A Survey of Common Dermatological Conditions in Pet Dogs in Punjab, Northwest of India

Abstract

Aims: To retrospectively assess the occurrence, clinical presentation, diagnostic patterns, and therapeutic management of dermatological conditions in dogs presented to a university teaching veterinary hospital in Punjab, India, and to determine their association with season, age, breed, and coat characteristics. Study Design: Retrospective observational study. Place and Duration of Study: University Teaching Veterinary Hospital, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, from January 2018 to December 2020. Methodology: During the three-year study period, clinical records of dogs presented for evaluation were retrospectively reviewed. Dogs diagnosed with dermatological conditions were identified, and data pertaining to the type of dermatological disorder, clinical signs and primary owner complaints, season of presentation, age, breed, body size, hair-coat characteristics, and therapeutic interventions were analysed. Statistical associations between dermatological conditions and demographic and seasonal variables were assessed, and relative risks for commonly encountered dermatological conditions were determined. Results: During the study period, dermatological conditions accounted for 6.2% of all dogs examined, with a total of 2,853 cases recorded. The most frequently diagnosed conditions, in descending order, were tick infestation (26.2%), dermatitis (21.0%), superficial pyoderma (14.0%), demodicosis (8.0%), otitis externa (7.9%), allergy (7.4%), and pododermatitis (6.1%). The predominant clinical signs and owner-reported complaints were pruritus (95.5%), erythema (73.0%), and alopecia (52.5%). The occurrence of dermatological conditions was significantly associated with season, age, sex, and breed characteristics, with the highest occurrence observed during the monsoon–autumn season (47.5%), in dogs aged >1–5 years (56.8%), small- (40.2%) to medium-sized breeds (46.6%), and short-haired breeds (74.5%). Increased relative risks for selected common dermatological conditions were also observed in relation to season, age, and breed characteristics. Management predominantly involved combinations of systemic and topical medications, including antihistamines, antibiotics, antiseptics, ectoparasiticides, and skin-health formulations. Conclusion: Canine dermatological disorders constitute a substantial portion of clinical presentations in dogs, with ectoparasitic, inflammatory, infectious, and allergic conditions being the most prevalent. The incidence of these disorders is significantly influenced by season, age, breed, body size, and coat characteristics. The findings underscore the significance of considering these epidemiological risk factors for early recognition, targeted diagnosis, prevention, and rational therapeutic management of canine dermatological diseases in veterinary practice.