Topic 5 - Significance, methods and order of the skin examination.

Question 1

Latin name for skin:

Answer 1

integumentum

Question 2

Methods for skin examination:

Answer 2

Inspection
Palpation
Smelling

Question 3

Which parts to look at, when performing a skin examination?

Answer 3

Hair coat
Skin
External ear canal
Planum nasale
Claws/nails
Footpads

Question 4

Which parameters do we check for during hair examination?

Answer 4

1. Colour
2. Stiffness/loos hair
3. Abnormalities: parasites

Question 5

Normal hair:

Answer 5

Shiny, with density

Question 6

Normal colour of hair:

Answer 6

Black
White
Brown
etc

Question 7

Stiffness of the hair:

Answer 7

Depends on the breed

Question 8

How to examine if the hair is loose, and what is normal?

Answer 8

Pull out hair

Normal: Can be pulled with medium effort

Question 9

Which parameters to examine during skin examination?

Answer 9

Condition of epidermis
Colour
Smelling
Temperature
Moistness
Thickness
Elasticity
Abnormalities

Question 10

Normal condition of epidermis:

Answer 10

surface is intact

Question 11

Normal color of skin:

Answer 11

light pink or greyish white, often with pigments

Question 12

Normal temperature of skin

Answer 12

Temperature is close of the environment

Question 13

Normal moistness of skin:

Answer 13

content is average

Question 14

Normal Thickness of skin:

Answer 14

normal.

Skin is thinnest on pinnae (ear flap), inguinal and perianal areas

Question 15

Abnormalities of skin:

Answer 15

1. Haemorrhages
2. Ectoparasites
3. skin lesions
4. Skin swelling
5. Skin sensitivity (often due to lesions)

Question 16

Normal claws:

Answer 16

• Pigmented
• Temperature is same as floor
• No pain
• consistency is hard
• Surface is intact

Question 17

Normal footpads:

Answer 17

• Colour: black, light pink or pigmented
• Temperature is same as floot
• Surface is smooth + intact
• No pain
• Medium thick and sensitive

Question 18

The growth of the hair follicle is cyclical, name the different stages:

Answer 18

1. Anagen
2. Catagen
3. Telogen
4. Exogen

Question 19

What is the anagen phase?

Answer 19

The active, growing period

Question 20

What is the catagen phase?

Answer 20

The transitional period

Question 21

What is the telogen phase?

Answer 21

The resting period

Question 22

What is the exogen phase?

Answer 22

The shedding phase

Question 23

How many shedding phases does exist? name them:

Answer 23

2

Seasonal and mosaic (random)

Question 24

Which type of shedding phase does cat and dogs have?

Answer 24

Mosaic, but the shedding is peaked in sping and autumn

Question 25

Additional exams for skin examination:

Answer 25

Skin scraping
Laboratory exams: Blood + microbiology
Cytology
Biopsy

Question 26

What is skin scraping done for?

Answer 26

To diagnose ectoparasites

Question 27

What are laboratory exams done for?

Answer 27

Blood: check blood count, biochemistry

Microbiology: culture bacteria

Question 28

Which tools are needed for cytology?

Answer 28

Swab, smear, impression, scraping, aspiration

Question 29

What are cytology done for?

Answer 29

To determine inflammation or neoplasms

Question 30

What is biopsy done for?

Answer 30

Final diagnostic of skin problems, neoplasm and auto-immune diseases.

Question 31

Name the order of skin examination:

Answer 31

1. Hair
2. Condition of the skin
3. Physical examination of skin lesions
4. Swelling
5. Cutaneous appendages
6. External ear

Question 32

What are cutaneous appendages?

Answer 32

claws and nails

Question 33

What is complete loss of a claw called?

Answer 33

Onychomadesis

Question 34

What is crumbling of the claw called?

Answer 34

Onychorrhexis