December 2012 Derm Digest Newsletter

Donkey Patient Successfully Responds to Allergy Injections

       The patients at Animal Dermatology Clinic are primarily dogs and cats. But throughout the years, doctors have treated a variety of other animals including goats, hippos, hamsters and of course, horses. Our latest “exotic” pet patient is a donkey!
       Dr. Chris Reeder of the Louisville, KY clinic was called to see “Vail”, whose owners were concerned about the loss of hair on Vail’s rump. The hair loss was isolated to this particular area, so what would cause it to fall out? (Photo above, left)  Dr. Reeder conducted an examination of Vail to determine the cause of her condition. Based on his evaluation of history and clinical findings, he was mostly concerned that this was an allergic patient and exhibiting typical allergic signs. He performed an intradermal skin test for Vail and it revealed that Vail was allergic to deer fly, black ant, house fly, moth, mouse, timothy, alfalfa, box elder, western oak and, pigweed to name a few. In other words, just about anything that your normal everyday donkey in Kentucky would encounter outdoors, Vail was allergic to!
       Dr. Reeder looked about the property and found a tree with Vail’s hair embedded in the bark (photo, upper right. Note tuft of hair on ground) and at the level at which was the same height as Vail’s rear. She was itchy and found a way to scratch the itch! Her continued rubbing on the tree ultimately caused the hair loss. Anyone who has ever experienced the frustration of having an itch on that part of your back that you cannot reach can understand Vail’s misery.
      Her continued scratching would have led to breaking the skin and that could have led to the potential of infections and an additional course of treatment.
      Immunotherapy are allergy injections that are a long-term treatment that creates a “tolerant” effect on the immune system to allow pets to develop little or no symptoms of its allergies. Each pet has custom-formulated injections based on the allergy test performed. Vail found success within months of beginning her immunotherapy treatment, although results may vary for other animals. Each patient is unique and the patient management of the patient by the veterinary dermatologist is critical in making adjustments to the treatment.
      One year later (photo above, right), her coat has restored and her allergic symptoms have abated. Immunotherapy is usually life-long, but no doubt Vail’s owners are happy to give her an injection knowing that it keeps her itch-free and comfortable without that embarrassing bald spot.
(Download the PDF edition for more pictures.  Adobe Reader required.)

ADC Doctor Achieves Diplomate Status

      Dr. Darin Dell successfully passed his board examinations last month and is now a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology.
      There are fewer than 300 boarded veterinary dermatologists in the United States and Dr. Dell now brings the number of boarded dermatologists to 17 for Animal Dermatology Clinic.
      He graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and completed his dermatology residency under the mentorship of Dr. Lori Thompson in Indianapolis, IN.
      The residency program in veterinary dermatology is a rigorous three years of study including the requirement of a successful case study project accepted and published by a scientific or medical magazine or journal.
Dr. Dell sees cases in Indianapolis and at their new satellite location in Fort Wayne, IN.