Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases

Dermatological problems are reported to be the most commonly encountered and can be a nightmare for the unfortunate dog and frustrating to the veterinarians and dog owners in small animal practice. Blood, skin, fecal and flea samples were collected from 169 dogs with different skin affections. The diseased dogs were grouped on the basis of their age, sex and breed. Male dogs were more prone to dermatological diseases than females except for dermatophytosis, whereas the incidence of diseases was higher in young dogs in case of dermatophytosis and demodicosis while in middle aged dogs in case of pyoderma and flea allergy. German shepherd dogs were more prone to dermatological problems except for dermatophytosis. The predominant flea species encountered in canine flea infestation and flea allergy was found to be Ctenocephalides felis. The most common dermatological affections reported in this study were flea infestation followed by pyoderma, dermatophytosis and demodicosis. Staphylococcus pseudointermedius was the most common bacterial isolate in canine pyoderma while Microsporum canis was the most common dermatophyte isolated in canine dermatophytosis cases. Evaluation of the hematological parameters revealed presence of leukocytosis and microcytic hypochromic anemia in flea infested dogs while normocytic normochromic anemia in pyoderma and generalized demodicosis affected dogs. Assessment of biochemical profile indicates disturbed protein content. Presence of hypothyroidism in dogs suffered from generalized demodicosis was demonstrated by reduced levels of free T4. Evaluation of oxidative stress indices demonstrates unbalanced enzymatic activity. Lymphocyte transformation test indicate absence of lymphocyte dysfunction in the dogs with demodectic mange uncomplicated by pyoderma. The results of the antibiotic sensitivity test showed that staphylococcal isolates were more sensitive to Sulphamethoxazole/Trimethoprim (97.62%), while highly resistant to Penicillin G (80.95%). Therapeutic drugs were used for treatment of diseased dog according to the dermatological problem diagnosed

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