Comprehensive Guide to Canine and Feline Skin Conditions

Alopecia Areata

Treatment: Spontaneous resolution; cyclosporine for persistent cases.

Alopecia X

Treatment: Melatonin, trilostane, cosmetic treatments, microneedling.

Black Hair Follicular Dysplasia

Treatment: Control infections; melatonin as a hair stimulator.

Color Dilution Alopecia

Treatment: Control infections; no cure; melatonin as a hair stimulator.

Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's Disease)

Treatment: Trilostane, mitotane, adrenalectomy, radiation for pituitary tumors.

Hypothyroidism

Treatment: Levothyroxine (Soloxine); treat secondary infections.

Post-Clipping Alopecia

Treatment: No treatment; self-resolving.

Seasonal/Cyclical Flank Alopecia

Treatment: Melatonin; no specific treatment needed for regrowth.

Sebaceous Adenitis

Treatment: Cyclosporine, anti-seborrheic shampoos, fatty acid supplements.

Cutaneous Vasculitis

Treatment: Treat underlying cause (e.g., discontinue drugs, address infection/neoplasia).

Idiopathic Cutaneous Vasculitis

Treatment: Corticosteroids, azathioprine, pentoxifylline, cyclosporine, dietary elimination trial (8-12 weeks).

Vaccine-Induced Vasculitis

Treatment: Often resolves spontaneously over months; severe cases may require surgical excision or pentoxifylline.

Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE)

Treatment: Topical tacrolimus, glucocorticoids, systemic doxycycline, niacinamide, UV light avoidance.

Pemphigus Foliaceus

Treatment: Doxycycline, niacinamide, vitamin E for mild cases; prednisolone and azathioprine for severe cases.

Pemphigus Vulgaris

Treatment: High-dose prednisolone; cyclosporine or chlorambucil for refractory cases.

Erythema Multiforme (EM)

Treatment: Drug withdrawal; corticosteroids or immune-modulating drugs for idiopathic or severe cases.

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)

Treatment: Supportive care: IV fluids, antibiotics for infections, and drug withdrawal; immunosuppressants are contraindicated.

Lipoma (All Types)

Treatment: Marginal excision for simple lipomas.

Infiltrative Lipomas

Treatment: Wide surgical excision or radiation therapy if incomplete excision.

Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS)

Treatment: Wide excision (3-5 cm margins, 1 fascial plane deep), radiation for microscopic disease, chemotherapy optional.

Feline Injection Site Sarcoma (FISS)

Treatment: Surgery with 5 cm margins and 2 fascial planes deep. Radiation and chemotherapy may improve outcomes.

Sebaceous Adenoma

Treatment: Excision if problematic.

Cutaneous Hamartoma

Treatment: Excision if problematic or enlarging.

Hemangioma

Treatment: Surgical excision.

Cutaneous Lymphoma

Treatment: Chemotherapy (e.g., CHOP protocol) or palliative care.

Mast Cell Tumor (MCT)

Treatment: Wide excision, radiation therapy for incomplete margins. Chemotherapy for systemic disease.

Insect Hypersensitivity

Treatment: Avoidance of insects, topical insecticides, corticosteroids.

Atopic Dermatitis

Treatment: Allergen avoidance, symptomatic treatment (e.g., glucocorticoids).

Food Hypersensitivity

Treatment: Dietary adjustments, antipruritic therapy.

Dermatophytosis

Treatment: Topical antifungals, environmental decontamination.

Dermatophilosis

Treatment: Topical antiseptics; systemic antibiotics if severe.

Eosinophilic Granuloma

Treatment: Corticosteroids, surgical excision if needed.

Habronemiasis

Treatment: Ivermectin, surgical removal.

Pythiosis

Treatment: Aggressive surgical removal, antifungal treatment.

Pastern Dermatitis

Treatment: Address underlying cause, improve hygiene, symptomatic care.

HERDA

Treatment: Supportive care, minimize trauma, genetic counseling.

Sarcoids

Treatment: Surgery (wide margin excision); chemotherapy (intralesional cisplatin ± electrical pulse); cryotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy (BCG, XXTERRA).

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

Treatment: Surgery (wide margin excision); cryotherapy, intralesional cisplatin, topical 5-fluorouracil (superficial lesions); radiotherapy; photodynamic therapy.

Melanomas

Treatment: Surgery (local excision); chemotherapy (intralesional cisplatin); immunotherapy (Oncept Canine Melanoma Vaccine).

Deep Pyoderma

Control Infection: Systemic antibiotics (culture-based when possible, often 4-6 weeks or longer). Topical therapy (chlorhexidine sprays, paw soaks with diluted bleach or Epsom salts). Combination topical antibiotic and steroid ointments for localized lesions.

Control Inflammation for Deep Pyoderma

Prednisone (0.75 mg/kg/day) initially, tapered over several weeks. Cyclosporine for long-term management if lesions recur.

Address Underlying Causes for Deep Pyoderma

Weight loss, allergy control, or correcting orthopedic disease.

Blastomycosis

Fungal infection requiring systemic antifungals.

Itraconazole

Preferred antifungal for blastomycosis; long-term use.

Fluconazole

Cost-effective antifungal alternative for blastomycosis.

Urine Antigen Tests

Monitor recurrence of blastomycosis.

Sporotrichosis

Fungal infection treated with antifungal therapy.

Potassium Iodide

Used in sporotrichosis; requires iodism monitoring.

Zoonotic Precautions

Wear gloves when handling infected animals.

Cryptococcosis

Fungal infection needing long-term antifungal therapy.

Amphotericin B

Used for severe cryptococcosis cases.

Latex Agglutination Tests

Monitor cryptococcosis treatment effectiveness.

Atypical Mycobacterium Infection

Requires long-term antimicrobial therapy.

3rd-Generation Fluoroquinolones

Includes enrofloxacin for atypical mycobacterial infections.

Sterile Nodular Panniculitis

Immunosuppressive therapy needed for management.

Cyclosporine

Used for long-term control of panniculitis.

Reactive Histiocytosis

Ongoing treatment required due to recurrence.

Plasma Cell Pododermatitis

Immune modulation therapy for inflammation.

Wound Care

Supportive therapy for ulcerated lesions.

Interstitial Furunculosis

Requires systemic antibiotics and topical treatments.

Neoplastic Nodules

Treatment varies based on tumor type.

Otitis Externa

Ear infection requiring topical antibacterial therapy.

Neomycin

First-tier topical antibacterial for otitis externa.

Miconazole

Most effective antifungal for yeast infections.

Fluocinolone Acetonide

High potency topical corticosteroid for inflammation.

Ear Flushing

Essential for cleaning and infection control.

Otitis Media

Middle ear infection requiring systemic therapy.

Myringotomy

Surgical procedure to access middle ear.

Bulla Osteotomy

Surgical option for chronic otitis media.

Otitis Interna

Inner ear infection often secondary to otitis media.

Supportive Care

Addresses vestibular signs in otitis interna.