Servet Clinical Guide: Dermatology. Allergies.

Gustavo Machicote Goth, degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Veterinary surgeon with a focus on dermatology at Vilanova Veterinary Clinic (Vilanova de Arousa, Pontevedra, Spain) since 1990. Head of the dermatology referral service DERMAPET, consultant in the Dermatology Service at Clínica Veterinaria Fauna de Pontevedra. Member of the AVEPA (Spanish Small Animal Veterinary Association) Dermatology Group. AVEPA secretary from 2004 to 2009. Full member of the European Society of Veterinary Dermatology (ESVD). Dermatology training from the European School for Advanced Veterinary Studies (ESAVS). He has taught many dermatology training courses and published several articles on dermatology in Spanish journals. Author of the book Dermatología canina y felina (Manuales clínicos por especialidades) (Handbooks of clinical specialties. Canine and feline dermatology) and coauthor of other books. Awarded a prize for the best small animal case study at the 3rd and 5th Encontros Veterinarios Galegos (Galician Veterinary Meetings) and the AVEPA Miguel Luera Scientific Prize in 2005.

1. Clinic consultation
What does the owner notice first?
History to guide diagnosis
What leads to clinical suspicion of allergy?
Predisposing factors
Common and rare clinical signs in cats and dogs
Pruritus: key sign in the allergic patient
Protocol for clinical examination
The importance of an overall health assessment
Dermatological assessment
The allergic dog: gross patterns
The allergic cat: reaction patterns
2. Diagnostic protocols
How to make presumptive diagnoses Differential diagnosis
Laboratory tests
Use of a fine comb or brush
Adhesive tape
Impression cytology
Skin scraping
Trichography
Fine-needle sampling and cytology
Wood’s lamp
Cultures and antibiotic sensitivity tests
Diagnostic criteria of allergies
Search for and confirmation of allergens
3. Communication with clients
Goal for clients: 100 % comprehension
How to educate clients
Management of different owner attitudes
Characteristics of each kind of owner
Difficult situations for the owner related to allergic dermatology
4. Treatment protocols
Management of acute or initial episodes of the disease
Searching for triggers
Use of antiseptics
Shampoo therapy
Diet
Control of pruritus
Maintenance of the controlled patient
5. Immunotherapy
Recommendations for the owner: follow-up
The importance of diet
Shampoo therapy and hydration therapy
The importance of avoiding skin parasites
General preventive measures
6. Case studies: experience-based medicine
Case study 1. Feline hypersensitivity
History
Patient signalment
Important questions to ask the owner when obtaining a history
Analysis of the questions
Diagnostic approach
Differential diagnoses
Discussion
Clinical course
Chronic cases. Refractory atopy
Information from the history
Thorough examination
7. Further information
Most common complications in dogs with allergy
Cutaneous xerosis
Most common types of allergic pyoderma
Otitis
Important points on otitis
Malassezia overgrowth
Most common complications in allergic cats
Endocrine disorders and advanced age as aggravating factors in allergies

Alphabetical index
Bibliography