Autoimmune and immunemediated diseases – part I. – Dr. Chiara Noli There are many autoimmune and immunomediated skin diseases in dogs and cats, with different pathogenesis and cinical presentations. Some of them are easily diagnosed on clinical grounds but some others histopathology for the diagnosis. Depending on the disease, therapeutical protocols may vary and the progonosis can be diverse. Learning outcomes: Rational diagnostic and therapeutic approach to autoimmune and immunemediated skin diseases.  

Diagnosis and management of canine hypothyroidism. – Dr. Manolis Saridomichelakis Canine acquired hypothyroidism is a relatively common disease but, in clinical practice, it is overdiagnosed. The reasons are multiple and they include, among others, non-thyroidal illness, drug administration, laboratory errors, and diagnosis based solely on hormone concentrations without consideration of the signalment, the clinical presentation and the results of routine laboratory test results. The treatment of the disease is relatively easy, but treatment monitoring is commonly neglected Learning outcomes: Rational diagnosis and management of canine hypothyroidism  

Autoimmune and immunemediated diseases – part II. – Dr. Chiara Noli There are many autoimmune and immunomediated skin diseases in dogs and cats, with different pathogenesis and cinical presentations. Some of them are easily diagnosed on clinical grounds but some others histopathology for the diagnosis. Depending on the disease, therapeutical protocols may vary and the progonosis can be diverse. Learning outcomes: Rational diagnostic and therapeutic approach to autoimmune and immunemediated skin diseases.  

Diagnosis and management of canine hypercortisolism. – Dr. Manolis Saridomichelakis Spontaneous and iatrogenic hypercortisolism is probably the most common cause of endocrine alopecia, frequently accompanied by additional skin lesions and systemic signs in dogs. Although in advanced cases diagnosis is usually straightforward, there are dogs with less typical presentations posing diagnostic dilemmas. Furthermore, the correct interpretation of low-dose dexamethasone suppression test results has changed in recent years. Finally, there are multiple treatment options that should be prioritized depending on the cause of hypercortisolism, and treatment monitoring is very complicated Learning outcomes: Rational diagnosis and management of canine hypercortisolism (spontaneous and iatrogenic)  

Autoimmune and immunemediated diseases – part III. – Dr. Chiara Noli There are many autoimmune and immunomediated skin diseases in dogs and cats, with different pathogenesis and cinical presentations. Some of them are easily diagnosed on clinical grounds but some others histopathology for the diagnosis. Depending on the disease, therapeutical protocols may vary and the progonosis can be diverse. Learning outcomes: Rational diagnostic and therapeutic approach to autoimmune and immunemediated skin diseases  

Canine leishmaniosis. – Dr. Manolis Saridomichelakis Canine leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum is highly endemic in South Europe but is gradually expanding northwards and imported cases are occasionally witnessed even in northern countries. The non-specific clinical presentation, that may include one or multiple different types of skin lesions, ocular and systemic signs, the long list of differentials and the frequent reliance on serology as a stand-alone diagnostic test can lead to both overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis. Furthermore, treatment monitoring and the decision for treatment discontinuation is very complicated. Learning outcomes: Rational diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of dogs with leishmaniosis based on current guidelines  

Congenital and hereditary skin diseases. – Dr. Chiara Noli Congenital and hereditary skin diseases usually occur in young animals and usually are not curable. They can involve the epidermis, the dermis and/or the adnexa with breed predisposition typical for each disease. Some may even not be compatible with life or with a good quality of life and carriers should be identified and avoided in breeding programmes. Learning outcomes: To become aware of the occurrence of genetic and congenital skin diseases in dogs, how to recognise the most frequent ones.  

Otitis externa in dogs and cats. – Dr. Manolis Saridomichelakis Otitis externa is one of the most common reasons for consultation in small animal clinical practice. Otitis is not a disease but a syndrome with multiple causes that are classified into predisposing, primary, secondary and perpetuating. These causes are frequently combined with each other and the failure to recognize and treat all of them can cause therapeutic failures and/or frequent relapses Learning outcomes: Systematic approach to the diagnosis and treatment of predisposing, primary, secondary and perpetuating causes of otitis externa in dogs and cats.  

Fungal skin diseases. – Dr. Chiara Noli There are several fungal diseases, the most common ones are caused by dermatophytes usually growing on hair or skin keratin. Other less common usually saprophytic fungi can grow in the subcutis, particularly in inmmumocompromised animals, while others cause systemic infections. Many of these fungal agents are zoonotic and should be well identified and treated to avoid contamination. Learning outcomes: Rational diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of dogs with dermatopytosis, subcutaneous or systemic fungal diseases  

Otitis externa and media in dogs and cats. – Dr. Manolis Saridomichelakis Otitis media is one of the perpetuating factors of otitis externa and is especially common in chronic and relapsing cases. Furthermore, there are some less common cases of otitis media that may not be accompanied by otitis externa, such as primary otitis media with effusion in dogs and middle ear polyps in cats. Neurological signs and extension of inflammation into the inner ear can occur. Management depends on the cause and differs from that of otitis externa without otitis media Learning outcomes: Rational diagnosis and medical management of dogs and cats with otitis media.