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Clinical Management of Pruritus in Veterinary Medicine
Pruritus, or the sensation of itching, is one of the most common presenting complaints in veterinary medicine across multiple species. This article explores the multifactorial etiology, diagnostic approach, and therapeutic strategies required to manage chronic or acute pruritic patients.
Clinical summary
- Clinical signs
- Clinical manifestations range from self-trauma, excoriations, and alopecia to lichenification, hyperpigmentation, and secondary crusting or exudative dermatitis.
- Possible causes
- Etiologies include parasitic infestations (e.g., Sarcoptes, Demodex, Ctenocephalides), allergic dermatitis (flea, food, atopic), infections (pyoderma, Malassezia), and immune-mediated or metabolic conditions.
- Diagnostic approach
- Comprehensive diagnostic workup includes thorough history, physical exam, skin scrapings, cytology (impression smears/tape prep), trichography, and potentially dietary elimination trials or intradermal testing.
- Management
- Therapy must be multimodal, addressing the underlying cause (antiparasitics, antibiotics, antifungals) while providing symptomatic relief via antihistamines, oclacitinib, lokivetmab, or glucocorticoids.
References
- [1]Miller, W. H., Griffin, C. E., Campbell, K. L.. Muller and Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology (2013)
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