QUARTERLY BEAT / JULY 2024
A FEW IMPORTANT HISTORY QUESTIONS
IMPORTANT DIFFERENTIALS TO RULE OUT IN ALL PRURITIC DOGS 1
1. At what age did the itching start? a. Atopic dogs: >6 months and <4 years of age i. Exception possible if they have moved biozones b. Food-allergic dogs: any age i. Prioritize food if <6 months or >4 years c. Ectoparasites: any age d. Neoplasia: typically middle-aged to older patients
Fleas!
Scabies!
Demodex injai (D. canis is not a pruritic mite unless there are secondary infections)
ECTOPARASITES
Cheyletiella
Pediculosis
Otodectes cynotis
2. Seasonality
Malassezia dermatitis
a. Atopy: seasonal, nonseasonal, or nonseasonal with a seasonal flare b. Food allergies: nonseasonal c. Ectoparasites: typically nonseasonal, particularly in warmer climates d. Neoplasia: nonseasonal 3. Current ectoparasite prevention a. A yes or no is not enough: medication, frequency, if they are up to date, if they
MICROBIAL INFECTIONS
Bacterial pyoderma
Cutaneous epitheliotropic lymphoma
NEOPLASTIC SKIN DISEASE
Flea allergy dermatitis
Food allergy
ALLERGIC SKIN DISEASE
Atopy
Contact hypersensitivity
are using the medication appropriately, and if other in-contact animals are also on preventatives
TO DIET TRIAL OR NOT TO DIET TRIAL Food allergies are no longer thought to be uncommon in dogs, as up to 25% of nonseasonally allergic dogs may have a food allergy. 2 This, however, doesn’t mean that every itchy dog needs a diet trial. If the pruritus is seasonal, a diet trial is not indicated. If ectoparasites and secondary infections have not been ruled out yet, a diet trial is not indicated. If the patient or client cannot complete the strict diet trial successfully, a diet trial is not indicated. It is also important to note that serum, saliva, and hair food allergy testing is currently NOT repeatable or reliable and the only way to definitively diagnose a food allergy is by response to a strict, prescription diet trial. 3
4. Response to previous treatments a. Antipruritics? Antimicrobials? Ectoparasiticides? Diet trials? b. If a patient has not responded to
numerous antipruritic therapies this should be a clue that something has been missed – do more diagnostics!
5. Are other humans or animals pruritic? a. If yes: rule out ectoparasites, especially scabies
WEBINAR HIGHLIGHTS
5
VETGIRL BEAT EMAGAZINE | VETGIRLONTHERUN.COM
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker