Skin and coat scores have been used to assess changes in skin and coat quality in dogs. The aim of this study was to evaluate a skin and coat protocol in dogs of different coat types. Skin and coat of long-haired, short-haired and wire-haired dogs were scored for alopecia, glossiness, greasiness, softness, scaliness and overall skin and coat quality by ten observers. Intraobserver and interobserver agreement was assessed using kappa values. Thirty-six client-owned dogs were included in the study. The overall intraobserver agreement was moderate when assessing greasiness and glossiness and substantial when assessing alopecia, softness, scaliness and overall skin and coat quality. The overall interobserver agreement was only slight to fair for all features assessed. In conclusion, the proposed skin and coat scoring protocol assesses different aspects of the skin and coat quality in dogs and is easy and non-invasive. Scoring skin and coat quality over time is only reliable if performed by the same person.

Background Rarely, Malassezia otitis presents as a painful, erosive otitis with an otic discharge containing Malassezia and neutrophils on cytology. There are no published reports of this type of suppurative Malassezia otitis (SMO). The role of Malassezia hypersensitivity in otitis is still unknown, and no association has been demonstrated with SMO. We compared Malassezia IgE levels, intradermal test and histology changes in SMO dogs with the more conventional Malassezia otitis (MO) presentation. Results Three dogs (case 1, case 2 and case 3) were diagnosed with SMO, one dog (case 4) was diagnosed with unilateral MO and unilateral SMO, and one dog (case 5) was diagnosed with MO. Only one case (case 4) with SMO/MO had a positive Intradermal Allergy Test (IDAT) and elevated IgE levels for Malassezia. Histopathology findings from SMO revealed: interface dermatitis (case 1 and 3), lymphocytic dermatitis (case 2) and chronic hyperplastic eosinophilic and lymphoplasmacytic dermatitis (case 4). Histopathology findings from MO showed perivascular dermatitis (case 4 and 5). All the cases were treated successfully. Conclusions SMO presents with a distinct clinical phenotype in comparison with conventional MO. No consistent aetiology could be isolated. In these clinical cases it is possible that previous treatments could have influenced the results. More research is needed to understand the possible aetiologies and the pathogenesis of SMO.

Background: Skin and coat quality can reflect nutritional deficiencies in humans and dogs with liver diseases.Hypothesis/Objectives: Determine skin and coat quality based on a scoring protocol and skin biopsies in dogs with an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (EHPSS), and determine total lipid concentrations in hairs of dogs at time of surgery and 3 months after successful shunt closure.Animals: Ten client-owned dogs that underwent successful gradual attenuation of EHPSS, as defined by transsplenic portal scintigraphy, were included. Materials and methods:A prospective cohort study was performed. All dogs underwent gradual attenuation of the EHPSS. Skin and coat scoring was performed at diagnosis, surgery, and 1 and 3 months postoperatively.Hair was plucked from the lumbar region for total lipid analysis and an 8 mm punch skin biopsy was taken at time of surgery and 3 months postoperatively, when the dogs underwent transsplenic portal scintigraphy to determine EHPSS closure.Results: No significant differences were observed in skin and coat scoring over time. Total lipid concentrations of hairs increased significantly from surgery to 3 months postoperatively [30 μg/mg hair (13-56 μg/mg hair) to 47 μg/ mg hair (25-63 μg/mg hair); p = 0.005]. Skin biopsies showed the presence of significantly more scales 3 months postoperatively (p = 0.018).

Case summary An 11-year-old spayed female cat presented with a 6-month history of a progressive nodular skin disease with concurrent, ocular lesions, intermittent vomiting, halitosis and weight loss. The cat had received different topical treatments without success prior to referral to the Dermatology Department of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University. Several fine-needle aspirations of the lesions showed a vast number of macrophages with intra-cytoplasmic inclusions compatible with Cryptococcus species. Histopathological examination revealed pyogranulomatous inflammation with capsulated yeast. Periodic acid–Schiff stain was positive. Latex cryptococcal antigen agglutination test on serum was positive with a titre of >1/524,288. PCR and fungal culture identified Cryptococcus neoformans. The cat was treated with itraconazole 10 mg/kg PO q24h. After 10 months of therapy, there was a complete resolution of the lesions except for a small nodule on the ventral aspect of the tongue. Relevance and novel information As far as we are aware, this is the first feline case reported of cutaneous nodular cryptococcosis without nasal involvement in Belgium. Oral itraconazole therapy was well tolerated and appeared to give a good result and prognosis.

Thallium was commonly used as a rodenticide in the past. It acts as a cellular poison and interferes with the functioning of various enzymes. This report describes a fatal case of thallium intoxication in a dog with gastrointestinal and neurological signs as well as dermatological lesions. Cutaneous histopathology and serum spectrometry confirmed thallium toxicosis.