Ortega, Louise Alysson C.

DVM5

Veterinary Clinical Orientation – Clerkship

Laboratory Exercise 6
SKIN SCRAPING AND OTHER DERMATOLOGY TESTS

Desired Learning Outcomes

At the end of the class, the students can:
1. Describe the procedures for skin scraping in pets.
2. Discuss how this laboratory procedure is and other skin laboratory tests are important
in diagnosing skin conditions in pets.

Introduction

Dermatological examination in pets would come as one of the more common procedures
employed in a veterinary practice. In a day or two, a case involving the skin in pets will always
be observed.

Clinical signs of biting or scratching are usually seen with pets having skin problems.
These two signs will make you look into possibilities. Involving the skin and dealing with
dermatology cases requires patience as these cases are sometimes so complicated to treat.
With that, a proper diagnostic protocol is very important to be able to handle dermatology cases
of pets.

Skin scraping is one of the most commonly performed dermatology tests in companion
animal practice. Particularly indicated in checking external parasites that burrows in the skin
of pets, this procedure has been widely accepted and performed. But other tests can also be
done to check fungal skin problems, pyoderma, and other bacterial skin problems and even for
skin masses and growths.

Dermatologic tests are essential with companion animal practice and being aware and
understanding them will be beneficial for any clinician in handling their practice.

Materials
Powerpoint presentation/Report
Pens
Papers
Reference materials
Videos
Learning Activities

1. Define the following terms related to skin or integumentary system in general:

• Dermatology – medicine branch that is concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and
prevention of skin, hair, nail, oral, and genital diseases, and also cosmetic treatment and
enhancement.

• Alopecia – the partial or complete loss of hair, either in patches (alopecia areata), on the
whole head (alopecia totalis), or over the whole body, especially on the scalp (alopecia
universalis).

• Pruritus – characterized by an irritating symptom that causes the impulse to itch. It has
long been known that many systemic disorders induce pruritus, which varies in severity
from a slight irritation to an intractable, debilitating illness. On the basis of the
underlying causative condition, generalized pruritus can be categorized into the
following categories: renal pruritus, cholestatic pruritus, hematologic pruritus,
endocrine pruritus, malignancy-related pruritus, and generalized idiopathic pruritus.

• Erythema – from the Greek word Erythros meaning redness of skin arising from
capillary congestion. With inflammation, erythema may occur, as in sunburn or allergic
drug reactions. Redness of the skin or mucous membranes caused by hyperemia of
superficial capillaries (increased blood flow).

• Dermatitis – a common term describing an inflammation of the skin. It is a common

disease that appears in many ways and has many causes. Typically, it contains itchy, dry
skin or a rash on reddened, swollen skin. Or it may cause blistering, oozing, crusting, or
flaking off the skin.

• Pyoderma – any pyogenic skin condition that has pus. These involves superficial
infections of bacteria such as impetigo, ecthyma, folliculitis, impetigo of Bockhart
furuncle, carbuncle, topical ulcer, etc. Pyoderma gangrenosum includes autoimmune
diseases.

• Dermatophytes – a unique group of fungi that invade keratinous tissue, capable of

invading a living host’s blood, skin, and nails. It is possible to divide this closely related
group of species into one of the three genera.
2. Identify the nature of skin problems or conditions (parasitic, bacterial, fungal, others like
autoimmune/tumors) to which the different tests below are indicated. Look for a picture of
pets with skin problems which may be diagnosed by the dermatologic tests shown below.

TESTS NATURE OF SKIN PROBLEM THE TEST IS INDICATED (Please include

a specific skin disease and picture of pet with skin problem)

Diagnosis of Demodex canis, Demodex cati, Demodex gatoi,

Notoedres cati, Scabies, and occasionally, Cheyletiella mites

Skin Scraping

Diagnosis of Dermatophytosis

Wood’s Lamp
 Diagnosis of a fungal infection

KOH Test

Diagnosis of Cheyletiella species, and cat fur mites

Tale Strips
 Diagnosis of bacterial/yeast infection

Slide Impressions
/ Swab Smears

3. Summarize (in bullet form) the procedure on how to conduct skin scraping in companion
animals. Include all the special considerations in performing this test to make sure it is
properly done.

Deep Skin Scrapes

- Largely used to diagnose dogs with Demodex canis mites and cats with Demodex cati
mites; however, more surface-oriented mites, such as scabies mites of Cheyletiella
species, may also be found.

• Place a few drops of mineral oil on a glass microscope slide.

• Hold a #10 scalpel blade firmly in one hand. With the other hand, gently collect a fold of
skin on the trunk, or evert a pinna or interdigital space.
• Scoop a small amount of mineral oil onto the scalpel blade.
• Squeeze the skin in a fold of tissue between 2 fingers. In a single direction, scrape the
skin fold, pinna, or paw with firm and constant pressure over a single site until a small
amount of capillary oozing occurs.
• Apply the collected material and exudate to the glass slide containing mineral oil. Repeat
3 to 5 times to cover the slide.
• Evaluate under 4xmagnification, then move to greater objectives for mite evaluation.

Superficial Skin Scrapes

- Used to detect Demodex gatoi mites in cats, Notoedres cati mites, and occasionally
Cheyletiella mites.

• Place a drop of mineral oil on a microscope slide.

• Apply a drop of mineral oil to a #10 scalpel blade.
 • In a single, uniform direction, scrape with gentle and light pressure across a broad
lesional surface.
• Place the debris on the microscope slide with mineral oil and examine on low power (4x
and 10x) for mites.

4. A patient dog that was brought to you for check-up appears to bilateral alopecia in pelvic,
what information will you need to ask and get from your client as part of gathering history
of the patient? List down (bullet form) at least 3 information and briefly discuss each one.

• When did it start? – I would ask the client about the time the alopecia occurred or when
they first noticed it. It could be beneficial when making a diagnosis.
• Did it come with itching? – If the hair loss is accompanied by pruritus, we can do several
tests to rule out mites, bacterial, fungal, or yeast infection.
• Did you notice any changes in behavior? – Behavioral changes accompanied by hair loss
can mean a lot of things, this will urge me to conduct more tests to rule out possible
causes.

References (please add your references for your answers):

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/dog-owners/skin-disorders-of-dogs/dermatitis-and-
dermatologic-problems-in-dogs
https://veterinary-practice.com/article/essential-diagnostic-tests-for-skin-conditions
https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/dermatology/dermatology-diagnostics-skin-scrapes-
hair-plucks/