Diagnóstico dermatológico em pequenos animais: O que pode influenciar?

Abstract

Many difficulties are encountered by the clinician within veterinary dermatology. The analysis of each step to be followed during the clinical consultation will show the critical points and assist the veterinarian in the conclusion of the cases. The objective of this review is to address the main influences in the diagnosis of dermatological diseases in small animals. A good relationship with the tutor is essential, so that it provides a good record and assumes the costs of the complementary exams. Errors in diagnosis occur when the anamnesis is incomplete or erroneously completed, superficial physical examination or hastily done and by precipitated or false evaluation of the clinical findings. The choice of complementary exams should be made in a coherent way, since each exam has its adequate technique. For the Demodex sp. by means of the skin scraping technique, this should be performed up to the deeper layers of the skin. In cytology, poor quality samples occur when there is too much blood, inadequate puncture pressure, thick smear and insufficient dye contact time. Sampling for bacterial culture should not be performed from areas with wet erosions and many crusts. Early diagnosis of dermatophytosis is necessary both for the initiation of a treatment and for limiting the contagion with other animals and people. In cutaneous biopsy, the samples must be of early lesions (primary lesions) except in atrophic diseases of the cutaneous appendages. Good communication with the tutor, special attention to all stages of the clinical consultation, not seeking immediate results, easy contact with the laboratory and the care with sample collection for complementary tests have a positive influence on the dermatological diagnosis.