Dermatology in small animal practice This is so challenging because many skin diseases in dogs and cats present very similar clinical pictures. Alopecia, erythema, scaling, crusts, pustules, itching, or otitis can be triggered by parasites, allergies, infections, fungal diseases, immune-mediated disorders, endocrine causes, or neoplastic processes. In daily practice, this means that a first visual examination of the skin is rarely sufficient to make a reliable diagnosis.
Especially in the Dermatology in small animal practice It is crucial to proceed systematically. This includes a thorough medical history, a precise assessment of the distribution and nature of the lesions, a general dermatological examination, and basic diagnostic procedures such as skin cytology, ear cytology, skin scrapings, trichogram, and, if necessary, fungal testing. The translated Clinician's Brief guide demonstrates in a very practical way that many of these examinations can be performed directly in the practice and have high diagnostic value when applied correctly.
A common mistake is thinking therapeutically too early. Of course, a patient experiencing itching or pain should be relieved quickly. Nevertheless, the Dermatology in small animal practice Treatment should not be reduced to symptomatic therapy. For example, if demodicosis is overlooked, dermatophytosis is not recognized, or a secondary bacterial infection is not cytologically controlled, treatment may be incomplete or even misleading.
For specialists, this is particularly important: Dermatological diagnostics begin with simple but consistently performed examinations. Those who purposefully use skin scrapings, trichograms, Wood's lamp examinations, fungal cultures, otoscopy, and biopsies create a significantly better basis for treatment decisions. It is precisely this structured approach that makes Dermatology in small animal practice Medically demanding, but also particularly easy to standardize.

In the Dermatology in small animal practice Basic diagnostics should be understood not as an add-on, but as a core component of case management. The most important examinations include skin cytology, ear cytology, skin scrapings, adhesive tape preparations, trichograms, and, depending on the suspected cause, examination with a Wood's lamp, fungal culture, or PCR. These methods are available in many practices, require relatively little material, and can provide important information immediately.
In patients with itching, scaling, or alopecia, ruling out ectoparasites is a crucial step. Superficial skin scrapings aid in detecting parasites living in the superficial layers of the skin. Deep skin scrapings are particularly important when follicular Demodex mites are suspected. The cellophane band pressure method can be a very practical alternative, especially in patients who are difficult to examine or when affected areas such as the face, paws, or interdigital spaces are difficult to sample.
The trichogram is in the Dermatology in small animal practice This is particularly valuable because simple methods can reveal indications of demodicosis, dermatophytosis, hair breakage, changes in the hair cycle, or pigment abnormalities. The guideline recommends examining a sufficient number of hairs per affected area if demodicosis is suspected. Correct microscopic settings are also crucial: excessively strong light can obscure structures, while reduced illumination and a lowered condenser can make parasites more visible.
Ear diagnostics should also be included regularly in the Dermatology in small animal practice Otitis externa is often not an isolated ear problem, but can be a symptom of an underlying allergic, parasitic, or infectious disease. Ear cytology helps to assess yeast, cocci, rods, and inflammatory cells. Otoscopy, in turn, reveals whether exudate, ulcerations, stenoses, polyps, changes in the tympanic membrane, or signs of otitis media are present.

Dermatophytosis plays a role in Dermatology in small animal practice Dermatophytosis plays a special role because it is medically, hygienically, and communicatively relevant. On the one hand, it is usually not a life-threatening disease. On the other hand, it is zoonotic, can spread in multi-animal households, animal shelters, breeding facilities, or veterinary practices, and often causes considerable uncertainty among pet owners. Therefore, clear, factual, and scientifically sound communication is crucial.
Clinically, dermatophytosis can present in a variety of ways. Typical symptoms include alopecia, scaling, crusting, and erythema. The lesions can be focal, multifocal, or extensive. Dermatophytosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis, especially in young animals, animals kept in groups, immunocompromised patients, or animals with chronic skin problems. Dermatology in small animal practice It is important not to look solely for the classic ring-shaped pattern, as this does not always appear clearly.
Diagnostically, there is no single test that is sufficient in every situation. The Wood's lamp is a helpful screening and localization tool, especially when a Wood's lamp is suspected. Microsporum canis. However, it does not automatically replace further diagnostic testing. Direct hair microscopy can quickly provide clues in an experienced eye. Fungal culture remains particularly important if the infection needs to be confirmed and the pathogen identified. PCR can be faster, but it also detects non-viable fungal DNA, which must be taken into account when interpreting the results.
Dermatophytosis is therapeutically treated in the Dermatology in small animal practice This is a good example of how local, systemic, and hygienic measures belong together. Topical therapy reduces the shedding of infectious material from the coat, systemic therapy addresses the infection in the hair follicle, and cleaning reduces environmental contamination. At the same time, pet owners should not be alarmed by exaggerated or inaccurate hygiene messages. Providing factual information is an integral part of quality medical care.

A skin biopsy is performed in the Dermatology in small animal practice Biopsy is particularly useful when basic diagnostics and clinical classification do not provide sufficient clarity, or when specific disease groups need to be investigated. These include, in particular, neoplasms, autoimmune and immune-mediated skin diseases, certain forms of alopecia, deep infections, nodular lesions, ulcerative processes, and unclear chronic skin changes. However, the diagnostic value of a biopsy depends heavily on correct case selection, the correct sampling site, and the quality of the sample submission.
It is important to note that a skin biopsy is rarely a standalone test. It should be performed within the context of... Dermatology in small animal practice Biopsies should always be interpreted in conjunction with the patient's history, clinical presentation, distribution pattern, prior treatments, cytology, parasite control, and, if necessary, fungal diagnostics. If a sample is submitted without clinical context, its diagnostic value decreases significantly. Therefore, a precise clinical description, relevant previous findings, good photographs, and a brief list of differential diagnoses should always accompany the biopsy.
The guideline also emphasizes that not every dermatological issue primarily requires a biopsy. In cases of allergies or endocrine disorders, histopathology is often neither sensitive nor specific enough to establish a diagnosis on its own. Here, medical history, differential diagnosis, treatment trials, endocrinological tests, or allergy workup may be more appropriate. Dermatology in small animal practice Therefore, biopsies should be used selectively, not reflexively.
Correct sample collection is also crucial. Multiple samples from different lesion stages increase the diagnostic probability. Crusts, pustules, erythematous areas, alopecia zones, or ulcerated areas must be specifically selected. In the case of nodular or deep lesions, a tissue culture may also be useful. If samples are submitted well-preserved, uncrushed, and appropriately labeled, the skin biopsy can be performed in the Dermatology in small animal practice It can be an extremely valuable tool.

The ear examination is a central component of the Dermatology in small animal practice, Because otitis externa is very common in dogs and cats and should often not be considered an isolated ear problem. Especially in dogs, otitis externa is frequently associated with underlying dermatological conditions, such as atopic dermatitis, food intolerance, parasitic infestation, secondary bacterial infections, or yeast overgrowth. In cats, ear mites, polyps, and middle ear diseases, among other things, play a more significant role.
A complete ear examination involves more than just looking into the ear canal. First, it should be assessed for pain, head shaking, scratching, odor, exudate, redness, swelling, or neurological abnormalities. Otoscopy and ear cytology are then crucial. Cytology helps identify yeast, cocci, rods, inflammatory cells, or mixed infections. Otoscopy shows whether the ear canal is open, whether exudate or foreign material is present, whether ulcerations exist, and whether the eardrum is visible.
In the Dermatology in small animal practice Video otoscopy is particularly valuable because it improves magnification, illumination, and documentation. The guide vividly illustrates the diverse appearance of findings in the ear canal: normal ear canal, ceruminous exudate, purulent material, ulcerations, ceruminous gland hyperplasia, stenoses, polyps, cysts, tumors, tympanic membrane ruptures, or indications of middle ear processes. This visual differentiation is clinically significant because it influences treatment and prognosis.
Another important point is monitoring the course of the disease. Chronic otitis media, in particular, is often treated symptomatically for too long. In the Dermatology in small animal practice Every recurrent case of otitis should prompt an investigation into the underlying disease. Simply changing an ear preparation without cytology, otoscopy, and a comprehensive dermatological assessment often leaves the cause untreated. Therefore, structured ear diagnostics not only improve the treatment of otitis but also the overall dermatological case management.