Introduction. Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are the most common skin tumors in dogs, accounting for 16% to 21% of all skin neoplasms in this species, requiring extensive surgical excision. Despite the routine nature of this surgical procedure, surgical complications are common due to the biological behavior of the tumor, the specific surgical technique, and the possibility of bacterial complications. The purpose of this publication is to describe a clinical case and highlight the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius strains. To the author's knowledge, clinical cases of bacterial skin infection caused by a multidrug-resistant S. pseudintermedius strain, which arose as an early postoperative complication following surgical removal of a poorly differentiated mastocytoma, have not previously been described in dogs in the Russian Federation.

Description of a clinical case. The patient, an intact male mixed-breed dog, 8 years old, was admitted with complaints of lethargy, severe pain, swelling, and redness of the skin around the head and left ear. Symptoms developed in the area of the postoperative incision within 72 hours after surgical removal of a low-differentiated mastocytoma during antibiotic therapy with amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. A general examination revealed hyperthermia (39.7 °C), severe swelling, erythema, and exudation around the surgical incision extending to the auricle tissue. Palpation of the affected areas revealed tenderness. The diagnosis was suggested based on the patient's history, clinical presentation, and cytological examination results. After changing the antibiotic and before receiving culture results, significant clinical improvements were noted. The diagnosis was confirmed by culture results.

Discussion. This clinical case confirms the possibility of postoperative bacterial complications associated with multidrugresistant strains in modern veterinary practice and highlights the need for and feasibility of abandoning the use of protected B-lactam antibiotics as first-line treatments.

Conclusion. The data obtained can be used to initiate further research into the prevalence of resistant bacterial strains in veterinary clinics in our country to further develop infection prevention measures.

Introduction. Demodicosis in adult dogs often develops against a background of immunosuppression, and diagnosis can be challenging when scrapings yield negative results. The literature lacks sufficient data on morphometric assessment of invasion intensity.

Clinical Case Description. Histological analysis of two skin biopsies from a Central Asian Shepherd dog, taken 24 days apart, was performed with morphometry and mite counting per unit area. The first biopsy revealed single Demodex mites (3 individuals per 5±0.2 mm²), moderate dermatitis and folliculitis. Twenty-four days later, during glucocorticoid therapy, the second biopsy showed a sharp increase in mite numbers to 339–452 individuals per the same area, along with ulcerative dermatitis and granulomatous inflammation.

Discussion. The use of systemic and topical glucocorticosteroids in a dog with initially low invasion intensity led to a dramatic increase in mite population and aggravation of histopathological skin changes. This case confirms that generalized demodicosis in adult dogs is a marker of an immunosuppressive state, and prescribing glucocorticoids without antiparasitic therapy is strictly inadmissible. Negative results from superficial scrapings do not rule out demodicosis, especially in dogs with thickened skin or chronic lesions.

Conclusion. Histological examination of the skin is mandatory when scrapings are negative and clinical signs of demodicosis in adult dogs are pronounced. Glucocorticoids should not be prescribed before biopsy results are available.

Introduction. Autoimmune dermatoses in dogs account for only 2–3 % of all skin and coat pathologies encountered in veterinary dermatology practice. Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) in dogs is a chronic autoimmune disease. This condition was first described in dogs in 1965, but it was not until the 1970s that cutaneous variants were officially documented in dogs that developed chronic dermatitis following prolonged sun exposure. Lesions may be confined solely to the muzzle, the so-called facial form of discoid lupus erythematosus, or may be localized to other areas of the body the generalized form of DLE. Olivry et al. developed a histopathological classification for DLE. It was also established that the histopathology of lupus shows similarities to the microscopic lesions present in cutaneous lupus erythematosus in humans. For veterinary specialists, this group of diseases raises many questions regarding diagnosis, selection of therapeutic methods, and monitoring of the patient's condition.

Case Description. A 5-year-old mixed-breed dog was presented to the veterinary clinic with lesions on the nasal planum, without systemic clinical abnormalities. The diagnosis of discoid lupus erythematosus was based on history, clinical examination, cytological examination, complete blood count and serum biochemistry, and histopathological examination of biopsy samples from the nasal planum. For cytological examination, impression smears were taken from ulcerated skin areas. The smears were fixed, stained with Diahem-Diff-Quick stain (Russia), and examined under a microscope at ×100 magnification using an Olympus CX23 microscope (Japan). To establish the definitive diagnosis, a punch biopsy was performed under general anesthesia using a 3-mm punch; three tissue samples were obtained from the nasal planum and nasal wings. Histopathological examination was performed by veterinary pathologist I.V. Bogomolova.

Discussion. The presented clinical case illustrates the typical facial form of discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) in a dog. The localization of lesions exclusively to the nasal planum, the absence of systemic symptoms, and normal blood parameters are consistent with the classic course of FDLE, highlighting the importance of differentiating this form from generalized and systemic lupus erythematosus. The diagnosis was verified based on histopathological examination, the gold standard for DLE diagnosis. The identified changes allowed the exclusion of other autoimmune dermatoses, particularly pemphigus, despite the presence of acantholytic cells on cytology. This finding confirms that cytological examination cannot serve as the sole diagnostic criterion.

Conclusion. The treatment outcomes and photographic materials presented in this article may be useful for practicing veterinarians in the diagnosis of discoid lupus erythematosus. The applied combination therapy proved to be effective.

Introduction. Recently, there has been a large number of oral diseases in cats. Eosinophilic granuloma (EG) of the oral cavity may be a single lesion or occur simultaneously with other forms of the eosinophilic granuloma complex (CEG). The purpose of this article is to describe a clinical case of eosinophilic granuloma of the tongue in a cat and the possibility of effective treatment with prednisone.

Description of a clinical case. The article presents a clinical case of EG of the tongue in a cat, which also showed symptoms of itching, cutaneous erythema, as well as skin EG a few days after the formation of a tongue granuloma. The diagnosis of EG of the tongue was based on the data of anamnesis, clinical examination, cytological examination. Cytological examination revealed eosinophilic inflammation of the nodular formation on the tongue. During prednisone therapy at a dose of 2 mg / kg after a week, a significant decrease in the volume of the EG tongue was noted, then the dose was gradually reduced. The full course of prednisone therapy was 5 weeks until the symptoms completely disappeared.

Discussion. According to literature data, allergic factors (flea dermatitis, food allergy and non-food hypersensitivity) can be the causes of EG of the tongue. The symptoms may occur simultaneously with or without skin symptoms. In our case, the manifestation of itching, erythema of the skin appeared a few days after the formation of an eosinophilic plaque on the tongue. Prednisone can be used as therapy for oral hypertension, with starting doses ranging from 2 to 4 mg/kg per day. In our case, the starting dose of prednisone 2 mg / kg day, followed by a gradual dose reduction, had a pronounced therapeutic effect.

Conclusion. The treatment results and photographic materials provided in the article, demonstrating the manifestations of EH in the oral cavity, are useful for practicing specialists: a general veterinarian, dentist, oncologist, dermatologist, including in the differentiation of tumor and non-tumor lesions of the tongue. The importance of using cytological examination for the diagnosis of EH is shown. The use of prednisone has shown efficacy in the treatment of EG tongue.

Introduction. Sterile nodular panniculitis is a rare disease of the subcutaneous adipose tissue. This condition remains insufficiently studied and requires timely and accurate diagnostic work-up. The aim of this article was to remind general practitioners and surgeons to include sterile nodular panniculitis in the differential diagnosis when presented with patients having primary multiple nodular lesions or when additional nodular foci appear during the treatment of soft tissue abscesses.

Case description. A 9-year-old intact female mixed-breed dog weighing 11.5 kg was referred from an external clinic with painful subcutaneous nodules distributed over the body, some of which had ulcerated during a 6-month observation period. The dog had been kept indoors throughout its life, with no travel outside Moscow or to other regions. Ectoparasite and endoparasite control was irregular. Previous therapy over the preceding 6 months included intermittent short courses of amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (7 days each); one week before presentation, another course of antibacterial therapy with Synulox at 12.5 mg/kg was initiated. Dermatological examination revealed multiple firm nodules ranging from 0.5 cm to 3 cm in diameter on the back and flanks; fluctuation was palpable in some nodules. Multiple fistulas with active purulent exudation were present, along with nodules measuring 0.3 to 2 cm on the abdomen and over the mammary gland region (fifth caudal package on the right and fourth on the left). Bacterial culture yielded methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus . Azithromycin at 11 mg/kg/day was prescribed. During antibiotic therapy, the nodules decreased in size but did not completely resolve. Histopathological examination confirmed locally extensive pyogranulomatous inflammation; special staining of tissue sections revealed no evidence of mycobacterial or fungal infection. Methylprednisolone at 1 mg/kg was initiated. On the second day of methylprednisolone treatment, the dog's condition improved markedly, with significant reduction in exudation, decrease in fistula diameter, and rapid regression of nodules. At the follow-up examination 10 days later, fistulous tracts were no longer present, and only two nodular lesions remained.

Discussion. The incidence of sterile panniculitis is quite rare. The diagnostic challenge is compounded by the fact that this diagnosis was not suspected at the initial presentation to the external clinic a frequently encountered scenario. This makes the present clinical case valuable not only for dermatologists but also for general practitioners and surgeons, who should consider it in the differential diagnosis (abscess, mammary neoplasia).

Conclusion. The presented clinical case demonstrates that sterile nodular panniculitis, being a rare condition, is often masked by more common pathologies in its early stages, leading to irrational antibiotic use and the development of secondary resistant infection. The key to successful diagnosis is a comprehensive approach, including cytological and histopathological examination with exclusion of infectious agents.

Introduction. Juvenile sterile granulomatous dermatitis and lymphadenitis (JSGDL), also known as juvenile cellulitis, is a rare but severe immune-mediated skin disease of puppies. Despite its characteristic clinical presentation, the disease poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Difficulties arise both at the early stages of differential diagnosis with angioneurotic edema, deep pyoderma, or demodicosis, and during the treatment process. High doses of glucocorticosteroids (GCS), which are the mainstay of therapy, do not always lead to rapid resolution of the process and carry the risk of secondary infections, while also raising the question of the safety of routine vaccination. The prolonged course of the disease and the formation of cosmetic defects, such as scars and skin hyperplasia, significantly reduce the patient's quality of life and necessitate the development of clear protocols for the management of such animals, which underscores the relevance of analyzing each clinical case. According to the literature, JSGDL affects puppies between 3 weeks and 4 months of age, with a predisposition in breeds such as the Golden Retriever, Dachshund, and English Cocker Spaniel. The etiology of the disease remains unknown, but a hereditary nature of immune dysfunction is suspected. Classic signs include acute facial edema followed by the formation of papules, pustules, and lymphadenopathy. The standard of treatment is immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone. However, current research points to the possibility of a protracted course, the development of resistance to GCS monotherapy, and the need for combination regimens, for example with cyclosporine, in complex cases. A number of authors emphasize the importance of cytological monitoring for the timely detection of secondary bacterial infection, as well as the need for a cautious approach to vaccination during immunosuppression, in accordance with WSAVA guidelines.

Case presentation. This report describes a clinical case with an atypically prolonged course lasting 13 weeks, which allowed us to demonstrate the limits of the effectiveness of standard prednisolone therapy and the stages of secondary infection acquisition. The practical significance lies in illustrating the need for regular cytological monitoring for timely therapy adjustment, as well as in discussing the complex choice of vaccination strategy in puppies receiving immunosuppressive therapy.

Discussion. The subject of the study was a 2-month-old male English Cocker Spaniel puppy at the time of initial presentation. The diagnosis was established comprehensively based on history and clinical findings: acute onset of the disease, the classic triad of symptoms (acute edema and erythema of the face, including the lips and eyelids), the presence of papulopustular eruptions, pronounced bilateral lymphadenopathy (submandibular and parotid lymph nodes), and concurrent otitis externa. The methods used included clinical examination, otoscopy, cytological analysis of skin and ear canal impression smears, as well as analysis of the patient's clinical dynamics during therapy.

Conclusion. The materials of this article can be used by practicing veterinarians to optimize the diagnostic and therapeutic process for this disease. When juvenile cellulitis is suspected, comprehensive diagnostics should be performed, including cytological examination of pustule contents and ear canal smears to rule out an infectious etiology and monitor for possible secondary infection at all stages of treatment. Immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone at a dose of 2 mg/kg should be initiated immediately upon diagnosis, as a delay in starting treatment may contribute to a protracted disease course. The GCS dose should be adjusted at each visit, taking into account the puppy's rapid weight gain. If no positive dynamics are observed within 2–4 weeks, or if relapse occurs, the addition of cyclosporine or a change of the GCS preparation should be considered. Systemic antibiotic therapy should be prescribed only when secondary infection is cytologically confirmed. To minimize scarring and skin hyperplasia, early and aggressive initiation of anti-inflammatory GCS therapy is critical. Regarding vaccination, it is recommended to follow WSAVA guidelines: vaccinate only after the patient's condition has stabilized or immunosuppressive therapy has been completely withdrawn, giving preference to inactivated vaccines and minimizing the patient's exposure to infection during the treatment period.