The insidiousness of canine atopy: is there any hope for recovery. Symptoms and treatment of dermatitis in a dog: pododermatitis, flea, acral, malassezion, seborrheic Chow chow atopic dermatitis treatment

Like humans, the skin of a dog is a huge system that performs a large number of important functions in the body. The skin protects the dog's body from damage, performing a protective function. It is involved in the process of thermoregulation. The beauty of the coat depends on the health of the skin and the whole body of the pet. A frequent reason for a visit to the veterinarian is a violation of the integrity of the skin. One of the problems is dermatitis. Consider the most common types of dermatitis in dogs, their main symptoms and existing treatments.

Dermatitis is an inflammatory process that occurs on the surface of the skin or inside it. The disease is accompanied by redness, itching and pain.

Additional symptoms depend on the severity of the process, the causes and associated complications. Very often, itching leads to the fact that the animal combs the skin to wounds, an additional infection joins, body temperature rises, purulent wounds appear.

With dermatitis, the dog scratches his skin to wounds.

Classification of dermatitis

The causes of dermatitis can be different, and therefore there are many types of the disease. The most common types of dermatitis among dogs are:

• pododermatitis affecting the limbs of a four-legged pet;
• flea caused by flea bites and the body's reaction to their saliva and waste products;
• caused by the activation of a special type of fungus on the skin;
• seborrheic, which is also divided into primary and secondary seborrhea.

Fleas can cause dermatitis.

Consider the main symptoms characteristic of each type of dermatitis, so that any dog ​​owner can pay attention to them in a timely manner and come to the veterinarian for help.

Distinctive features of pododermatitis

Pododermatitis on a dog's paw.

Pododermatitis is found on the paws or pads of dogs. The main provoking factors include - fungal and bacterial lesions,. The first symptoms that caring owners pay attention to:

1. Constant over-careful licking of the paws. The limbs look wet, and the skin is reddened and moist.
2. The appearance of wounds around the pads, between the fingers.
3. Blood blisters on limbs.
4. Swelling of the affected limb.
5. Pain appears when walking. The dog begins to limp, it is hard for her to stand on the injured paw.
6. The accession of a bacterial infection manifests itself in the form of pustules and abscesses.

Treatment

If the lesions of the limbs are few, you can treat them and wait for the healing of wounds. In this case, antibiotics can not be used, it will be enough to treat the damage sites with chlorhexidine or any antibacterial drug.

In winter, you can buy special shoes for the dog.

• When dermatitis has affected most of the skin, begin the fight against the underlying disease , while the appointment of antibiotic therapy is a justified step. The course of treatment is long, until the symptoms disappear completely, and then another 14 days to consolidate the results.
• Pododermatitis often occurs due to contact with allergenic substances . For example, during icy conditions, a special anti-icing mixture is used to sprinkle icy roads. It is she who has a detrimental effect on dog skin. To protect your pet from problems in the winter, you can buy him special walking boots.
• In advanced cases or in situations where wounds occur due to improper placement of the paws, it may be prescribed operation .
• To relieve itching use anti-allergic agents and lotions from herbal preparations.
• Balanced nutrition e and the use of immunomodulators will help restore immunity and overcome the disease.

Symptoms and treatment of flea dermatitis

Flea dermatitis is accompanied by hair loss.

1. Dog biting skin.
2. Itching and traces of scratching on the skin.
3. Wounds due to trauma to the skin of the animal during scratching.
4. Loss of appetite, vomiting, stool and stomach problems.
5. Bald patches of skin.
6. Changing behavior: barking, occasional whining, irritability.

Usually, the reaction to flea bites does not occur immediately, but as intoxication increases and the body's reaction intensifies. Such a response is considered slow. Very rarely, some individuals may have an immediate reaction to a bite. It occurs in hypersensitive individuals.

Flea bite dermatitis can spread throughout the body, but usually the head, paws, and ears are not affected.

Before treating dermatitis, it is necessary to eliminate its cause - fleas.

You can get rid of fleas with a special shampoo.

• Shampoos are used for this. special drops at the withers , solutions and aerosols. After processing the animal, proceed to the disinfection of the premises. It is recommended to treat the room with a special solution, wash and iron the bedding of the animal. The disinfection procedure, if necessary, is repeated after 14 days.
• Antihistamines can help relieve itching . If the desired effect is not observed or the disease has become chronic, the veterinarian will prescribe corticosteroids. Their use should be carried out according to the scheme determined by the doctor, the duration is also prescribed by the veterinarian. It is impossible to deviate from the course of treatment, so as not to harm the health of the pet even more.
• To an animal not re-infested by fleas , it is recommended to purchase a flea collar.

Signs of acral dermatitis

With this form of dermatitis, thickening or ulceration can be seen on the back of the paws in the wrist area. Plaques can be found on the ankles, and sometimes even in the interdigital spaces.

Acral dermatitis on a dog's paw.

Acral dermatitis is more common in large dogs. Characteristic signs of dermatitis:

• Licking the affected area, some dogs begin to chew on the painful area.
• In some cases, the lesion occurs at the site of a long-standing injury (bruise, fracture).
• The lesions are solitary, but sometimes there are several thickened plaques at once.

Existing treatments

Acral dermatitis is difficult to treat if the cause of the problem has not been accurately identified.. Very rarely resort to surgical treatment. The operation is performed only when all the methods of treatment have been tried, but none of them has brought relief.

A decoction of chamomile relieves inflammation and irritation.

Usually the veterinarian prescribes the following types of drugs:

1. Antibiotics are prescribed taking into account the identified bacterial environment and sensitivity to certain groups of drugs.
2. From system tools the following can be used: psychotropic substances or antidepressants, antihistamines (clemastine, cyproheptadine, chlorphenamine) and hormonal drugs (prednisolone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone), antipruritics - misoprostol, cyclosporine.
3. Local treatment may consist in the use of ointments or lotions from herbal ingredients. For example, a decoction of chamomile, comfrey leaves, calendula flowers helps well. They are safe for the animal, relieve inflammation and skin irritation.

Malassezion dermatitis

Malassezion dermatitis in the ear of a dog.

Damage to the skin of a pet by a special type of fungus Malassezia pachydermatis leads to the appearance of Malassezia dermatitis in dogs. Usually, a fungal infection begins to progress against the background of other diseases. Signs of the disease can be:

• severe itching of the paws, ears and the area around the eyes;
• the affected areas begin to go bald and blush;
• the skin thickens;
• an unpleasant odor emanates from the animal;
• the fur becomes untidy, greasy;
• illness may be accompanied.

Treatment

Treatment is aimed at eliminating pathogenic microflora.

Bathing is carried out using special antifungal shampoos (Sebazol, Mycozoral, Nizoral), it is possible to use shampoo with chlorhexidine. It has antibacterial property. You can use enilconazole lotion. From folk remedies - vinegar diluted to 2% of the state, which is used to wipe the affected skin. Rubbing is carried out periodically with an interval of 2-3 days.

Nizoral is an antifungal shampoo.

Signs of seborrhea and methods of its treatment in dogs

The main symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis in dogs are:

1. The characteristic smell of a dog, coming from homeless animals, may also be present in a pet when it has seborrhea.
2. Matte shade of wool. Usually the coat shines, and with this disease it immediately fades.
3. The coat is brittle, which causes its excessive loss.
4. visible to the naked eye.
5. The itching is accompanied by a constant sniffing of the animal.
6. Black spots on the skin.

Seborrhea in a dog.

Therapeutic measures

To improve the condition of the skin and coat, special shampoos containing tar, salicylic acid and sulfur are used. If the diagnosis revealed a lack of nutrients in the body, prescribe the intake of vitamin preparations.

And antifungal (Fluconazole) and antimicrobial (Ceftriaxone) agents can also be prescribed. Treatment with corticosteroid medications may be used to relieve itching.

Fluconazole is an antifungal drug.

Particular attention should be paid to the dog's diet. The diet can be determined by the veterinarian. It should contain the necessary nutrients and not cause allergies in the pet.

Video about flea dermatitis

Text of article from A Color Handbook of Skin Diseases of the Dog and Cat 2009

Translation from English: veterinarian Vasiliev AB

Etiology and pathogenesis

Drug dermatitis in dogs and cats is a rare condition with a variety of skin manifestations, with or without systemic symptoms, occurring as a result of the consumption of chemical components. This dermatitis may reflect immunologic or non-immunologic reactions. Animals may become sensitized or react to active ingredients, preservatives, or even colorants in medicines or food. Reactions can be observed on systemically or locally acting medicines. In most cases, this leads to widespread lesions and their appearance is unpredictable. Rarely, recurrent localized reactions (fixed drug dermatitis) may occur (Photo 1)

Clinical manifestations

There is no breed, age, or sex predisposition for drug-induced dermatitis in dogs and cats, although Dobermans are predisposed to sulfonamide-induced reactions. Some drugs, especially penicillins and sulfonamides, are more likely to cause reactions (although this may be due to their frequent use), but it must be remembered that all drugs can cause drug dermatitis. Clinical symptoms include urticaria and angioedema (Picture 2), contact dermatitis, erythematous macules (Picture 3), or crusted vesicles, exfoliative dermatitis, vasculitis and vasculopathy (Picture 4), pemphigus or pemphigoid and Steven-Johnson syndrome (Picture 5) or toxic epidermal necrolysis (Pic 6)

Itching is usually absent, but sometimes severe. Systemic disorders may include anemia, thrombocytopenia, bone marrow suppression, hepatopathy, pancreatitis, nephrotic syndrome, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, arthropathy, uveitis, and neurological symptoms.

Differential Diagnosis

• or infection
• Irritant or contact dermatitis
• , systemic lupus erythematosus and other immune-mediated dermatoses
• skin neoplasia
• Idiopathic ulcerative dermatosis (in cats)

Diagnosis

Drug dermatitis in dogs and cats can be tentatively diagnosed based on known drug use or exposure, compatible clinical symptoms, consistent histological findings on biopsy specimens, and resolution of symptoms after discontinuation of the intended drug. An accurate diagnosis, however, is only possible after provocation, which is undesirable as it can lead to severe systemic or generalized symptoms.

Treatment

Removal of the agent causing the reaction and appropriate therapy is sufficient in cases showing only mild symptoms of the reaction. Treatment with all drugs should be discontinued: if treatment is important (eg antibiotics), a drug pharmacologically different from the suspected drug should be selected. One of the authors often observes cases that do not respond well to drug withdrawal. This may be due to a persistent antigenic stimulus or due to the fact that the immune response that has begun becomes self-sustaining. The goal of therapy is, therefore, to stop the ongoing condition, if present, and to treat residual skin lesions (see the relevant chapters on the treatment of immune-mediated syndromes). Intravenous human immunoglobulin (ivHIG; 0.5–1.5 g/kg IV over 6–12 hours) may be useful in the treatment of Steven-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. It is well tolerated, although there is a risk of sensitization and anaphylaxis with multiple applications.

Some cases, such as those with extensive open skin lesions or toxic epidermal necrolysis, will require aggressive fluid therapy and anti-shock measures. Areas of necrotic skin should be treated topically with silver activated silver sulfadiazine ointment and appropriate dressings to prevent infection and promote wound healing. The value of systemic corticosteroids is debated, since most lesions are irreversible and the process continues until the time of diagnosis. Clinicians should also be aware that drug dermatitis can be caused by steroids and other anti-inflammatory drugs, and some individuals with ongoing drug dermatitis may show an exacerbation of the reaction. The prognosis is variable. It is usually good with mild skin reactions and worsens with more severe lesions and systemic reactions. The medical history should reflect hypersensitivity to the drug and clearly indicate the drugs to be avoided.

Key Points

• Drug dermatitis is probably not well recognized.
• Do not challenge to confirm your diagnosis.

Photo 1. Drug-induced dermatitis. Fixed drug-induced dermatitis on the lateral part of the body in an Airedale Terrier.

Photo 2. Drug-induced dermatitis. Urticaria and Quincke's edema in a boxer after methadone administration.

Photo 3. Drug-induced dermatitis. Erythematous macules and plaques after treatment with loperamide.

Photo 4. Drug-induced dermatitis. Ear tip necrosis in a West Highland White Terrier after treatment with fenbendazole

Photo 5. Drug-induced dermatitis. Severe ulceration of the muzzle and nose in a Springer Spaniel with Steven-Johnson syndrome after treatment with trimethoprim sulfonamide.

Photo 6. Drug-induced dermatitis. Toxic epidermal necrolysis secondary to drug induced dermatitis

Photo 7. Drug-induced dermatitis. Multiple nodules with crusts and alopecia, covering the entire muzzle. This nodular dermatitis was presumably caused by the administration of systemic antibiotics.

Photo 8. Drug-induced dermatitis. Multiple foci of nodules with crusts on the trunk.

Photo 9. Drug-induced dermatitis. Ulcerative dermatitis on the auricle. Epidermal re-growth islands originating from hair follicles.

Photo 10. Drug-induced dermatitis.. Erythematous plaques with well-demarcated serpentine edges on the auricle of a cat. This mild dermatitis was caused by a systemic antibiotic.

Photo 11. Drug-induced dermatitis. Same cat in photo 13. The serpentine edges of the lesion are marked to make them more obvious.

Photo 12. Drug-induced dermatitis. Injury to the pads causing ulceration.

Photo 13. Drug-induced dermatitis. Gingival hyperplasia is a rare adverse reaction to ciclosporin. Hyperplasia disappears after discontinuation of the drug

Photo 14. Drug-induced dermatitis. Reaction to radiotherapy on a dog's wrist.

.

Photo 15. Drug-induced dermatitis. Deep, multifocal, punctate lesions limited to the back and developing hours or days after bathing are a unique feature of bathing folliculitis and furunculosis.

Photo 16. Drug-induced dermatitis. Same dog in photo 15. Multifocal, punctate lesions on the back are a typical feature of folliculitis and bathing furunculosis.

Photo 17. Drug-induced dermatitis. Same dog from photo 15. Close-up view of focal, punctate lesions.

Text of the article and photo 1-6 from the book

A Color Handbook of

Skin Diseases of the

dog and cat

SECOND EDITION

Tim Nuttall

BSc, BVSc, PhD, CertVD, CBiol, MIBiol, MRCVS

Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Dermatology,

University of Liverpool Small Animal Teaching Hospital, Leahurst Campus, Neston, UK

Richard G Harvey

BVSc, PhD, CBiol, FIBiol, DVD, DipECVD, MRCVS

Godiva Referrals, Coventry, UK

Patrick J. McKeever

DVM, MS, DACVD

Professor Emeritus

McKeever Dermatology Clinics, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA

Copyright © 2009 Manson Publishing Ltd.

a photo7- 17 ofbooks

SMALL ANIMAL

DERMATOLOGY

A COLOR ATLAS AND THERAPEUTIC GUIDE

KEITH A. HNILICA, DVM, MS, DACVD, MBA

www.itchnot.com

Pet Wellness Center

Allergy and Dermatology Clinic

Knoxville, Tennessee

Copyright © 2011, 2006, 2001, by Saunders

Inflammatory processes on the skin in dogs is a problem that can torment an animal of any breed, regardless of the conditions of detention and the degree of care for it. One of the most common skin diseases is dermatitis in dogs. The disease is dangerous not only by the discomfort that appears, but also by a decrease in the dog's immunity.

Dermatitis in dogs is a special type of allergic reaction of the body to the penetration of a foreign body or substance into it. The inflammatory process affects not only the epidermis, but also penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin. The disease is characterized by redness of the skin, the formation of ulcers, wounds, erosions.

With dermatitis, areas of the dog's skin become inflamed, erosions, ulcers and wounds form.

The intensity of manifestations depends on the type of dermatitis:

How does dermatitis manifest itself?

All types of dermatitis have relatively similar external manifestations:

Dermatitis is a disease that directly depends on the influence of environmental factors and the internal characteristics of the body.

Most often, the disease manifests itself in the presence of the following conditions:

• The microclimate in the apartment (dust, cleaning products, use of air fresheners).
• Season, climatic features (air humidity, prevailing temperature, flora).
• Concomitant diseases (dysbiosis, allergies, liver disease).

There are breeds for which dermatitis is a characteristic disease.

Most often, the disease manifests itself in the following breeds:

• Sharpei.
• Pug.
• Boxer.
• Chow chow.
• Labrador.
• Beagle.
• Bulldogs.
• German Shepherd.

For the first time, dermatitis appears in puppies at 6-7 months, then it appears periodically under the influence of provoking factors.

First aid for a dog

First aid for dermatitis is to alleviate the condition of the pet and relieve pain. Before visiting the veterinarian, hair is removed from the affected areas. Areas of skin with signs of irritation are treated with an antiseptic to prevent further inflammation. Dead scales are softened and carefully removed. Then the treated area is sprinkled with a powdered antiseptic: streptocide, boric acid.

Attention. With contact dermatitis, it is necessary to limit the contact of the animal's skin with the source of dermatitis. If, for example, irritation has arisen due to wearing a collar, it must be removed, and after treatment, replaced with another, better one.

Diagnosis and treatment of dermatitis

Therapy for dermatitis depends on the causes of its occurrence. The greatest difficulty is the diagnosis of atopic (allergic) dermatitis, since it requires clarification of a specific allergen.

The anamnesis of the disease is compiled on the basis of information:

• First appearance of rash. The time of appearance of skin irritations is an important diagnostic factor, since atopic dermatitis manifests itself in the spring-autumn period, food allergy - all year round.
• Heredity.
• What parts of the body are most covered with irritation.
• The color and nature of the rash.
• Under what conditions did dermatitis develop?
• Laboratory tests are used:
• Swab cultures for fungus.
• General and biochemical analysis of blood.
• Analysis of blood serum for hormones.

In the treatment of dermatitis, local remedies, oral preparations and physiotherapy methods are used. Antiseptic dressings are used to relieve irritation., which produce tissue regeneration, relieve inflammation, destroy fungal infection. For these purposes, applications of ozokerite, paraffin are used. Pain is relieved by novocaine blockade.

The course of treatment of dermatitis includes the following means:

Important. With purulent dermatitis, bathing the animal is contraindicated in order to avoid additional infection of wounds.

Folk remedies for dermatitis

Drug treatment of the disease can be combined with folk recipes used to treat wounds and relieve redness:

• Potato compress. Grated raw potatoes are placed on gauze and applied to the affected area.
• Herbal ointment. Chamomile, Ivan-tea for a tablespoon, two glasses of hay dust is poured with water and boiled for 5 minutes in a water bath. The broth is filtered, add 1 tablespoon of butter and cook until a homogeneous mass is formed. The mixture is stirred with glycerin in equal proportions. The ointment is applied to the affected areas 4 times a day for 30 days.
• Pear lotions. A glass of crushed pear leaves is boiled in half a liter of water for 5 minutes, infused for 12 hours. Used in the form of lotions.

Prevention of dermatitis

To prevent the development of dermatitis on the skin of a dog, you should follow the rules for caring for a dog's coat:

Timely complex treatment allows you to remove the symptoms of dermatitis in dogs in a fairly short period. In 90% of cases, the disease is cured completely. If left untreated, dermatitis becomes chronic.

We offer you to watch a video in which the owner of the dog talks about his experience in treating a pet from atopic dermatitis. We wish you a pleasant viewing!

Skin diseases in dogs are not uncommon. There are a lot of dermatitis in nature, and all of them lead to serious disturbances in the general well-being of the pet. Learn to identify the first signs of a skin inflammatory process in order to have time to seek help from a veterinarian and help your pet in time.

Dermatitis in a dog: symptoms and main causes

Under normal conditions, the skin performs a protective function of the body from bacteria and external influences of environmental factors (mainly traumatic). When something starts to go wrong, the skin undergoes painful changes. One such change is dermatitis. This term combines any inflammatory processes of the skin, covering all its layers. The main feature of this pathology is the absence of an obvious rash.

The main symptoms of dermatitis:

• itching and soreness;
• signs of irritation (redness, peeling);
• an increase in local temperature;
• small bleeding from the capillaries when they are damaged (sometimes in the form of small hemorrhages);
• swelling and puffiness, passing from traumatic to inflammatory (preconditions for ulceration);
• release of exudate (inflammatory effusion of fluid on the surface of the skin - from serous - transparent - to purulent).

With a protracted course or improper and prolonged treatment, the skin in the affected areas becomes rougher, thickens, flakes, and hair begins to fall out. In the presence of wounds, they become deeper and more extensive, turning into weeping ulcers.

Classification and specific features

Dermatitis is classified according to the causes that caused it. There are a lot of varieties of skin inflammations, but there are several main types that are most common. Each has its own specific features, according to which differentiation occurs.

Then there are places of redness, peeling, hair loss, scratching and scratches due to constant itching. Usually the places with the most delicate skin are affected: muzzle, lower abdomen and groin, armpits.

The source of irritation is not only the saliva of animals, but also their bites, and the fruits of life in the form of subcutaneous passages. The most common is flea dermatitis.

Burn (or thermal) dermatitis

When receiving a burn of any degree, the dog will develop this type of inflammation with a 100% probability. It is often complicated by the fact that the animal licks the burns, introduces an infection into the wound, which quickly spreads over the entire burn surface.

Of particular danger in this case are the products of skin decay, which can lead to local poisoning of the body with involvement of the liver and kidneys. It is important that this type of dermatitis means not only exposure to high temperatures, but also low ones, i.e. frostbite.

With burns, the clinic is classic with the formation of blisters, open wounds and weeping ulcers. With frostbite against the background of inflammation, foci of necrosis and decay of dead skin may occur.

contact dermatitis

The name speaks for itself - it occurs during prolonged contact with irritating substances: chemicals, sunlight, metal on the collar, synthetic litter fabric, exposure to a hot battery in winter, etc.

Often manifested as interdigital dermatitis in dogs, when the dog's paws come into contact with salt, which is sprinkled on icy roads in winter. There is swelling, redness, the formation of small bubbles with liquid, dry skin.

Often imperceptibly flows into a chronic form, which can turn into a purulent one due to the contamination of cracks formed on the skin with bacteria.

Allergic dermatitis

It occurs under the influence of allergens and can often be confused with other diseases. One of the few manifestations of the disease, which is accompanied by urticaria, local reddening of certain parts of the body (most often on the face, abdomen, in the interdigital space).

A variation of an allergic skin reaction is juvenile dermatitis (or juvenile cellulitis), in which the muzzle of young dogs swells in places, ulcerates and begins to literally rot. Recently referred to as autoimmune diseases, tk. The true cause is not known to veterinarians.

Peri-wound dermatitis

This type of skin damage occurs only around necrotic or purulent wounds. The resulting purulent and decomposing exudate (fluid released from the wound) irritates adjacent healthy areas of the skin. Inflammation occurs, to which bacteria join. Due to this, the wound surface increases its area. Features of the clinical manifestation are redness and swelling around the wounds, glued hair and the formation of further areas of baldness. Perhaps the temporary formation of crusts, which, falling off, form new areas of open wounds.

Drug irritation

This type of lesion is very often combined with the previous type. With improper and inept treatment with contact agents (ointments, antiseptic liquids), irritation occurs, which can quickly turn into dermatitis. Incorrect injections of drugs can also lead to this pathology, as well as in violation of the instructions regarding the injection sites (for example, when irritants are injected subcutaneously, which should only be administered intramuscularly and vice versa).

Infectious and fungal dermatitis

These names are the second most frequent after allergic ones. There is only one reason - the weakening of immunity and the activation of conditionally pathogenic microflora and fungi (normally always present on the skin, and multiply when the body's defenses are weakened). They are treated for a very long time, because. The correct diagnosis is not always immediately made. Bacterial dermatitis is caused most often by staphylococci, fungal - by the fungus Malassezia. Staphylococcal dermatitis has classic inflammatory signs, fungal dermatitis often affects the skin, redness and an increase in local temperature are not always present.

Diagnosis of dermatitis

To diagnose a particular type of skin inflammation, a veterinarian performs:

• collection of anamnesis and a detailed survey of the owner of the animal;
• clinical examination;
• scrapings from the surface of the skin and bacteriological or mycological cultures from the affected areas;
• blood tests (biochemical, clinical, for hormones), feces and urine.

First aid for dermatitis in a dog at home

Treatment at home does not always give the expected result, because. before starting treatment procedures, you need to know the exact cause of the disease. Without accurate information, which factor provoked the development of inflammation of the skin, the treatment will be ineffective.

Having applied all pre-medical measures, in the near future it is worth contacting a veterinarian. Further self-treatment is inappropriate, because. the situation can be aggravated by a chronic course or a putrefactive-purulent process of the skin and general intoxication of the body. Treatment will be difficult and complemented by a long recovery period.

Veterinary help

Medical treatment will include:

• determining the exact cause of the skin lesion through history taking, clinical examination and laboratory tests;
• relieving itching and local anesthesia;
• local treatment of affected areas of the skin;
• systemic antibiotic therapy (if necessary);
• general strengthening and detoxification therapy (if necessary).

Dermatitis in dogs is treated depending on its type and the general condition of the animal. The veterinarian usually prescribes the following drugs:

The main rule for local treatment: wet dry, dry wet. Those. dry, scaly skin lesions are smeared with ointments and creams, weeping ulcers and open wounds, including purulent dermatitis, are treated with drying agents (antimicrobial powders, drying solutions).

General procedures for the treatment of dermatitis in dogs:

1. At the time of the acute course, the affected areas of the skin are cleaned of excess hair (if this was not done by the owner of the house).
2. The surface of the diseased skin is treated with antiseptic agents - best of all in the form of applications (streptocid emulsion, synthomycin ointment, Vishnevsky ointment, a mixture of dexamethasone cream with vitamin PP and B6, Levomekol). A drug is applied to a gauze napkin with a thin layer, applied to the affected area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin and fixed with a bandage. It is enough to change 1-2 times a day.
3. During the purulent process, hair is cut out of the wounds, the wound surface is abundantly washed with hydrogen peroxide or a 0.05% chlorhexidine solution, blotted with a gauze cloth and well covered with antimicrobial powders (norsulfazol, streptocide, streptocide with antibiotics, iodoform with boric acid).
4. For weeping wounds, it is effective to use alcohol-drying compresses and lotions with camphor or ichthyol alcohol (moisten and apply bandages 3-4 times a day with an alcohol concentration of not more than 30%).
5. To relieve and prevent inflammation around diseased skin areas, you can lubricate the skin with 3% boric acid or iodine solution (not abundantly).
6. To relieve the pain syndrome, infiltration novocaine blockades are carried out (around wounds) or intravenous administration of novocaine 0.25% at a dose of 5-20 ml per animal, depending on its size.
7. With prolonged purulent dermatitis, antibiotic therapy is used (cephalexin - 15-30 mg / kg twice a day for a week; baytril - 0.2 ml / kg once a course of 3 to 10 days, depending on the severity of the inflammatory process; enrofloxacin - 5-10 mg /kg once a day for a course of at least 5 days).
8. With vitamin therapy, vitamins of groups B, E, A, PP are prescribed.
9. To accelerate the elimination of toxic substances during general intoxication, furosemide (diuretic) tablets are introduced into the treatment regimen at a dose of 8-10 mg / kg of body weight - once a day before meals in the morning.
10. To improve the general condition of the dog, it is possible to use autohemotherapy (blood is taken from the prebrachial saphenous vein, observing all the rules of asepsis, and injected subcutaneously into the affected area or intramuscularly, starting with 5 ml (maximum up to 25 ml) - a total of 4 injections with an interval of 2-4 days ).
11. Immunity is boosted by immunofan (1 ml per day), cycloferon (daily on days 1-2-4-6-8 0.8-0.12 ml / kg in inverse proportion to weight), gamavit (0.3-0. 5 ml/kg once).
12. To eliminate itching, antihistamines are used:
    1. suprastin - 0.5-2 ml intramuscularly 1 time per day;
    2. allervet - 0.2-0.4 ml / kg three to four times a day for up to 5 days, intramuscularly or subcutaneously;
    3. tavegil - 0.5-2 ml, depending on the size of the dog, up to 2 times a day; diazolin in tablets or dragees - up to 0.1 mg per animal 1-2 times a day)
    4. or glucocorticosteroids (hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, prednisolone, betamethasone).

Glucocorticoids are usually used in average therapeutic doses for no more than 3 days, reducing the dosage in the next 4 days - strictly under the supervision of a veterinarian. This group of drugs, along with good antipruritic and anti-inflammatory properties, has a lot of side effects in case of an overdose or an incorrect treatment regimen.

Prevention of dermatitis

Timely prevention of skin diseases in a dog greatly facilitates its condition during illness and accelerates its recovery in the treatment of inflammation that has already occurred.

Atopic dermatitis (atopy) is a chronic disease of the skin of dogs with an obligatory symptom in the form of constant itching. Delaying treatment will provoke an increase in the area of ​​the affected areas and more frequent relapses. It is important for dog owners to carefully monitor the behavior and condition of the animal in order to identify the pathology in the first stages and contact the veterinarian in time.

Atopy is a dog's body reaction to exposure to a particular allergen. When it enters the respiratory tract or on the skin, the immune system produces antibodies to eliminate the irritant, which causes a characteristic skin reaction. Depending on the origin of the allergen, the disease can be seasonal or non-seasonal. It is inherited, but at the same time, allergens-causative agents may differ in puppies of the same litter.

Symptoms

Among the most characteristic symptoms of atopic dermatitis in dogs are:

• the appearance of inflamed areas on different parts of the body (most often the limbs, abdomen, muzzle, axillary region);
• severe and constant itching, which is accompanied by strong scratching and licking;
• redness (purple) of the affected areas with the appearance of scales;
• greasy appearance of wool or its loss in places of damage and scratching;

Inflammation of the skin and oily seborrhea can often cause the development of concomitant pathology - a yeast infection, which is accompanied by the appearance of papules and boils. In addition, it is also possible the accompanying manifestation of rhinitis, otitis externa, asthma, staphylococcal pyoderma (with ulcers, fistulas and inflammation).

Atopic dermatitis is characterized by varying degrees of damage to areas of the body, on which the duration of periods of exacerbation and remission depends:

• Light - covers single areas. Irritation is observed within 2-3 weeks and appears no more than 2 times a year with a remission of 6-8 months.
• Moderate - affects multiple areas of the body. Pathology manifests itself 3-4 times a year for 1-2 months.
• Severe - represents multiple pathological spots, which often merge into a single whole. The disease progresses for more than 2 months, 4 or more times a year. Remission may last up to 30 days or not at all.

Photo of atopic dermatitis in a dog

Diagnostics

One of the main steps in the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis is a detailed interview of the dog owner in order to take the correct history and choose the appropriate treatment. In addition, a clinical examination of the pet and laboratory tests are carried out:

• blood test (general, for hormones and biochemistry), urine and feces;
• scrapings from the affected areas;
• bacteriological / mycological cultures (including sensitivity to antibacterial drugs).

One of the diagnostic methods can be the appointment of the so-called "eliminating diet", when only one product is used to feed the pet, and new ones are added gradually. This approach allows you to identify the presence of allergies to food.

Treatment

Treatment of atopy begins with identifying the irritant and eliminating its effect on the dog's body. For this, a complete adjustment of the nutrition and conditions of the animal is carried out. Sometimes these measures are already enough to alleviate the condition. But in practice, it often turns out that the body is sensitive to a whole “bouquet” of allergens, which are not always possible to eliminate. However, their impact can be reduced by:

• regular wet cleaning;
• maintaining a normal level of humidity in the room;
• cleaning dust, which is a favorable environment for dust mites;
• periodic disinfection of housing.

Drug treatment of atopic dermatitis is selected taking into account the provoking factors in a particular animal, the degree of complexity of damage to the skin. The scheme may include:

• Corticosteroid drugs - have a quick and powerful effect on reducing the activity of factors that cause pathology: they help eliminate redness, itching and allergic edema. But they have side effects in the form of shortness of breath, muscle atrophy, drowsiness, etc. Among the most commonly used: Prednisolone, Dexamethasone, Methylprednisolone.
• Antihistamines - block the development of allergic reactions. At the same time, modern drugs (Claritin, Zirtek, Telfast, Lomilan) are distinguished by a longer action and lack of addiction compared to first-generation drugs (Suprastin, Tavegil).
• Antibiotic therapy - helps prevent the development of concomitant infections. The most commonly used injections are Amoxicillin, Cefalexin, Clindamycin, Cefaclor or Erythromycin.
• Topical agents - provide relief from itching and removal of allergens from the skin. These can be medicated shampoos (Sulfoden, Mycohex), ointments and creams (Triderm, Pimafukort, Nistaform), etc.
• antifungal therapy. For these purposes, systemic drugs are prescribed, which are administered 1-2 times a day (Diflucan, Nizoral, Rumikoz, etc.)
• Immunotherapy, which involves the gradual introduction (within a quarter to six months) into the dog's body, which contributes to the development of immunity.

Important! Any medications, as well as their dosages, should be selected only by a veterinarian after a preliminary examination of the dog.

Treat the dog under the full supervision of a veterinarian. Only compliance with the recommendations prescribed by him will help cure the pet or achieve relief from his condition in severe cases.