CNYACE Webinar: Topics in Dermatology

Topics in Dermatology:

Can You Hear Me? Ear Disease and Treatment Options in Small Animal Patients
Allergic Disease in Cats: Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis and Treatment
An Itch You Can't Scratch: Managing Pruritus in Small Animal Patients

Presented by: Dylan Burroughs, DVM, DACVD

Can You Hear Me? Ear Disease and Treatment Options in Small Animal Patients

Otitis externa is a very common and multifactorial disease appreciated both in the canine and feline species. Patients can develop recurrent ear infections due to predisposing factors such as external ear canal conformation, primary causes such as allergic disease, and perpetuating factors such as bacterial and fungal infections. Treatment of otitis includes identification of possible causative factors, management of active infections, and prevention of pathologic changes that can perpetuate disease. This lecture will explain the pathogenesis of otitis, summarize the presentations of otitis in dogs and cats, and list the current therapeutic options for management of disease.   

Learning Objectives:
1.    Identify the normal anatomy of the external ear canal of dogs and cats
2.    Understand the predisposing, primary, and perpetuating factors of otitis in dogs and cats
3.    Describe the clinical presentation of otitis media and otitis interna in dogs and cats
4.    List the first-line therapeutic options available for treatment of otitis externa in dogs
5.    Identify the current labelled therapies for treatment of otitis externa in cats

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Allergic Disease in Cats: Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis and Treatment

Feline Atopic Syndrome refers to a spectrum of hypersensitive disorders characterized by clinical presentations including skin (flea allergy dermatitis, feline atopic skin syndrome), gastrointestinal (cutaneous adverse food reaction or food allergy) and respiratory systems (feline asthma). Feline Atopic Skin Syndrome (formerly known as nonflea nonfood-induced feline hypersensitivity dermatitis) specifically refers to the hypersensitivity reaction associated with environmental allergens. The main presenting complaint associated with allergic disease in cats is pruritus (seasonal or nonseasonal). Concurrent clinical signs involve cutaneous reaction patterns such as head and neck pruritus, symmetrical alopecia, miliary dermatitis and eosinophilic granuloma complex. Diagnosis of allergic disease in cats is formulated off of initial dermatologic database such as superficial and deep skin scrapes, clinical history and presentation, trial of medications such as flea prevention and strict elimination diet trials. Therapeutic management options for cats include antihistamines, anti-inflammatories such as corticosteroids, immunosuppressive therapy, supplements, and allergen specific immunotherapy.    

Learning Objectives:
1.    Be familiar with the terminology of feline atopic dermatitis and feline atopic skin syndrome
2.    Know the three categories of allergic skin disease in cats
3.    Understand the unique clinical presentations of allergic skin disease in cats
4.    List the initial diagnostics that need to be performed to obtain a dermatologic database
5.    Describe how to perform a strict elimination diet trial to diagnose cutaneous adverse food reaction
6.    Compare and contrast the therapeutic options to manage pruritus and allergic disease in cats
7.    Explain the rationale of allergy testing and formulation of allergen specific immunotherapy

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An Itch You Can't Scratch: Managing Pruritus in Small Animal Patients

Itch or pruritus is an unpleasant sensation which causes an intense desire to scratch. Itch sensation is limited to the skin, mucosa and cornea. Itch can be classified into three groups: itch on primary inflamed skin, itch on primary but non-inflamed skin and itch presenting with severe chronic secondary scratch lesions. This lecture focuses on explaining and understanding the complex pathogenesis of pruritus, diseases associated with the clinical sign of pruritus, and current therapeutic options available to manage pruritus in small animal patients with allergic skin disease.   

Learning Objectives:
1.    Define pruritus and explain the classifications of pruritus
2.    Understand the role of itch mediators or pruritogens in the pathogenesis of pruritus
3.    List neurogenic or psychogenic skin diseases that can present with the clinical sign of pruritus 
4.    Compare and contrast the labeled options for management of pruritus associated with allergic disease in cats
5.    Know the similarities and differences between the janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors currently available for management of allergic pruritus in dogs