MOTIVATION

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is

that we are powerful beyond measure…”-Marianne Williamson

An acute or chronic inflammatory disease of the external ear canal

Clinical signs:› Head rubbing or shaking› Ear scratching› Head tilt – with the affected ear tilted down› Malodorous otic discharge (brown, greenish-

yellow)› Lichenification, hyperpigmentation, crusts,

erythema and excoriations may be present› Aural hematoma

NOTE THE EXCESS BROWN EXUDATE

AURAL HEMATOMA

ERYTHEMA, HYPERPIGMENTATION, LICHENIFICATION

PREDISPOSING FACTORS:› Conformation

Heavy, pendulous ears Stenotic ear canals Ear hair

› Excessive moisture Frequent bathing or swimming

› Hypersensitivities Food allergy, atopy

DIAGNOSIS:› Otoscopic exam› Clinical signs› Cytology, ear smear

Yeast, bacteria, cerumen, skin cells

MALASSEZZIA OTITIS

Malassezzia resemblefootprints, bowling pins, or snowmen

BACTERIAL OTITIS

ROD-SHAPED BACTERIAAND A SKIN CELL

TREATMENT› Always treat the underlying condition if

present› Topical meds instilled daily

Antibacterial, antifungal, or combination products often with steroids (otomax, tresaderm, baytril otic)

Cleaning ears during treatment› Surgical intervention may be required

Aural hematoma Chronic conditions (Total Ear Canal Ablation)

The anal sacs are located between the muscle layers of the anus at the 4 and 8 o’clock positions. Each sac connects to the surface through a narrow duct.

Sebaceous glands produce a foul-smelling oily, brown fluid. The sacs are naturally expressed during defecation, but can sometimes overfill.

IMPACTION› When the sacs overfill, the water can be

reabsorbed, and the material dries out. Sacs become a source of discomfort for the dog and

are difficult to express at this time.

› Impaction can lead to abscessation and rupture.

Clinical signs include: scooting rear end across the floor, painful defecation, tail chasing, perianal erythema, and/or swelling

DIAGNOSIS› Palpation (rectally or externally)› Clinical signs

TREATMENT› Express contents› Flush sac› Instill antibiotic ointment› Oral antibiotics, anti-inflammatories› Surgery?

WEARING GLOVES, GENTLY MILK THE GLANDS IN AN UPWARDMOTION TO EXPRESS.

Tumors are a new growth of tissue characterized by progressive, uncontrolled proliferation of cells.

Benign vs. MalignantLocalized vs. InvasiveAdenoma/Carcinoma vs. Sarcomas

HISTIOCYTOMA: small, button-like tumors that are usually pink, hairless, and raised. They are rapidly growing

Common locations include the pinnae, head, and legs

HISTIOCYTOMA› Occurs almost

exclusively in young dogs <4yrs old

DIAGNOSIS› Appearance› biopsy

TREATMENT› These tumors may

spontaneously regress, but surgical excision is the treatment of choice

ROUND CELL TUMOR

LIPOMA: tumor of the subcutaneous adipocytes (fat cells) that are typically freely movable and well-circumscribed› Common in older,

female, obese dogs DIAGNOSIS:

› Biopsy› Fine needle aspirate

LIPOMA› TREATMENT:

Surgical excision Benign neglect

lipocytes

PAPILLOMAS: wart-like growths that develop as smooth, white/pink/pigmented, elevated lesions in the oral cavity (oral papillomatosis) or on the skin (cutaneous papillomas)› These growths are caused by a papillomavirus

PAPILLOMAS› DIAGNOSIS:

Appearance Biopsy

› TREATMENT Usually spontaneous regression Autogenous vaccine

BENIGN TUMORS OF THE SKIN SEBACEOUS GLAND CYSTS: Slow

growing, encapuslated, round, and exude a gray, cheeselike material. Caused by degenerative changes in the glandular area surrounding the follicle.› Common in cocker spaniels

DIAGNOSIS Contents of the cyst histology

TREATMENT› Surgical removal of entire encapsulated cyst

BENIGN TUMORS OF THE SKIN

SEBACEOUS CYSTS

MALIGNANT SKIN TUMORS FELINE VACCINE-INDUCED

FIBROSARCOMAS: rapidly developing, highly invasive, malignant tumors that occur at the site of vaccination ~4-6 weeks later.› VACCINES MOST COMMONLY

IMPLICATED ARE THOSE WITH ADJUVANTS (substance that enhances the immune response by increasing the stability of a vaccine in the body) SUCH AS FeLV AND RABIES

MALIGNANT SKIN TUMORS VACCINE-

ASSOCIATED SARCOMAS› DIAGNOSIS:

Biopsy of fine needle aspirate

Physical exam findings Swelling in area of

recent vaccination Rapidly growing

firm elongated mass

MALIGNANT SKIN TUMORS

VACCINE-ASSOCIATED SARCOMAS› TREATMENT

Radical surgical excision which may involve limb amputation is the treatment of choice

› CLIENT INFORMATION Poor prognosis if not detected early and

treated aggressively Inflammatory lumps may do develop after

vaccines but usually disappear within 1-2 weeks

MALIGNANT SKIN TUMORS

FELINE VACCINE-ASSOCIATED SARCOMAS

MALIGNANT SKIN TUMORS

MAST CELL TUMORS: firm nodules on the skin that may be ulcerated or edematous. Mast cells contain histamine and heparin

MALIGNANT SKIN TUMORS

FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATE OF MAST CELL TUMOR; NOTE THE NUMEROUS GRANULES

MALIGNANT SKIN TUMORS

IN CATS, MAST CELL TUMORS ARE USUALLY BENIGN AND MAY SPONTANEOUSLY REGRESS

MALIGNANT SKIN TUMORS MAST CELL TUMOR

› TREATMENT Chemotherapy Radiation therapy BENADRYL H2 blockers to treat gastric ulceration and

irritation

› PROGNOSIS Depends on biopsy “grading” results

MALIGNANT SKIN TUMORS

MELANOMA (Benign or Malignant)› BENIGN: small, slow growing, hairless,

pigmented› MALIGNANT: large, dome-shaped sessile

+/- pigmentation Ex: Tumors of the oral cavity and digits Poor prognosis

Metastasize readily Recurrence after surgery is common

MALIGNANT SKIN TUMORS

TREATMENT INVOLVES SURGICAL REMOVAL AND POSSIBLY TREATMENT WITH THE VACCINE