Small Animal Dermatology, 3rd edition

176 DISEASES/DISORDERS

 Feline: mean age of onset 1–5 years of age.

 Reports of sex predilection inconsistent.

Historical Findings

 Pruritus with or without skin changes.

 Most often facial, pedal, perineal, or axillary.

 Early onset.

 Increased incidence in patients living indoors.

 Family history of atopy.

 May be seasonal initially (42–75%); becomes nonseasonal in most cases (75%).

 Recurring skin or ear infections (bacterial or yeast).

 Response to glucocorticoids.

 Symptoms progressively worsen with time.

CLINICAL FEATURES

 Hallmark sign: pruritus (itching, scratching, rubbing, licking).

 Canine:
Primary lesions (erythematous papules and urticaria) may occur, but most cuta-

neous changes are believed to be produced by self-induced trauma (Figure 11.1)

Areas most commonly affected: interdigital spaces (dorsal as well as pal-

mar/plantar), carpal and tarsal areas, lips, muzzle, periocular region, pinnae,

axillae, flexural surfaces of the forelegs, flank folds, and perineal/inguinal areas

(Figure 11.2, 11.3)

Erythema of the ventral skin surface between the accessory and metacarpal or

metatarsal pads (Figure 11.4)

Lesions: vary from none to broken hairs or salivary discoloration to erythema,

papular eruptions, urticaria, crusts, alopecia, hyperpigmentation, lichenifica-

tion, excessively oily or dry seborrheic changes, and hyperhidrosis (apocrine

sweating)

Altered skin bacterial microbiome with increased epidermal staphylococcal col-

onization and secondary pyoderma

Secondary yeast skin infections (Figure 11.5)

Chronic relapsing otitis externa

Conjunctivitis with secondary blepharitis

Rhinitis.

 Feline:
Miliary dermatitis
Self-induced alopecia (Figure 11.6, 11.7)
Facial excoriation (Figure 11.8)
Head and neck pruritus
Otitis externa
Allergic asthma
Eosinophilic plaque/granuloma (Figure 11.9).