Scale Flashcards
What is scale?
- the presence of flakes of keratinized skin in the hair coat and on the skin
- it can be adherent (well attached to the epidermis) or loosely attached
- thickened stratum corner
What does scale result from?
▪Normal skin function ( a little scale (dandruff) is normal in many situations)
▪Abnormal desquamation (shedding of corneocytes)
▪Abnormal cornification (creation of the outer epidermal layers)
▪Inflammation (inflammation influences cell turnover and structures)
▪Bacterial and fungal enzymatic action
Are scale and crust the same thing?
- no
- crusts result from the hardening of pus, serum and/or blood with scale to form a solid material which like scale is variably adherent to the skin
Diseases where scale is seen as a primary problem
▪ Primary keratinization disorders
– Particularly ichthyosis
– Several breeds
▪ Primary seborrhoea
– A poorly defined group of conditions with scale and sometimes greasiness
▪ Zinc–responsive dermatosis
▪ Ichthyosis of the golden retriever
▪ Ear margin seborrhoea
▪ Nasodigital hyperkeratosis
Diseases where scale is seen as a secondary problem
▪ Callus (compact adherent scale)
▪ Hypothyroidism
▪ Allergy
▪ Parasites
▪ Bacterial infection
▪ Dermatophytosis
▪ Sebaceous adenitis
▪ Almost any resolving inflammatory dermatosis
▪ Exfoliative dermatitis in cats (2 ̊ to thymoma)
▪ Leishmaniasis
Is primary or secondary scale more common?
- secondary scale is much more common that primary dz
Is scale in bacterial infections common?
- yes
- it is 1 of the most common forms of scale seen in dogs (may be the O main concern/presenting complaint)
- Staphylococcus pseudintermedius causes folliculitis and following rupture of the pustule and central hair loss a spreading circle of scale is seen moving from the central area
- The amount of scale depends on bacterial toxins (esp. exfoliative toxins)
Diagnostic plan
- Check for parasites
- Check for infection
- In older dogs perform general health screening (e.g. urinalysis, haematology & biochem)
- Biopsy
- Genetic testing if indicated
Checking for parasites
a. Clinical examination
b. Coat brushings, hair plucks, skin scrapes
c. Consider parasite treatment trial
Particularly important in young animals, don’t rely on reported ectoparasite use
Checking for infection
a. Clinical examination
b. Skin surface cytology
If infection, what is the primary dz?
Genetic testing
a. Ichthyosis of the Golden retriever†, Great Dane and American Bulldog
b. Pedal hyperkeratosis of the Dogue de Bordeaux
c. Nasal parakeratosis of Labrador Retrievers (NPLR) †
† Common in the UK
Zn-responsive dermatosis - which animals are affected?
▪Genetically predisposed breeds eg Husky (type I)
– Often young adult onset
▪In nutritional restriction seen in young rapidly growing large breeds (type II)
Zn-responsive dermatosis - what is type I?
▪Genetic poor Zn absorption
Zn-responsive dermatosis - what concurrent dz do you need to be aware of with type I?
- hypothyroidism (older animals - later onset)
Zn-responsive dermatosis - CS
▪Dull coat and specific hard plaques with marked scale and crusting
▪Crusted hyperkeratosis (bacterial infection common)
▪Bacterial infection
▪Variable pruritus
– due to infection
▪Crusted lesions where they bash their skin
Zn-responsive dermatosis - histologically (from biopsy)
▪Parakeratosis is key finding
▪Zinc is required for normal keratinisation – disease most common at areas of trauma
▪In parakeratotic hyperkeratosis nuclei are retained in the stratum corneum
– This is seen to a lesser extent in bacterial pyoderma and in superficial necrolytic dermatitis (hepatocutaneous syndrome)
– Normal squares should not have nuclei
Zn-responsive dermatosis - tx
- Zn supplementation, correct diet (consider steroids in type 1 if poor response)
– steroid in v low doses can increase the absorption of zinc - Zinc sulphate traditionally used
– may cause v+
Ichthyosis of the Golden Retriever - History & CS
▪Seen from a few weeks of age, scale is variable over life, but can be severe
▪Barrier function is not compromised so 2 ̊infection is uncommon, but can get 2 ̊otitis
▪ Fine in themselves, just v scaly
▪ Can get wax ears as exfoliates out of the skin/ear less well
▪ Scale easily brushed off
▪ Can see shiny adherent material on ears and ventral abdomen
▪ Ichthyosis = fish scale dz
Ichthyosis of the Golden Retriever - tx
▪Symptomatic treatment only
▪Recently retinoids used with some success
Ichthyosis of the Golden Retriever - what is it?
A genetic disease
▪An insertion-deletion mutation in exon 8 of PNPLA1-gene (patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 1) was identified that leads to a premature stop codon
▪Abnormal cleavage of the corneodesmosome
Ichthyosis of the Golden Retriever - Major ddx in young animals
- parasites
– if several in litter affected, consider skipping biopsy and performing genetic test after ruling out mites
Is canine ear margin seborrhoea common?
- no it is relatively uncommon
Canine ear margin seborrhoea - breed predilection
- Marked breed predilection in Dachshunds
Canine ear margin seborrhoea - CS
▪Adherent keratin on both medial and lateral sides of the pinna
▪Follicular casts and plugs may trap hair
▪Rubbing produces erosions and ulceration
▪Pruritus is variable
▪Fissuring and secondary infection can be problematic
▪ Very sore
Canine ear margin seborrhoea - ddx
▪Secondary causes of pinnal seborrhoea
▪ hypothyroidism
▪Trauma due to pinnal flapping
▪Early vasculitis
– But not vasculitis as no notches/necrotic tissue due to lack of blood supply
▪Early localised scabies
Canine ear margin seborrhoea - diagnosis
▪When restricted to the ear margins alone in the Dachshund: diagnosis on clinical signs
▪Rule out other causes
– particularly early sarcoptic
mange and other ectoparasites
▪Biopsy
– Use edge resection rather than wedge for best cosmetic effect (but may not get many sebaceous glands) and to avoid vascular compromise
-> Notch ends up with compromised blood supply -> more problems that before
– Retract skin before resection to ensure adequate closure
– Bilateral so O doesn’t really notice once hair grows back
– Resection can also be sent away for histopath if concerned
Canine ear margin seborrhoea - tx
▪incurable condition
▪topical anti-seborrhoeic shampoos, combined with moisturisers.
▪Fissures should be treated with surgery if steroids (e.g. hydrocortisone aceponate) are not useful.
Nasodigital hyperkeratosis - what is it?
▪A broad term for dogs with non- inflamed, quiescent and tightly adherent hyperkeratosis affecting the nose and sometimes the feet
Nasodigital hyperkeratosis - history
▪Long list of differential diagnoses, but most affect other areas
▪Usually older dogs
▪No sex or breed predisposition ▪Probably a senile change
▪Associated with Distemper virus
Nasodigital hyperkeratosis - nasal lesions
▪frond-like projections to a hard
pavement-like surface
▪the nose is dry
▪cracks and fissures can occur leading to irritation
Nasodigital hyperkeratosis - pad lesions
▪all the pads
▪most prominent at the edges - weight bearing
▪lack of flexibility, cracking and the formation of corns lead to lameness
Nasodigital hyperkeratosis - ddx
▪Superficial necrolytic dermatitis
– Painful, systemically unwell
– Often more widespread disease ▪Epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma
– Hypopigmentation
– Ulceration
– Progression beyond the nose and pads
▪Demodicosis (foot pad disease)
– Rare – look for signs of mites elsewhere on dog
Nasodigital hyperkeratosis - diagnosis
▪ Clinical signs in the older dog with
no other skin problems
– Slowly developing
– Bilaterally symmetrical
▪Not appropriate if
– Generalised or systemic disease
– Ulceration
– Depigmentation
– Pain on localised palpation
▪If in doubt biopsy
– Difficult – ensure stitches in living epithelium
Nasodigital hyperkeratosis - tx
▪ cutting off prominent fronds with
scissors or a scalpel blade
▪ hydrating the keratin using shampoos and soaks as described elsewhere
▪ Essential fatty acids