Skin and ear infections

Itching (also referred to as pruritus) in horses is a common symptom that may indicate insect bites, skin infection, or allergic reactions. An itchy horse will often rub against other surfaces, including stalls, trees, fences, or buildings, which may lead to loss of hair and more irritated skin.

Subcutaneous lumps appear in dogs as abnormal growths or masses located under the skin. If the lump is manipulated manually, the feeling of a subcutaneous lump varies depending on the cause but it is a bump separate from the skin.

Hair loss (also known as alopecia) in horses occurs for three main reasons: because the hair has been broken or rubbed off; the immune system is not working properly and an infection has taken root; or the immune system targets the hair as a foreign invader. 

A swollen umbilicus describes the presence of an enlarged umbilical stump in newborn foals. Depending on the underlying cause, the swelling can feel soft and fluid-like, hard and warm, or may be accompanied by other symptoms.

Crusted, scabbed skin in horses is sometimes referred to as “skin crud.” This is a catch-all term for symptoms where the skin has raised bumps, hair loss, scaling, pus formation, or crusting.

Peeling or sloughing skin in horses is characterized as an area of the body where the skin has begun to lose its surface layer. Generally appears as flaking or patches of skin that are missing or damaged.

Feline alopecia or hair loss is the partial or complete absence of hair in areas of the body where hair is expected to be.

Hair loss, or alopecia, is characterized by hair loss leading to bald patches and places in the coat that are abnormally sparse.

Cheyletiellosis in cats is a form of mange commonly known as ‘walking dandruff’. Caused by parasitic Cheyletiella species of mites living on the skin of many animals including cats, dogs, and rabbits

Feline scabies, or mange, is a rare, but highly contagious condition caused by the parasitic mite Notoedres cati.

Cats experience two types of contact dermatitis: allergic and irritant. They both involve skin contact with an offending substance which leads to a dermatologic reaction.

Mud fever is an inflammatory skin condition affecting the lower limbs of horses, caused by bacterial, viral, parasitic, or fungal agents that thrive on the skin over the pasterns and fetlocks.

A claw disorder is a disease or trauma which affects the claw and surrounding tissue. There are several disorders that fall under this classification including traumatic injuries, Symmetric Lupoid Onychitis (SLO), bacterial and fungal infections, tumors, and keratinization defects

Head tilt refers to an abnormal posture of the head, where the head is tilted to one side with one ear lower than the other.

The anal glands (AGs) are two small glands situated either side of the anus which produce secretions that are deposited on the feces during normal bowel movements.

Solar dermatitis is a condition caused by exposure to UV rays, which leads to irritated skin, rashes, and potentially cancerous growths.

Allergies are common in cats, similar to other species. Harmless proteins in the environment (allergens) stimulate the immune system, which overreacts and produces a strong inflammatory response.

Foxtails and other grass awns, are a common form of seed dispersal for many types of grass. Awns have numerous bristles that allow the seed head to embed in the skin and orifices of animals and their shape makes them difficult to remove

Food allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to an ingested protein.

Food allergies are a reaction of the immune system to specific proteins within the diet.

If a dog tilts his head involuntarily or chronically, especially when along with other symptoms like ear pain or lack of balance, it may be a symptom of an underlying medical condition

Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) are a contagious parasite that live in the ears of their hosts. This parasite resembles a small tick, but is much smaller; too small to distinguish with the naked eye.

Bacterial cellulitis in horses is a dangerous infection and inflammation of the tissues beneath the skin. Bacterial cellulitis is an emergency that requires immediate veterinary attention

Skin lumps occurring within or near the surface of the skin are called cutaneous masses.

Cutaneous lumps are lumps within a dog’s skin which make a nodule, raised area, or discoloration on the surface of the skin.

Whereas humans get sneezy and sniffly at certain times of the year, some cats get red, itchy skin and secondary skin infections for the same reason: seasonal allergies.

Lymphadenopathy, or enlarged lymph nodes, is swelling of the lymph nodes due to infection, inflammation, or the presence of tumor cells in the nodes.

Lymphadenopathy is enlargement of the lymph nodes, and is a common finding in many diseases, illnesses, and conditions.

Feline Solar Dermatitis is a serious skin disorder that occurs in cats with thin hair or short, white hair.

Subcutaneous lumps are found under the skin, rather than within the skin or at the surface of the skin. If a lump does not create a visible mark or disruption on the skin, doesn’t arise from the bone, and the skin moves freely over it, it is a subcutaneous lump.