The challenge of chronic dermatitis in dogs

Understanding that there are over 160 different skin disorders of dogs, some of which create chronic difficulties, Veterinarians try to solve all kinds of chronic dermatitis problems will lead you to a patient and cooperative relationship with your veterinarian. As a team, you and the veterinarian should be proactive in defining the problem accurately and in a timely manner. Satisfactory results will require the doctor's expertise and perseverance coupled with your permission and financial commitment.

There are few challenges in veterinary medicine more daunting than treating a patient for a long-term skin disorder. Chronic dermatitis cases take up about ten percent of animal hospital file folders; and these patient folders tend to be the thickest due to the multiple pages of patient history, lab test results, biopsy reports, medications and supplements dispensed, and even dermatology specialist referral summaries. Reading through all that data you would find an oft-repeated theme. Control is the goal since for sure there's no cure.

To simplify a bit, there are just two kinds of skin disorders in dogs: curable and incurable. Veterinarians need to understand what is really happening to and within the skin before appropriate therapeutic strategies can be employed. Since it takes a new, healthy skin cell about four weeks to mature and be present near the skin surface even curable skin diseases may take weeks to resolve. For the incurable cases, controlling an ongoing skin disorder through selected diets, medications, shampoos, sprays, fatty acids and vitamin supplements is the best we can do.

Managing a chronic skin disorder presupposes that an exact diagnosis has been established. Making that diagnosis requires certain diagnostic protocols be done so that the doctor has a clear understanding of the pathological processes impacting the patient. A multitude of different causes may very well manifest themselves in very similar appearing visual signs.

Curable chronic skin disorders

Of the curable skin disorders the most commonly seen is reoccurring bacterial dermatitis where the dog displays circular patches alopecia (hair loss), scales and crusts, and tiny inflamed eruptions that evolve into additional crusty patches. At every dermatology seminar we are reminded that most chronic bacterial dermatitis cases need to have cultures and antibiotic sensitivity tests run. And then, the appropriate antibiotic must be used for 8 to 12 weeks and sometimes much longer. Healthy dogs seldom develop bacterial dermatitis, therefore underlying predisposing factors should be considered. (My experience is that a poor quality diet is often a factor.) Other causes of curable but chronic skin disorders are Malassezia (yeast) infections, seen very commonly in Cocker Spaniels and West Highland White Terriers. Malassezia will cause a greasy and odorous skin. Fungal (ringworm) infections, seborrhea (oily and flaky skin) due to low fatty acid and protein in the diet, and dermatitis/alopecia due to parasites such as fleas and mites. These curable disorders, if not properly treated, can be present throughout the dog's life and can be mistakenly assumed to be incurable!

Incurable skin disorders

The incurable, chronic skin disorders can be a nightmare for the unfortunate dog and frustrating to the veterinarian and dog owner. Hormonal imbalances such as hypothyroidism in Golden Retrievers and Cushings disease (adrenal gland disorder) often seen in small breeds, generally are not curable but be managed and will display remarkable improvement once proper therapy is instituted. Chronic dermatitis due to flea saliva, food allergy, and contact or inhalant allergy will miraculously vanish once we discover the offending antigen and then prevent dog-antigen contact.

A word of caution

Cortisone drugs such as prednisone, triamcinolone, dexamethasone, and long acting cortisone injections are much like a two-edge sword. Under certain conditions they can save a dog's life. The dark side is that misuse is common. One reason cortisone shots or pills are so widely used for skin disorders is that in some patients, especially when a precise diagnosis has not been established, its use can dramatically improve the patient's comfort and appearance. A common example of misuse occurs in the sarcoptic mite patient that is mistakenly assumed to suffer from a severe allergy. Dramatic improvement seems to occur, unfortunately it is short lived  and more cortisone is prescribed and cycles of treatment lead to a dependence on the cortisone. The patient's treatment becomes as damaging as the original problem! The message is this: Cortisone-like medications are to be used with caution.

 

 

Comments

[StephanieInCA]

I've had reasonable success treating my Westie's problem skin by dramatically limiting the ingredients in his diet. For pre-packaged food, I use EVO or California Natural, and supplement it with cooked chicken, fresh veggies and sometimes a dollop of fat free plain yogurt.

One note of caution, though. Some foods that are healthful for humans (like rasins and onions) are toxic to dogs. Read more here:
http://urbzen.com/2008/11/11/five-surprising-foods-that-are-poisonous-to-dogs/

[Small Breed Dogs]

One element to be aware of is that BSD (Black Skin Disease) does not cause any pain to the dog. But very sad that it wipes off all of the fur.