What’s causing dry, scaly skin?
Q We have a three-year-old Lhasa Apso. He has dry scaly patches of skin with bruising next to them under his front leg, chest and groin area, but no pain or discomfort. Do we need to see the vet?
A There seem to be two separate problems with your dog, although they are possibly related.
The dry scaly patches (lesions) that you describe could be a disease called superficial pyoderma. There are a variety of lesions possible, including crusts, scale and small circular lesions with a thin rim of epithelium.
These are called epidermal collarettes and are frequently seen in bacterial infections.
Lesions in this area are often itchy. An important question your vet might ask is, if itching is present, was it there before the lesions appeared or after?
Lesions are invariably associated with underlying problems and it is helpful to know about itchiness to help guide subsequent investigations.
The bruising is less common than the other lesions your dog has. There may have been some localised trauma, in which case bruising should fade away quickly. Otherwise, there are some autoimmune problems or bleeding disorders that might be contributing factors.
Given the unusual appearance of these lesions a consultation with your vet is necessary in order to establish a diagnosis and investigate underlying problems.
A comprehensive physical examination followed by a complete blood count, including red and white blood cells and platelets, are likely first steps. Your vet may also advise skin sampling for microscopical examination.
Q Is it true that cat flu is usually a mild disease and gets better on its own? My three-year-old cat spends most of the time indoors and I am not sure he needs a cat flu booster.
A Cat flu is a common disease, caused in approximately 90% of cases by two viruses. These are feline calicivirus (FCV) and feline herpes virus (FHV). Other causes include bacteria such as Bordetella bronchiseptica.
Signs of cat flu include sneezing, eye and nose discharges, a high temperature, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, tongue ulceration and drooling (particularly with calicivirus).
It is not my experience that cat flu is usually a mild disease. Although some cats just have a bout of sneezing, are perhaps a bit off colour and recover quite quickly, many cats have more serious symptoms such as the ones mentioned.
Secondary infections can make an affected cat very unwell, sometimes with pneumonia, and I have unfortunately seen some deaths in spite of treatment. The incubation period for FCV and FHV can be up to 10 days, and the viruses can survive in the environment for a similar period of time.
Indoor cats are not free of risk as the virus can be brought in on clothing from people in contact with cats. There is also an additional risk every time your cat goes outside. Your vet will advise on the current disease situation in your locality, and whether your cat needs a cat flu booster now.