Contact dermatitis
Contact allergy (contact dermatitis) is a relatively common dermatopathy of dogs characterized by dermatitis related to skin contact with various chemicals[2].
A wide range of chemical can elicit an eruptive, acute-onset cutaneous allergic inflammatory response which leads to wheal or erythema formation and consequential dermatitis.
These include plastic food bowls, industrial chemicals such as chromium metals[3], acids and alkalis, detergents, solvents, soaps, and petroleum byproducts, sap from certain weeds, trees, grasses (especially wandering jew (Tradescantia spp) and inch plant (Callisia fragrans))[4][5] and topical insecticidal collars, sprays, powders, foams, and shampoos[6].
Contact dermatitis may induce severe reactions in some dogs such as metaflumizone-amitraz incriminated in triggering secondary pemphigus foliaceus[7] and some shampoos inducing superficial necrolytic dermatitis[8].
Contact dermatitis often occurs in glabrous skin regions such as the abdomen and less commonly the feet, chin, nose and genitals. Irritant contact dermatitis can occur after a single exposure or repeated exposure.
Clinical symptoms are usually confined to the skin and include hypersensitivity-induced pruritus with secondary moisture-associated dermatitis, intertrigo and pyoderma[9]. In contact dermatitis associated with the feet, secondary pododermatitis is common.
The diagnosis of contact dermatitis is made by results of avoidance and/or provocation tests and/or patch tests[10].
A differential diagnosis in most dogs would include atopy, food allergy, parasites such as Demodex spp, Pelodera spp[11] and fleas.
Treatment is usually achieved by removal of dog from cause and treating with palliate topical glucocorticoids and antimicrobial if indicated.
References
- ↑ Pitbull chat
- ↑ White PD (1991) Contact dermatitis in the dog and cat. Semin Vet Med Surg (Small Anim) 6(4):303-315
- ↑ Kimura T (2007) Contact hypersensitivity to stainless steel cages (chromium metal) in hairless descendants of mexican hairless dogs. Environ Toxicol 22(2):176-184
- ↑ Lee SE & Mason KV (2006) Immediate hypersensitivity to leaf extracts of Callisia fragrans (inch plant) in a dog. Vet Dermatol 17(1):70-80
- ↑ Bauer CL et al (2010) Determination of irritant threshold concentrations to weeds, trees and grasses through serial dilutions in intradermal testing on healthy clinically nonallergic dogs. Vet Dermatol 21(2):192-197
- ↑ Turner V et al (2011) A survey for small animal veterinarians regarding flea and tick control pesticide products. Can Vet J 52(10):1080-1082
- ↑ Oberkirchner U et al (2011) Metaflumizone-amitraz (Promeris)-associated pustular acantholytic dermatitis in 22 dogs: evidence suggests contact drug-triggered pemphigus foliaceus. Vet Dermatol 22(5):436-448
- ↑ Murayama N et al (2008) A case of superficial suppurative necrolytic dermatitis of miniature schnauzers with identification of a causative agent using patch testing. Vet Dermatol 19(6):395-399
- ↑ Rosser EJ (1997) German shepherd dog pyoderma: a prospective study of 12 dogs. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 33(4):355-363
- ↑ Trenti D et al (2011) Suspected contact scrotal dermatitis in the dog: a retrospective study of 13 cases (1987 to 2003). J Small Anim Pract 52(6):295-300
- ↑ Saari SA & Nikander SE (2006) Pelodera (syn. Rhabditis) strongyloides as a cause of dermatitis - a report of 11 dogs from Finland. Acta Vet Scand 48:18
