Principles of Therapy of Dermatologic Diseases

This chapter provides a broad overview of a variety of dermatologic therapies in dogs and cats, and presents the most important general principles that guide their use, including supporting concepts and most common indications. It discusses topical therapy and systemic therapy, and presents the categories and indications of the two types of therapies. There are many factors that need to be considered when prescribing topical therapy such as the condition of the skin and ears, the type of lesions present, the need for residual activity, the presence of hair in the area, and the body region and surface area to be treated. Systemic therapy requires much knowledge of the patient's medical history, drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, potential side-effects, toxicity monitoring guidelines, and potential drug interactions. Some of the major categories used in veterinary dermatology include anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, immunosuppressive, antibacterial and antifungal agents, antiparasitics and systemic medications to treat hormonal disorders.