5. Companion Animal Medicine

Dermatology — Quiz

Test your understanding of dermatology with 5 practice questions.

Practice Questions

Question 1

A 7-year-old intact male Golden Retriever presents with chronic, severe pruritus, recurrent pyoderma, and otitis externa. The owner reports that the signs are worse seasonally, particularly in the spring and summer. A food elimination trial was inconclusive. Intradermal allergy testing reveals positive reactions to several environmental allergens, including dust mites and tree pollens. Which of the following is the most appropriate long-term management strategy for this patient?

Question 2

A 3-year-old spayed female Domestic Shorthair cat presents with severe, self-induced alopecia, excoriations, and miliary dermatitis, particularly over the caudal dorsum and flanks. Flea comb examination is negative for fleas or flea dirt. However, the cat is an indoor-outdoor cat and has not received regular flea prevention. Which diagnostic step is most crucial to rule out flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) in this case?

Question 3

A 5-year-old neutered male Labrador Retriever presents with a 3-month history of progressive hair loss, hyperpigmentation, and lichenification in the axillary and inguinal regions. Cytology from the affected areas reveals numerous $Malassezia$ $pachydermatis$ organisms. The dog is also pruritic. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial therapeutic approach?

Question 4

A 9-year-old intact female Dachshund presents with multiple, firm, well-demarcated subcutaneous nodules ranging from 0.5 cm to 2 cm in diameter. Fine needle aspirate (FNA) of one nodule reveals a predominance of mast cells with prominent basophilic granules. Which of the following is the most critical next diagnostic step?

Question 5

A 6-month-old intact male mixed-breed puppy presents with multifocal areas of alopecia, erythema, and scaling, primarily on the face and forelimbs. Deep skin scrapings reveal numerous $Demodex$ $canis$ mites. The puppy is otherwise healthy. Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment plan?