Aesthetic Medicine and Dermatology

Diagnostic Techniques in Dermatology

There are various diagnostic tests that can be performed "in house" by veterinarians to help with everyday dermatological cases. Skin scrapings should be the most common diagnostic test performed in veterinary dermatology. A dull scalpel blade or similar instrument is moistened with mineral oil and used to scrape away some of the epidermis, in which may reside a number of different parasites. A trichogram is used to visualize the hair for evidence of pruritus (self- inflicted alopecia), dermatophytosis, endocrine alopecia, pigmentation defects, and growth phase. For Allergy Testing Atopic Dermatitis – Intradermal testing (IDT, IDST) and aeroallergen-specific IgE serum testing (ASIST, in vitro testing) are considered important tests for the demonstration of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity in atopic dogs