Medicine & Surgery · Medicine · Dermatology

Dermatology Department

Skin Conditions and Diseases

Allergy in pets manifests itself in several forms including: inhaled pollen allergy, contact allergy, urticaria, flea allergy, respiratory and food allergy.

• Inhaled pollen allergy is also referred to as "Allergic Inhaled Dermatitis"(AID). It has the following characteristics:
  
  • Caused by inhalation of weed, grass, tree, dusts or mold spores
  • Animals must have been previously exposed to the inhalants to become "sensitized"
  • Causes affected pets to itch resulting in scratching or licking the coat limbs or face.
  • Often affected animal's ears itch, manifested by head shaking or rubbing at the ears.
  • Self-trauma may be so extreme as to result in moderate to very severe skin sores called "hot-spots".
  • Usually needs to be treated to avoid complications (self-trauma, infection.)
  • Never is "cured" but may be controlled by one or a combination of therapies.
  
  
• Contact allergy is caused by "contact" with something that elicits an allergic skin reaction:
  • This type of allergy is much less common than the inhaled type.
  • May occur resulting from contact with fabrics, detergent residues, grass, straw, cedar chips, chemicals, etc.
  • Manifests as inflamed areas of skin, sometimes with wheals, but only in the areas where direct contact occurs, like on the skin of the abdomen, sternum, or inside of the thighs.
  
  
• Urticaria or "hives" is characterized by red wheals or a raised "plaque-like" appearance of the skin and hair coat These reactions usually cause itching and often result from insect bites, but may, less frequently, be caused by drugs or foods.



• Flea allergy
• Distribution of hair loss is frequently over lower back and rump.
• Itching is always significant.
• Flea control is as important as allergy therapy for this condition.


• Respiratory allergy does occur in pets, and is manifested by ocular tearing, sniffling, runny nose and mucus postnasal discharge which may cause coughing or gagging. Causative agents may include all of the classic allergens plus cigarette smoke or residues.



• Food allergy may be seen as urticaria, itching, or skin scabs. Food allergy with skin signs appears to be more prevalent in cats than in dogs. Food allergy may manifest as gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and/or diarrhea, especially in an animal which seems otherwise healthy.

Bacterial skin infections (pyoderma) are commonly encountered in pets. These infections may affect superficial skin layers only, or they may be deeply seated within the skin even extending to subcutaneous layers. Characteristics of superficial bacterial skin disease include:

• Moderate to severe itching.
• Small raised red "pustules" especially in more tender skin areas.
• Circular dime to quarter-sized collarette lesions.
• Scabby crusts often with moist serum beneath the crust.
• Areas of scabbed hair coat which "peels off" quite easily.

Superficial bacterial skin infections are almost always secondary to another condition, the most common being some form of skin allergy. They seem to be most prevalent during warm months but certainly may occur at any time.

These lesions usually respond to antibacterial therapy, either systemic, topical, or both; the condition usually is a recurring problem. Control of the allergy or other primary cause helps to minimize reoccurrence.

Lack of "normal" immunity within skin cells has been postulated to be a predisposing factor in some animals with recurring skin disease. Treatment modalities using drugs to stimulate local skin immunity improve the condition in some cases. Other cases only respond to classical antibiotic therapy.

Your veterinarian can best advise you on the best treatment regimen if your pet suffers from repeat or chronic bacterial pyoderma.

Mite mange

This section is currently being edited.

Skin masses and tumors

There are many different causes of "skin bumps"in pets. Incidence of skin cysts is high in both dogs and cats. Cysts are usually benign but may need removal because of mechanical interference with some function. Tumors are also common. Tumors may range in severity from very benign fat tumors (lipomas) to strongly malignant growths like melanomas, sarcomas and mast cell tumors.

Any skin mass should be called to the attention of your veterinarian, who is best qualified to recommend appropriate action. As is the case with humans, early detection and treatment is the best therapy in the case of malignant skin masses.

"Hot Spots"

Currently being edited