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Otitis externa (OE) is a very common disease of dogs. Various treatments are available for OE, but most commercial preparations contain a mixture of antifungal, anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotic agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate if a commercial product containing clotrimazole, marbofloxacin and dexamethasone (Aurizon®) was more effective than the use of a topical antifungal agent econazole (Daktarin®) used alone to treat Malassezia otitis. Dogs presenting with bilateral OE and numerous yeasts on cytological examination were included. Twenty dogs aged from 1 to 14 years old were treated in this trial (40 ears, 20 in each group). Each case was treated with Aurizon® (four drops) in one ear and Daktarin® in the other ear. Criteria analysed were pruritus (visual analogue scale), erythema, amount of cerumen, and the number of yeasts on cytologic smears. All animals demonstrated a good improvement in Malassezia counts after either treatment. Significant differences were noted in favour of Aurizon® for erythema, cerumen, and pruritus on various days of evaluation. This study demonstrated the superiority of a mixture of corticosteroids and antifungal agent in comparison with an antifungal agent used alone for the treatment of Malassezia OE. Funding: Self-funded.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether doxycycline (Ronaxan) decreased the severity of localized lesions of canine acne. Dogs were enrolled if they exhibited skin lesions localized to the chin compatible with canine acne, and if cytological smears showed a bacterial invasion and bacteriological samples grew Staphylococcus intermedius colonies. Demodicosis and dermatophytosis were excluded by skin scrapings and fungal culture, respectively. Lesions (erythema, lichenification, papules, pustules and excoriations) were graded with a quantitative 4-point scale (maximal total score 15). Extent of lesion was also estimated. Pruritus was graded on a 4-point scale. Scores were given at the time of inclusion and at day 30 after treatment with doxycycline 10 mg/kg once daily. Twelve dogs (10 males and two females) representing seven breeds were included. Good improvement of both lesional (9.4 before treatment and 2.3 after treatment) and extent scores (43% before treatment and 8% after treatment) was achieved. Pruritus was also markedly improved from 2.08 before treatment to 0.42 after treatment. One dog was not significantly improved after 1 month. Results of this trial suggest that doxycyline is useful for reducing the severity of localized skin lesions of canine acne. Funding: Self-funded.

Objective assessment of canine atopic dermatitis severity is very difficult and only a few scoring systems have been developed. The most commonly used is the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Scoring Index (CADESI), adapted from the human SCORAD. Despite wide use of this score in clinical trials, no validation has been performed to our knowledge. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of the CADESI in clinical practice. First, a set of 28 pictures taken from dogs diagnosed with atopic dermatitis was scored by six different investigators for three items: erythema, lichenification and excoriation. Next, 23 dogs with clinical signs compatible with atopic dermatitis were graded by two investigators using the CADESI. Erythema, lichenification and excoriation were assessed on 39 areas. With the pictures, significant correlations (Spearman's r, P

Bacterial pyoderma is one of the most frequent skin diseases in dogs. Recurrent pyoderma is often secondary to an underlying skin disease, but no epidemiological study has been published on the subject to the authors’ knowledge. This study was designed to prospectively evaluate the causes responsible for recurrent pyoderma in dogs. Dogs presenting with a history of more than three episodes of skin infection in the last year were included in the study. For each case, epidemiological and clinical data were collected. Pyoderma was confirmed by the clinical signs, the demonstration of bacteria on microscopic examination of cytological smears and a positive culture. Each animal was treated with an appropriate course of antibiotics until resolution of signs of pyoderma. Depending upon the presence of pruritus, appropriate diagnostic tests were performed: skin scrapings, acaricidal trial, flea treatment, elimination diet, intradermal testing, biopsies, endocrinological tests, leishmaniasis and ehrlichiosis serology, antinuclear antibody testing. Thirty dogs (14 males and 16 females) of 19 different breeds, aged from 1 to 12 years (mean 4.9 years) were included. Diagnosis was folliculitis (44%), folliculitis and furunculosis (20%), furunculosis (20%), cellulitis (10%). Staphylococcus intermedius was isolated in 97% of cases. The following underlying diseases were identified: atopic dermatitis (60%), food allergy (7%), flea allergy (7%), hypothyroidism (7%), hyperestrogenism (4%), demodicosis (4%), and zinc-responsive dermatosis (4%). In two dogs, no underlying cause could be identified. Atopic dermatitis is the most common disease associated with recurrent pyoderma in dogs. Funding: Pfizer Animal Health.