis
lumbo-sacral distribution
T/F an infestation is necessary for FAD
False
it is an allergy or hypersensitivity - only takes one flea bite to set off allergic response
what percentage of skin allergies are flea related
80%
which flea eradication product acts as both a knock down product against adults and an insect growth regulator
imidaclopride
how long should in-contact animals be treated for fleas
4 weeks
what % of flea eggs, larva & pupae live in the environment and not on the pet
95%
what type of hypersensitvity is seen with atopy
type 1 hypersensitivity
characterisitic signs of atopy
pruritis
chronic or relapsing/seasonal
4m-7y of age at onset
areas - paws, face, distal extremities, elbows, ventrum, otitis externa
what allergy tests are used to diagnose atopy
serum test (RAST and ELISA test)
intradermal skin test
what to allergy tests (intradermal skin tests, serum tests) dectect?
allergen specific IgE
- if raised and causing disease = allergy*
- if raised and not causing disease = subclinical hypersensitivity*
what is the gold standard test for atopy
intradermal allergy testing
3 possible therapies for atopy
ASIT (allergen specific immunotherapy)
allergen avoidance
sympotomatic relief
what drugs have stong evidence for sytomatic relief of atopy
glucocorticoids
cyclosporine A
oclacitinib
what therapy has weak evidence for the symptomatic relief of atopy
skin lipid therapy
two forms of allergy shots
subcutaneous immunotherapy
sublingual immunotherapy
T/F a generic version of cycloprine A should not be used
true
what receptors does oclacitinib (apoquel) act on
JAK 1 and 3 inhibitor