Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hospital-acquired skin sores in hospitalized dogs and risk factors
By Gómez-Soto, Esther et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2025·Hospital Veterinario de la Universidad Catolica de Valencia San Vicente Martir, Spain·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prospective evaluation of hospital-acquired skin lesions in dogs: A case-control study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of hospitalized dogs developed skin problems, specifically hospital-acquired skin lesions, with the most common symptom being redness (erythema) on their bellies. Out of 278 dogs studied, about 11% showed these lesions, often linked to issues like incontinence. This suggests that dogs who are unable to control their bowel or bladder may be at higher risk for developing skin issues while in the hospital. More research is needed to understand how to prevent these lesions and improve recovery for affected dogs.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hospital-related dermatological conditions are well-studied and reported in human medicine. However, studies about these dermatological disorders in veterinary medicine are lacking. OBJECTIVES: To report the incidence, type and distribution of hospital-acquired skin lesions (HASL) in dogs, and to investigate risk factors that may be associated with their development. ANIMALS: Hospitalised client-owned dogs with HASL and a control group of hospitalised dogs without skin lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective clinical evaluation of all HASL and dermatological tests, when indicated, were performed, over 6 months. A variety of potentially predisposing factors also were recorded. RESULTS: Thirty-one dogs with HASL and a matched control group of 60 hospitalised dogs without skin lesions were included. The incidence of HASL was 11.2% (31 of 278). The most common lesion was erythema in 74.2% of dogs (23 of 31) and the most affected area was the abdomen in 58.1% (18 of 31) of dogs. Faecal and/or urinary incontinence was identified as an important risk factor for the development of skin lesions during hospitalisation (odds ratio 14.445, 95% confidence interval 1.444-144.479, p = 0.023). Immobilisation and changes in body temperature also may play a role in the development of such lesions in dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Faecal and/or urinary incontinence was found to be an important factor in the development of HASL. The impact of HASL on patient outcomes and the prevention of these lesions requires further investigation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39537431/