The Skin Flashcards
Elements of skin unique to horse?
Chestnut, ergot, hooves
What are the chestnut and ergot?
Chestnut = remnant of first digit
Ergot = horny tissue on palmar/plantar aspect of fetlocks, remnant of 5h digit
Primary functions of integument?
Protection from trauma
Temperature regulation
Thermoregulation (insulation, sweat)
Shedding/replacement
What examinations might be done during a skin exam?
Physical exam
Scraping
Culture
Biospy
Intradermal skin testing
Bacterial infections occuring in wet conditions, affects horses back/top of hindquarters…
Rain rot
What is the agent of rain rot?
Dermatophilus congolensis
How do we diagnose rain rot?
Thick crust, matted hair
Culture
How do we treat rain rot
Dry it
Grooming
Antiseptic shampoo
Antiseptic spray
Antimicrobials (penicillin)
Seriousness/complications of rain rot?
Will resolve without complications
No complications
Raised, circular swellings (wheals) that progress to hair loss and the development of crusts and scales…
Ringworm
There are many species of ringworm, and the cow specific one is not a threat to horses or humans (T/F)
False; horses/humans can get the cow form
Which horses will most likely have ringworm
Young, debilitated, immunocompromised (do not recover as quick)
How is ringworm diagnosed?
Appearance, culture
How is ringworm treated?
Resolve on own
Antifungal shampoo
Disinfect environment
How serious / complications of ringworm
Resolve without difficulty
It can spread
Zoonotic!
Lesions on palmar plantar pastern area that range from crusts and ulcerations of the skin to extreme inflammation with reddening/swelling…
Pastern Dermatitis (Mud Fever, Scratches, Grease heel)
Etiology of pastern dermatitis?
Bacteria, fungi, parasites
Wetness
White limbs?
How do we diagnose pastern dermatitis
Clinical appearance
Scrapings, culture, biopsy
How do we treat pastern dermatitis
Antimicrobial scrubs/ointments
Anti-inflammatories
Clip hair
Keep dry
Serious/complications of pastern dermatitis?
Painful/swollen, difficult to treat, may recur
Comp = swollen limbs
Viral condition causing gray or pink growths on muzzle, nose, mouth of young horse
Warts
Etiologic agent of warts?
Papillomavirus
Diagnosis, treatment, complications of warts?
Diagnose = appearance
Treat = self-limiting (3-4 months), crush to stimulate immune response
No complications
Small, raised white spots inside ear that may coalesce
Aural plaques
Diagnosis, treatment of aural plaques
Appearance and location
No treatment/complications
Intensely itchy horse that scratches until hair loss, scaling and crusting. Mane, tail and belly commonly affected..
Insect hypersensitivity (allergy)
How do we diagnose insect hypersensitivity
Seasonal (spring/summer), allergy testing
How do we treat insect hypersenstivity
Fly control
Avoid turn out at dusk/dawn
Remove standing water
SAIDs
Antibiotic ointment
Allergy shot (hyposensitization)
Serious/complications of insect hypersensitivity
Difficult, frustrating
Secondary bacterial infections, trauma
Skin tumour common in gray horses/arabians
Melanoma
What is melanoma
Skin tumour that arises from dark skin pigment cells called melanocytes
How do we diagnose melanomas
Appearance
Cytology, biopsy
How do we treat melanomas
Unnecessary is small, slow-growing, non-sensitive area
Surgery
Cryosurgery
Topical cauterizing agent
Vaccine into tumour
How serious are melanomas
Small not a concern
If they grow/become ulcerated can be significant
Complications of melanomas
75% occur in skin, but can metastasize and lead to organ failure/death
one of the most common skin tumours seen in horses
Sarcoid
Where do most sarcoid tumours occur
Head/ears
Agent of sarcoid?
Bovine papilloma virus
What type of horse is likely to have sarcoid
Under age of 7
Common in: donkeys, mules, appys, arabians, QH
Four forms of sarcoid:
Occult (flat)
Verrucous (warty)
Fibroblastic
Mixed verrucous-fibroblastic
What type of sarcoid will grow rapidly and ulcerate/bleed
Fibroblastic
How is sarcoid diagnosed? Downside of one of the methods?
Appearance
Biopsy (stimulate the tumour to transform into more aggressive fibroblastic type)
How are occult and verrucous sarcoids treated
May not be recommended if stable/slow growing (might transform into fibroblastic)
Treatment for fibroblastic sarcoids?
Frustrating
Surgery common
Cauterizing agents
INJECT WITH IMMUNOCIDIN (immune system modulator)
How serious is sarcoids? Complications?
Don’t metastasize but can be locally agressive & uncomfortable (girth)
Complications with removal of large, agressive tumours
One of the most common reasons to examine the skin is…
trauma
How is trauma diagnosed?
History
Exam
Bone involved = radiograph
How is trauma treated
Depends
Cleaning, flushing, suturing (NOT punctures)
NSAIDs
Antimicrobials
Bandages, splints/casts
How serious is trauma
Mild to life threatening
Three main complications of trauma…
- Infection (won’t heal, infected joint/tendon sheath = life threatening)
- Tissue death (delayed treatment of large wound, blood supply compromised = dead skin/tissue)
- Proud flesh (excessive granulation tissue prevents skin from closing over)
Technical term for itchy
Pruritic
