NUTRITIONAL DERMATOSIS - DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC ASPECTS

The importance of nutritional dermatosis is controversial in carnivores. However, two main categories of nutritional dermatosis must be considered : dermatosis associated with a suspected deficiency (zinc responsive dermatosis, lethal acrodermatitis of the bull terrier, generic dog food dermatosis, cupper deficiency, vitamin A responsive dermatosis, vitamin E deficiency, and group B vitamin deficiency) and the dermatosis for which allergy or dietary intolerance is suspected. Diagnosis oi nutritional dermatosis is difficult because of the problems involved in measuring trace elements and vitamins, in the exploration of their absorption and in the demonstration of an allergenic role of a feed. For a large number of dermatosis the diagnosis relies on a combination of clinical and histopathological criteria and sometimes on the response to therapeutics.