PITYRIASIS IN THE DOG AND CAT.
Head, neck and back of overfed, old house dogs. Symptoms: floury dandruff, with little itching or redness, on limited areas; in cats over the whole back, where stroking causes electric development, the collecting of the hair in tufts, and insufferable irritation. Hair constantly shedding without necessarily bare patches. Treatment: simpler, restricted diet, correct internal disorders, laxatives, arsenic, locally solutions of alkalies, borax, potassium sulphide, sulphur iodide, baths.
In dogs this affection attacks especially the head, neck and back of pet and house dogs gorged with dainties, and particularly in those that are already becoming aged. The affected parts are covered with a floury or branlike product lying upon a dry surface usually devoid of irritation or congestion, though it may be distinctly congested and reddened, and even the seat of pruritus. The affection is usually confined to limited areas, more or less destitute of hair, and without showing a disposition to active extension. In the cat, however, it may affect the whole dorsal aspect of the body, being associated with extreme electrical susceptibility, so that on being stroked the hair at once collects in tufts, crackles, and in the darkness sparkles, and the animal at first fawning on the hand, will fly at and scratch it after a few strokes. The scaly product is excessive and drops off abundantly when handled, without, however, leaving thin or bare patches.
Treatment is mainly in the line of a simpler and more natural diet, the avoidance of sugar and cake, the correction of disorders of the digestion, or of the hepatic or urinary functions, the exhibition of an occasional laxative, and of alteratives, especially Fowler’s solution.
Locally, alkaline lotions, carbonate or bicarbonate of soda or potash, borax, sulphide of potassium and iodide of sulphur are often useful. A moderately strong solution of common salt with glycerine in water is an useful alternate, and a warm saline or bran bath may soften the skin and modify its nutrition.