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Summary: Cutaneous expression of behavioural processes remains unexplored in donkeys. This case report describes a case of traumatic alopecia in two donkeys secondary to mutual hair plucking behaviour. Two genetically unrelated, male castrated, 4‐year‐old Cotentin donkeys living together were presented for a 2‐year history of alopecic, mainly nummular, nonpruritic lesions developing on the back, loin and croup. The general physical examination and behavioural assessment were unremarkable. Trichoscopy, scrapings and cytology were performed. Superficial bacterial infection was diagnosed but a 2‐week course of antibacterial treatment showed no improvement. Histopathological examination showed features compatible with traumatic alopecia and consistent with several behavioural causes of alopecia resembling human trichotillomania or acute traction alopecia, canine traction alopecia, feline self‐induced alopecia and murine barbering. Separation of the donkeys led to complete long‐term remission. Clinical and histopathological findings in our case share lots of similar features with the different mechanical traumatic alopecic disorders mentioned above, making it impossible to simply classify the described affection. Whether alopecic lesions resulted from an exclusive behavioural process (either abnormal excessive mutual grooming or other social interactions) or were associated with underlying causes of pruritus is uncertain. Mechanical alopecia secondary to a behavioural process should therefore be suspected in cases of permanent patchy alopecic nummular lesions on donkeys living in groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Very few studies have investigated the seasonal aspect of grass pollen sensitisation or its evolution in the allergic canine population. The aim of this study was to evaluate both these aspects. A study of canine grass pollen sensitisation was performed throughout the statistical analysis of 261 intradermal skin testings (IDT=25 allergens tested on average) performed from January 1999 to December 2010. IDTs were performed on dogs with pruritic allergic skin disease. X2 Tests were used for statistical analysis. Two hundred and thirteen dogs (81.6 per cent) were sensitised to at least one allergen, and 56 (21.5 per cent) to at least one grass pollen. No increase in the rate of positive IDT was recorded over three periods: 1999-2002, 2003-2006 and 2007-2010. No statistical correlation was detected between sex, age or birth month and grass sensitisation. Moreover, no link was found between the season in which the IDT was performed and sensitisation, indicating that there is no seasonality to the sensitisation. However, considering the grasses tested over these three periods (grass mix and rye grass), a clear and significant increase in the percentage of dogs sensitised to grass pollen was observed between 1999-2002 and 2007-2010 (14.4 per cent and 27.7 per cent, respectively). The possible reasons for this sensitisation increase of dogs to grass pollen are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Canine atopic dermatitis can be a result of exposure to aeroallergens or trophallergens. Hemodynamic alterations occur in dogs with food hypersensitivity. Hypothesis/Objectives To evaluate if hemodynamic alterations occur in dogs with NFICAD with lowered resistance to diastolic flow at fasting, after feeding, or both. Animals Ten healthy dogs and 22 dogs with NFICAD were included from the hospital population. Methods Blinded prospective study. Peak systolic velocity ( PSV), end diastolic velocity ( EDV), mean velocity ( MV), pulsatility index ( PI), resistive index ( RI) and PSV/ EDV ratio were measured at fasting for both arteries (cranial mesenteric artery [ CMA], celiac artery [ CA]) and at 40 minutes after feeding in CMA and at 60 minutes in CA. The results were analyzed statistically with a mixed model. Results There was no difference detected between groups of dogs for any variable except EDV during fasting ( P = .01). Conclusions and Clinical Importance There is no decrease in resistance in NFICAD to diastolic flow. This observation could be explained by the absence intestinal inflammation in NFICAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a case of alopecia areata with marked hoof dystrophy in a 22-year-old French trotter mare. The horse had total loss of hair from the mane, tail and eyebrows, accompanied by severe onychodystrophy. The hematology and biochemistry results were within reference ranges. Radiography revealed no evidence of laminitis as a possible cause of the hoof lesions.