Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Perianal pruritus in dogs with skin disease
- Journal:
- Veterinary Dermatology
- Year:
- 2014
- Authors:
- Maina, Elisa et al.
- Affiliation:
- Servizi Dermatologici Veterinari Strada Bedale della Ressia 2 12016 Peveragno Cuneo Italy · Italy
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This study looked at dogs with skin problems to see if they experienced intense itching around their rear end, known as perianal pruritus. Researchers found that this itching was more common in dogs with conditions like canine atopic dermatitis (a type of skin allergy) and adverse food reactions (bad reactions to certain foods) compared to dogs with other skin issues. Out of 250 dogs studied, 39 with atopic dermatitis and 29 with food reactions had this itching, while only 24 with other skin conditions did. The itching was linked to other signs like hair loss, redness, and skin damage, but not to infections or problems with the anal sacs. Overall, the study concluded that perianal itching is more likely in dogs with food allergies or skin allergies than in those with other skin diseases.
Abstract
BackgroundPerianal pruritus has been reported in dogs with anal sac disease but not in healthy dogs. Some authors describe it as typical of allergy, but there is little evidence in support of this.Hypothesis/ObjectivesThe aim was to investigate the association between perianal pruritus and canine atopic dermatitis (CAD), adverse food reaction (ARF) and other skin diseases in dogs.AnimalsTwo hundred and fifty privately owned dogs with skin disease and without anal sac disease.MethodsThe presence or absence of perianal pruritus, macroscopic and cytological evaluation of the perianal skin surface and the macroscopic appearance of anal sac contents were assessed. Chi‐square and Fisher's exact tests were performed to compare the frequency of perianal pruritus with the clinical diagnoses and with clinical and cytological parameters.ResultsPerianal pruritus was seen in 39 of 75 dogs withCAD, in 29 of 57 dogs withARFand in only 24 of 118 dogs with other conditions. The frequency of perianal pruritus in dogs withCADand/orARFwas significantly higher than that in dogs with other diagnoses (P < 0.0001). No other disease was significantly associated with perianal pruritus. Perianal pruritus was significantly associated with signs of perianal alopecia, erythema, excoriations, lichenification and hyperpigmentation; it was not associated with the presence of bacteria or yeasts or with anal sac impaction.Conclusions and clinical importancePerianal pruritus was seen more frequently in dogs withAFR/CADthan with other dermatological diseases. This is the first study to evaluate perianal pruritus in dogs with skin disease and without anal sac disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.12127