Derm Digest Second Chance for Yorkie

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Derm Digest
Tustin CA • San Diego CA • Marina del Rey CA • Pasadena CA • Ontario CA
Indianapolis IN • Louisville KY • Marietta GA
Perth Australia • Sydney Australia • Auckland New Zealand
www.animaldermatology.com
Fall 2015
Second Chance
for Yorkie
Recent photo of “Casey” Cowen a Yorkie mix rescue belonging
to Sonya Cowen. Casey has recovered nicely after his bout with
democidosis. Photo courtesy of Sonya Cowen.
Advancing the A
rt of Veterinary Dermatology
“You gonna eat that?
Because I will...”
As we enter the holiday celebration season
(concluding with Super Bowl Sunday), there will be
gatherings with friends and family and food will be
a featured item.
If your pet is on a diet trial, ensure that your
guests do not offer tempting morsels to your pet
either on purpose or accidentally! A meatball may
roll off the plate and onto the floor, only to be
snapped up and swallowed before you can react!
Mishaps do occur, but intentional feeding of table
food to pets is problematic. “It’s just a bad
idea,” says American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) spokesman Tom McPheron. “A great
deal of them could be damaging to your pet. Human food is often too rich for dogs and cats and
they have different -- and specific-- nutritional
needs.” He adds: “There are just too many foods
that we (humans) eat -- chocolate, onions, garlic
-- that dogs and cats just shouldn’t.”
A turkey drumstick is a tasty treat, but the bones
could splinter and become a choking hazard,
therefore avoidance is the best practice. Besides,
giving table food only encourages begging and
other undesirable behaviors.
Have a festive holiday season with your friends,
family and pets!
In July pet owner Sonya Cowen brought her 7-year-old
Yorkie mix rescue “Casey” to Animal Dermatology Clinic
in San Diego, CA. Sonya knew that Casey had a history
of allergies and she had kept his symptoms under control
until recently. The oral medication that Casey took was
no longer effective and Casey was constantly itchy...this
was something other than his usual allergies. The scratching resulted in trauma to the skin that led to secondary
infections and hair loss. (continued Page 2)
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Derm Digest
page 2
Casey’s problem: Demodex canis
Continued from page 1
Yorkie vs. Demodex
By the time that Casey was seen by Dr. Kacie Stetina,
Sonya was feeling very despondent over her pet’s condition. “I thought that if there were nothing to help Casey,
then he should be put down. His quality of life was terrible,” said Sonya.
Dr. Stetina reviewed Casey’s medical history and
performed a cytological examination and skin scrapings
to see what type of infection or organisms were present
on his skin. She found Demodex canis mites. On every
normal healthy dog these mites exist and normal immune
responses keep the mite population under control. Demodex mites are microscopic eight-legged ectoparasites
living in the hair follicles of the host. When the immune
system is compromised either by genetics, immunosuppressive drug therapy, hormonal imbalance, or stress, the
Demodex mite population may expand causing symptoms
of hair loss, scale and in turn lead to secondary infections
with crusting, pustules and redness which creates increased levels of itching.
Casey was also found to be hypothyroid also and was
placed on thyroid medication along with a regime of topical and systemic therapy for both the Demodex mites and
the secondary infection.
“He is now playing around and rolling over to let me
pet his tummy, which is now growing back hair. He has
regrown his coat in all areas except for his legs,” according
to Casey’s owner. “My thanks to Dr. Stetina and her technician, Whitney, for their help and support.”
Casey’s next appointment is scheduled for one month
after his initial visit to monitor for the reduction in mite
numbers and infection control. The vast majority of patients with Demodex mites can be cured and maintained
in remission lifelong. Monitoring for any relapse over the
next year will be important to watch for relapse which can
occur in some genetically predisposed individuals.
Microscopic image of Demodex canis mite. Not visible to
the naked eye, actual size approximately 0.25mm. Image:
wikicommons, Kalumet.
The Demodex mite is a microscopic normal
inhabitant of a dog and usually found in small
numbers on a healthy dog. When certain conditions change in the dog’s immune system, the
population of the Demodex grows and the disease
can be localized with small patches affected or
generalized, affecting the entire body.
The veterinarian will also attempt to determine the reason for the immune system to be
compromised including: prolonged corticosteroid
use, hormonal imbalance or immune system
changes due to age.
The tiny mite (0.25mm) lives within the hair
follicle. The doctor will scrape an affected area
with the edge of a scalpel and then look at the
debris with the aid of a microscope.
Demodicosis presents typically as Casey appeared: hair loss and scale. There are a number
of dermatological diseases that have these same
symptoms so a skin scrape to find evidence of
mites is crucial for treatment. There are a variety
of treatments for demodicosis, in addition any
bacterial skin infections will be treated concurrently. At least two consecutive months of skin
scrapes with no evidence of mites indicates control
of the infestation.
www.animaldermatology.com
Derm Digest
page 3
Did You Know?
Music for Cats:
Kitty does not like Metallica
According to a recent article in the New York
Times, a Kickstart campaign has begun to seek
$20,000 to develop and release a full-length album of
music designed especially for cats.
Often, music is a great accompaniment to our
mood and activities, it can lift our spirits or can add
a layer of relaxation for the times we need to decompress. Just because the cat likes to lie on the sofa with
you doesn’t necessarily mean that your cat has the
same level appreciation of your music.
David Teie is a soloist with the National Symphony
Orchestra and the force behind the project to produce
an album of music for cats. The music for cats is melodic in a way that we would immediately agree that is
music, but it is also over-laid with sounds of purring,
It may seem surprising that a normal healthy dog
clicking, birds chirping and other sounds that appeal
can have mites living on his body without any sympto cats. The music varies from staccato beats to more
toms or effect on his well-being, but when conditions soothing sounds.
allow for the proliferation of mite populations, it beThere is the possibility that some cats will not be
comes an infestation and can impact the pet’s health.
impressed by Music for Cats, because as we all know,
Similarly, every normal human has Demodex mites on some cats are known to march to a beat all their own.
his body. They are found in your eyebrows and face,
feasting on the sloughing skin cells that the body creates. You cannot see or feel a mite, but when the mite
population grows due to numerous factors that can
had adverse influences on the immuneregulation of the
normal skin, medical attention may be necessary.
“I like how cats’ ears can flip inside out. It’s as if they’re saying,
Keep talking, human, but I’m not
even listening.”
~Jarod Kintz, author
Sometimes all it takes is a basket of warm laundry
for a cat to get relaxed. Music for Cats might enhance
his 18 hours of nap time.
www.animaldermatology.com
Derm Digest
page 4
Events happening in your area! Please verify dates and times as schedules may have been modified or
cancelled. Unless stated, Animal Dermatology Clinic does not have afilliation to these events and are listed
only for informational purposes.
Louisville, KY
December 5-6 & 12-13, 2015
Louisville area Feeder Supply stores
Pet Portraits with Santa
Benefiting area animal groups. Cost starts at $12
Pet lovers can get professional portraits of their furry friends -- complete with Santa -- during these two
weekends in December. The holiday fundraiser takes
place at ALL Feeders Supply locations. Event proceeds
will benefit Kentucky Humane Society and Floyd
County (IN) Animal Rescue League. Last year’s event
brought in more than $74,000 for local animal welfare
agencies. With your help (and a little elf dust) more can
be raised this year. Pet owners are asked to have dogs
on leashes and cats and other pets in carriers. For more
information, call 502-366-3355
Dana Point, CA
December 6, 2015 11AM - 2PM
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
One Ritz-Carlton Dr., Dana Point, CA
Santa Claus will make a special appearance for the
Yappy Howl-iday Celebration. This festive gathering of
canines and their companions provides Fido with the
opportunity to be photographed with the “Big Dog”
himself – Santa Claus. In keeping with the resort’s
Season of Giving, guests are asked to bring unopened
canned or dry dog food, treats or dog toys to be donated to an animal rescue organization.
For more information, please call 949-240-2000
Irvine, CA
December 7, 2015 10AM - 3PM
6443 Canyon Oak Rd, Irvine CA
The 8th annual Home for the Holidays pet adoption
fair will feature more than 500 animals for adoption
from 40+ animal shelters and rescue organizations. All
animals are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. There will also be vendors, low-cost microchips, a silent auction, food trucks and an opportunity
drawing. Questions: 949-724-7740
Atlanta, GA
December 5, 2015 11AM - 1PM
Reindog Parade
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Registration: $15 per dog, plus entrance to the park.
Join the once-a-year fun of dogs in the Garden. Dress
your pooch in holiday finery to compete for prizes
with celebrity judges or to just show off. Enjoy Pup
Tent refreshments, photos with St. Nick, and connect
with local canine enthusiasts and businesses in the
Doggie Expo. The first 100 pre-registered participants
to arrive receive a special Wag-Bag of gifts. Don’t have
a dog? Come enjoy the show! Questions? reindog@
atlantabg.org
San Diego, CA
December 13, 2015 Registration begins 12:30PM
Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade
410 K Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Deck those paws with bells so jolly and jingle all the
way through the Gaslamp Quarter for the Gaslamp
Holiday Pet Parade presented by Downtown Ace Hardware and Market Street Veterinary Clinic. Pet owners
and their furry, feathered, and scaled companions are
invited to don their favorite costumes for this jolly
promenade and pet expo on Sunday, December 13,
2015, at MLK Promenade Park, adjacent to the Hilton
San Diego Gaslamp Quarter (401 K Street, San Diego, CA 92101). Entry to participate in the Pet Parade
is just $15 in advance per pet, $20 on the day of the
event. Day-of registration and check-in will begin at
12:30 pm. Guests are encouraged to register in advance
as space in the Parade is limited and will fill up fast.
Call 619-233-5227 or info@gaslamp.org
www.animaldermatology.com