Small Animal Skin Diseases
Type Subtype Description Clinical signs Treatment
Parasitic Skin Demodicosis Common in dogs, rare in cats Hair loss Isoxazolines
disease Burrow mite → into hair follicles Inflammation
● Juvenile onset - localized→often Dry scaly skin (unauthorised but cheap =
recover spontaneously Erythematous skin ivermectin)
Greasy coat
● Juvenile onset - Pruritus Monitor by clinical exam +
generalised→inherited repeat skin scrapes/plucks
predisposition Area: eyes + feet (but can
● Adult onset - localised or spread) Treat until 2 negative sample
generalized taken at least 14 days apart
○ usually >2 years of age (exp 12w minimum)
○ underlying
immunosuppression AVOID: Glucocorticoids +
○ drugs oclacitinib (apoquel) even if
○ endocrinology self trauma
○ neoplasia
Sarcoptic Mange (scabies) Common in dogs in the UK, rare in cats Skin lesions Skin scraping
Intensely pruritic, transmissible infestation Hair loss
Fox reservoir Usually affect: ear folds, hock,
elbows
Caused by Sarcoptes scabiei (burrowing
mite)
Cheyletiellosis Cheyletiella - fur (biting) mites seen in cats, Scaling Difficult (>6w)
dogs, rabbits Pruritus Females may survive off shot
“Walking dandruff” Primarily dorsal trunk for 10 days
Cats: miliary dermatitis
None licensed:
Rabbits:
Ivermectin
Dog, cat:
, Selamectin,Moxidectin,
Isoxazolines, Fipronil
Trombiculiasis (chiggers) Caused by the larval stage of Trombiculid Asymptomatic → severely None licensed
Mites pruritic May kill mites before naturally
detached + don’t repel in
Strictly seasonal - July-Sept/Oct Orange spots esp in lacrimal ongoing exposure
areas
Affects cats, dogs, horse Fipronil, avermectins,
isoxazolines
Flea bite hypersensitivity Ectoparasite allergy: immediate/delayed Diagnosis:
Mechanisms: intradermal reactions History + signs
- IgE mediated mast cell activation Evidence of flea / flea dirt
- Delayed cell mediated Response to therapy
Antigens : saliva, cuticle, excreted enz.
Toxins, feces Treatment:
Avoid flea bites
Flea bite Use of antipruritic/anti-
test : flea salivary antigen inflammatory meds →
glucocorticoids, apoquel,
Flea infestation in non-FAD animals cytopoint, antihistamines
^flea dirt
unlikely to cause skin lesion (unless huge Flea control:
infestation) Fluralaner/afoxolaner
Age of onset: 3-5 years
Fungal Skin Diseases Malassezia Dermatitis Common sites: foot, ear, lower lip, folds + PRURITUS Diagnosis:
(dogs) interdigital area Erythema +- papules Tape impression → diff-quik
Predilections: Breeds (basset hounds, Scaling stain
Type Subtype Description Clinical signs Treatment
Parasitic Skin Demodicosis Common in dogs, rare in cats Hair loss Isoxazolines
disease Burrow mite → into hair follicles Inflammation
● Juvenile onset - localized→often Dry scaly skin (unauthorised but cheap =
recover spontaneously Erythematous skin ivermectin)
Greasy coat
● Juvenile onset - Pruritus Monitor by clinical exam +
generalised→inherited repeat skin scrapes/plucks
predisposition Area: eyes + feet (but can
● Adult onset - localised or spread) Treat until 2 negative sample
generalized taken at least 14 days apart
○ usually >2 years of age (exp 12w minimum)
○ underlying
immunosuppression AVOID: Glucocorticoids +
○ drugs oclacitinib (apoquel) even if
○ endocrinology self trauma
○ neoplasia
Sarcoptic Mange (scabies) Common in dogs in the UK, rare in cats Skin lesions Skin scraping
Intensely pruritic, transmissible infestation Hair loss
Fox reservoir Usually affect: ear folds, hock,
elbows
Caused by Sarcoptes scabiei (burrowing
mite)
Cheyletiellosis Cheyletiella - fur (biting) mites seen in cats, Scaling Difficult (>6w)
dogs, rabbits Pruritus Females may survive off shot
“Walking dandruff” Primarily dorsal trunk for 10 days
Cats: miliary dermatitis
None licensed:
Rabbits:
Ivermectin
Dog, cat:
, Selamectin,Moxidectin,
Isoxazolines, Fipronil
Trombiculiasis (chiggers) Caused by the larval stage of Trombiculid Asymptomatic → severely None licensed
Mites pruritic May kill mites before naturally
detached + don’t repel in
Strictly seasonal - July-Sept/Oct Orange spots esp in lacrimal ongoing exposure
areas
Affects cats, dogs, horse Fipronil, avermectins,
isoxazolines
Flea bite hypersensitivity Ectoparasite allergy: immediate/delayed Diagnosis:
Mechanisms: intradermal reactions History + signs
- IgE mediated mast cell activation Evidence of flea / flea dirt
- Delayed cell mediated Response to therapy
Antigens : saliva, cuticle, excreted enz.
Toxins, feces Treatment:
Avoid flea bites
Flea bite Use of antipruritic/anti-
test : flea salivary antigen inflammatory meds →
glucocorticoids, apoquel,
Flea infestation in non-FAD animals cytopoint, antihistamines
^flea dirt
unlikely to cause skin lesion (unless huge Flea control:
infestation) Fluralaner/afoxolaner
Age of onset: 3-5 years
Fungal Skin Diseases Malassezia Dermatitis Common sites: foot, ear, lower lip, folds + PRURITUS Diagnosis:
(dogs) interdigital area Erythema +- papules Tape impression → diff-quik
Predilections: Breeds (basset hounds, Scaling stain
