Resolution of superficial necrolytic dermatitis following excision of a glucagon-secreting pancreatic neoplasm in a dog.

An 11-year-old, neutered male standard poodle was diagnosed with superficial necrolytic dermatitis and a glucagon-secreting pancreatic islet neoplasm based on clinical, biochemical, histopathological, immunohistochemical, and hormonal findings. Hyperglucagonemia, hyperinsulinemia, and hypoaminoacidemia were observed on preoperative laboratory analysis. Abnormal laboratory values returned to normal, and complete resolution of skin lesions occurred after tumor excision. The dog has remained clinically normal for six months following surgery.

Ear disease and its management.

Tissue changes, diseases or factors predisposing to, bacteria and yeast associated with, diagnosis of, and management of otitis externa, media, and interna are discussed in this article.

Effect of oral administration of prednisolone on thyroid function in dogs.

To determine the effect of oral administration of prednisolone on thyroid function, 12 healthy Beagles were given 1.1 mg of prednisolone/kg of body weight every 12 hours for 22 days after 8 days of diagnostic testing of the dogs before treatment with prednisolone. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) response tests were performed before treatment (days 1 and 8 of the study) and during treatment (days 21 and 28 of the study). Blood samples were collected daily at 8 AM and 2 and 8 PM to rule out normal daily hormone fluctuations as the cause of a potential decrease in serum triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and free T4 (fT4) concentrations. Serum T3, T4, and fT4 concentrations before treatment and 1 day and 21 days after the first prednisolone dose were compared by analyses of variance. Post-TSH and -TRH serum T3 and T4 concentrations before and during treatment were compared, using the Student t test for paired data. Oral administration of prednisolone significantly (P less than 0.005) decreased serum T3, T4, and fT4 concentrations in the 8 AM and 2 and 8 PM samples obtained 1 day and 21 days after the first prednisolone dose. Serum T4 and fT4 concentrations in 8 AM and 2 PM samples were significantly (P less than 0.05) lower 21 days after the first prednisolone dose than they were at 1 day after the first dose. Before treatment, serum T4 concentration in the 2 PM samples was significantly (P less than 0.05) higher than serum T4 concentration in 8 AM and 8 PM samples.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Transdermal delivery of salicylic acid in the treatment of viral papillomas.

Healthy adult (New Zealand, Dutch Belt, and Wild) rabbits were infected with rabbit papilloma virus (Shope variety). The resultant papillomas were treated with salicylic acid in a new transdermal drug delivery system utilizing a karaya gum glycol matrix. Biopsy samples of treated papillomas were taken at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after initiation of treatment and examined by electron microscopy. The observed changes during the course of treatment indicated that the karaya gum glycol matrix effectively released salicylic acid into the stratum corneum. Further, the rate of delivery of salicylic acid was such that the desired keratolytic activity was achieved with minimal inflammatory response.

Canine cutaneous lymphoma.

Cutaneous lymphoma (mycosis fungoides) was diagnosed by multiple biopsies of nonulcerated cutaneous lesions in 13 dogs. The disease was initially characterized by erythema and alopecia of the trunk. Subsequently severe scaling, pruritus, and skin nodules developed. Lymph nodes were usually normal in size during early stages of the disease but became enlarged as the disease became extensive. Four dogs were treated with cytotoxic drugs. Marked improvement of skin lesions occurred in 3 dogs, but treatment did not prevent development of extra-cutaneous lesions.

Use of cystine, lactose, electrolyte-deficient medium for isolation and identification of bacteria and yeasts from the skin and ears of dogs.

Cystine, lactose, electrolyte-deficient (CLED) medium, a culture medium used for isolation and identification of bacteria from the urinary tract of human beings, was evaluated in a clinical setting for isolation and identification of bacteria and yeasts from the skin and ears of dogs. Staphylococci, streptococci, Pseudomonas sp, Proteus sp, and Candida sp were isolated in cases of secondary pyoderma, otitis, demodectic mange, and folliculitis in 50 dogs. Proteus sp was found along with other organisms in 5 cases. Spreading of Proteus sp was prevented by the CLED medium, permitting isolation of the other pathogenic organisms. Observations of growth characteristics on CLED medium and use of 4 additional simple laboratory procedures permitted correct identification of 90.3% of the isolates.

Fatal thrombocytopenic hemorrhagic diathesis associated with dapsone administration to a dog.

Dapsone was given for six days to a dog with chronic skin disease. The dog then became weak and anorectic, and it vomited and had purpura caused by severe thrombocytopenic hemorrhagic diathesis. Despite treatment, the dog died a week later. There were clinical and pathologic evidence that the dog's platelets and megakaryocytes had been destroyed during the first few days of dapsone therapy. It was concluded that the syndrome was dapsone-induced and that thrombocytopenia should be considered among the adverse reactions to dapsone in the dog.

Dermatitis associated with Cheyletiella infestation in cats.

Cheyletiella sp mites were isolated from 8 cats with pruritic dermatitis characterized by erythematous papules or increased scaling. Lesions cleared after treatments with malathion (dips) or pyrethrin (shampoos).

Comparison of full- and partial-thickness autogenous skin transplantation in dogs: a pilot study.

Thin partial-thickness (0.063 cm), medium (0.127 cm) partial-thickness, and full-thickness skin autografts were transplanted to surgically created granulating foreleg wounds of dogs. Thin partial-thickness grafts had an 89% survival, medium partial-thickness grafts had 47% survival, and full-thickness grafts had a 58% survival. Of the successful grafts, only the thin partial-thickness grafts did not grow adequate hair after transplantation.

A disease in dogs resembling human subcorneal pustular dermatosis.

A pustular eruption similar to subcorneal pustular dermatosis of man occurred in 10 dogs. The disease was characterized by pustules of the trunk, which ruptured to form annular or gyrate lesions with irregular, scaling borders. Biopsies revealed subcorneal pustules with occasional acantholytic cells. All 10 dogs improved after daily administration of diaminodiphenylsulfone (dapsone).