Clinical manifestation and methods of treatment of pododermatitis in dogs

Abstract

This paper provides data on the clinical signs of pododermatitis in dogs and also investigates effective treatment regimens. The urgency of the stated problem is due to the growing incidence of pododermatitis in dogs, its polyetiological nature, which requires a multifaceted approach to diagnostics and the introduction of effective treatments methods. Thereby, the purpose of the study was to investigate the clinical manifestations of skin diseases of the distal extremities in dogs and to determine the efficacy of complex therapy of pododermatitis. The studies were based on clinical research methods in dermatology, parasitological (skin scraping), bacteriological, and mycological (seeding on nutrient media with subsequent isolation of the pathogen) surveys. Based on the findings of the study, the absolute number of cases revealed lesions of 2 paws (53.3%), much less often – all 4 limbs (26.7%). It was found that mainly localisation of superficial skin lesions was found in 56.2% in the area of the interdigital space and 43.7% of cases – only on the plantar surface of the pastern (metatarsus), rarely – inflammation of the claw phalanx (31.2%). The main clinical signs of dermatitis of the distal extremities in dogs were erosive and ulcerative inflammation, alopecia, papules and pustules filled with purulent exudate, erythematous inflammation, haemorrhage, areas of lichenification. Studies on the treatment of dogs with pododermatitis caused by Staphylococcus intermedius, Demodex canis and Malassezia pachydermatis have shown the following: introduction of drugs Bravecto, Cefuroxime, Orungal, Apoquel and Derinat increased the efficacy of therapy in animals of the experimental group, as compared with the control (from 28.6% to 66.7%), reducing the duration of treatment to 21 days (p˂0.01) and extending the remission period to an average of 185 days (p˂0.01). The prospect of further research is the unification of clinical, morphological, and biochemical blood parameters as diagnostic criteria for pododermatitis in dogs