Small Animal Dermatology, 3rd edition

12 BASICS

 Distribution of lesions:
Symmetrical or asymmetrical
Regional (examples):
Face/muzzle/head
Pinnae
Eyelid/periocular
Dorsal muzzle
Lipfold
Chin
Neck
Nasal planum
Mucous membrane (all or a specific region)
Mucocutaneous junction
Dorsal
Ventral
Truncal
Abdominal
Flank
Tail
Extremity
Paws/palmar/plantar
Claw/claw fold
Footpad.

 Pattern:
Diffuse
Generalized
Focal
Multifocal
Localized
Patchy
Regional.

CLINICAL FEATURES: PRIMARY LESIONS VERSUS

SECONDARY LESIONS

 Primary lesions develop directly from the disease process:
Scale: a thin accumulation of keratinocytes; further defined as fine, coarse,

greasy, dry, adherent, or loose (Figure 2.1); the normal skin sheds imperceptible

individual cells; abnormal adhesion/dysadhesion of cells results in clumping of

cells visible as scale, +/- admixed with crust; may be a result of an accelerated epi-

dermal turnover rate (e.g., normal 22 days decreasing to 3–7 days in idiopathic

seborrhea)

Crust: a thick accumulation of cells with dried exudate of serum, blood, purulent

debris, or medications (Figure 2.2)