Small Animal Dermatology Q&A 13

This question was provided by Manson Publishing as part of the OVAL Project. See more small animal dermatological questions

A 3-year-old dog is shown.

Question	Answer		Article
This is a classic presentation of what allergic skin disease?	This is a classic case of FAD.		Link to Article
How is this disease treated?	FAD is treated with flea control. This patient has clinical signs of a secondary bacterial pyoderma (note the erythema on the hind legs). The dog should be treated with an appropriate course of antimicrobial therapy for a minimum of 4 weeks. Glucocorticoids should not be used in this patient to alleviate the pruritus until the microbial infections resolve, and the owner has initiated flea control. Immunotherapy for flea bite hypersensitivity has not been successful.		Link to Article
What immunological mechanisms are believe to be involved in the development of this disease?	The pruritus of FAD is believed to be caused by a combination of type 1, type 4, late phase reactions, and basophil hypersensitivity reactions.		Link to Article