Self-trauma

Question 1

How should the problem of ‘self-trauma’ be defined? 4

Answer 1

• SKIN-MANIPULATING BEHAVIOUR: new, frequency, duration, disruption of other behaviour, tissue damage
• PATIENT FACTORS - species, breed, location of pruritus, temperament, conformation and agility
• OBSERVER FACTORS - skills, time spent with pet, relationship with pet, attitude, knowledge and experience, personal threshold.
• CLINICAL ASSESSMENT - abnormal spontaneous behaviour, reflexes, evidence of trauma (gross and hair)

Question 2

How and the problem of self-trauma be refined? 4

Answer 2

• INTERNAL (pain, pruritus)
• NEUROLOGICAL (pain, pruritus)
• BEHAVIOURAL
• MIMICKING - pain, altered sensation, neuro or behavioural

Question 3

Define pruritus

Answer 3

subjective sensation of itching, provoking the desire to scratch. Symptom not disease. No practical objective tool to measure it.

Question 4

What causes the itch sensation?

Answer 4

Itch receptors located at dermo-epidermal junction OR basal epidermis. Stimulated by puirtogenic substances Usually an inflammatory environment.

Question 5

What is the cause of most pruritic skin diseases?

Answer 5

superficial inflammatory disease.

Question 6

Other than superficial inflammatory disease, what else can cause pruritic skin disease? 4

Answer 6

• inflammatory cell neoplasia
• other skin diseases
• dry skin causing epidermal micro-fissures
• exacerbation by irritant factors (high temp, humidity, fabrics)

Question 7

What is the pruritic threshold and what is it influenced by?

Answer 7

= level of sensation obove which the animal starts scratching.

• influences - temperament, anxiety and mental stimulation
• removal of some causes MAY suffice for control

Question 8

Name the 3 commonest cause of pruritic skin disease

Answer 8

• PARASITES - surface mites (cheyletiella), burrowing mites (Sarcoptes), Trombicula (harvest mite), (follicular mites)
• MICROBES - Staph, Malassexia, (Dermatophytes)
• HYPERSENSITIVITY - flea/insect bite hypersensitivity, atopic dermatitis, food hypersensitivity

Question 9

Other than parasites, microbes and hypersensitivity, what can cause pruritic skin disease?

Answer 9

• (Contact dermatitis)
• cornification/metabolic disorders
• Neoplasia - epitheliotropic lymphoma or MCT
• Drug eruption
• > 1 pruritic disease at once
• +/- secondary microbial infection

Question 10

What are the 4 commonest Ddx for pruritic skin disease

Answer 10

• parasites
• Staph pyoderma
• Malassezia dermatitis
• Allergic skin disease
• MUST rule out/control ectoparasitic and microbial causes first *

Question 11

What is a typical Atopic dermatitis itch distribution

Answer 11

• nose
• footpads
• tail base
• groin

Question 12

What is a typical scabies itch distributio?

Answer 12

• hocks
• elbows
• ventral abdomen

Question 13

What are the main parasites responsible for pruritis in dogs, cats and horses?

Answer 13

• DOG - scabies, other mites
• CAT - Cheyletiella, other mites
• HORSE - Chorioptes, other mites

Question 14

What are the main microbes responsible for pruritis in dogs, cats and horses?

Answer 14

• DOG - Staph pyoderma, Malassezia
• CAT - (bacterial), (Malassezia), (Dermatophytosis)
• HORSE - Staph infection, (Dermatophilus), (Dermatophytosis)

Question 15

What are the main hypersensitivies responsible for pruritis in dogs, cats and horses?

Answer 15

• DOG - FAD, AD, food hypersensitivity
• CAT - FAD, AD, Food hypersensitivity, eosinophilic plaques
• HORSES - Insect bite hypersensitivity, AD, food hypersensitivity?

Question 16

What is sweet itch in horses?

Answer 16

allergic bite hypersensitivity

Question 17

What are the 4 method for cytology?

Answer 17

• clear adhesive tape
• direct impression smear
• cotton swabs
• FNA

Question 18

What do you get and when should you use clear adhesive tape for cytology?

Answer 18

• exfoliated superficial corny layer

- fairly dry lesions

Question 19

What do you get and when should you use direct impression smear for cytology?

Answer 19

• adhered exudate and exfoliated exposed cells

- moist, sticky, exudative lesions

Question 20

What do you get and when should you use cotton swabs for cytology?

Answer 20

• harvested exudate

- ear canals, deep folds, difficult to access sites

Question 21

What do you get and when should you use FNA for cytology?

Answer 21

• core of exfoliated cells from dermis or deeper

- lumps or swelling.