Clinico-Cytopathological Changes in Pyogranulomatous Pododermatitis in Dogs

Pododermatitis is a complex and multi-etiological inflammatory skin condition of footpads, inter-digital spaces, nails and its fold. The dog breeds with flat foot, wide based paws and scoop shaped feet are more susceptible to pododermatitis. Four cases were presented to Veterinary clinical complex (VCC), College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Meerut with the history of chronic skin lesions in paws. Skin scrapings, multiple impression smears and swabs were collected from the affected area and sent to Diagnostic section of VCC. In skin scraping examination, typical cigar shaped Demode/canis was noticed in one case. On cytological examination smears, revealed presence of large number of degenerate neutrophils with good fraction of activated macrophages. Large number of round small epithelial cells with large big round nucleus were seen scattered throughout the sections indicates acantholysis. Many of the round epithelial cells exhibit cytoplasmic melanin granules, suggesting hyperpigmentation in the affected area. In three other cases, the cytological analysis of an impression smear from the paw region revealed a substantial presence of neutrophils containing intracytoplasmic cocci. Considering the clinical manifestations, cytological examination, and skin scraping analysis, the aforementioned cases were conclusively diagnosed as pododermatitis.