Animal Health and Infectious Diseases

Animal Health and Infectious Diseases

Histopathological examination and treatment of skin-mucosal lesions in dogs and cats referred to the specialized Urmia University veterinary hospital in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Alaleh Rakhshanpour 1
Sayyed Jafar Hasani 2
Ali-Asghar Tehrani 3
Mohammad Amin Bakhshan 4
Mehdi Behfar 5
1 1Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
2 Department of Basic Medical Sciences, khoy University of Medical Sciences, khoy, Iran. Cellular and Molecular Medicine Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
3 Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
4 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
5 Department of Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
10.22034/jahid.2026.2092339.1074
Abstract
Abstract
Background and Aim: Skin and mucosal disorders are major concerns for pet owners, especially considering their negative effects on the lives of these animals. This descriptive observational study investigated the frequency and clinicopathological attributes of dermatological and mucosal lesions among feline and canine patients admitted to Urmia University Veterinary Hospital in Iran, along with their diagnostic assessments, medical interventions, and prognoses.
Materials and Methods: Over 640 dogs and cats were examined, with 83 identified as having skin-mucosal lesions. These lesions were categorized based on the cause.
Results and Conclusion: Traumatic wounds were the most frequent (68.67%), followed by ectoparasitic lesions (9.64%), fungal (9.64%), bacterial (4.82%), immune-mediated and sterile inflammatory (4.82%), and neoplastic (2.41%). Notably, the study identified the first case of bullous pemphigoid in Iranian cats. Among dog breeds, mixed breeds were most affected (31.11%), followed by Iraqi dogs (24.44%).
Similarly, Domestic Shorthair cats represented the largest proportion of affected cats (71.05%), followed by Persian cats (23.68%). Male dogs and cats accounted for 64.44% and 65.79% of the affected animals in each species, respectively. Cats younger than 3 years accounted for approximately 89% of the affected cats, whereas dogs younger than 1 year represented 40% of the affected dogs.
Skin-mucosal lesions, identified based on their type, were often treated with anti-inflammatory, antifungal, anti-parasitic, and other drugs. In the dog with tonsillar SCC, definitive oncologic treatment was declined by the owner, and the tumor subsequently progressed. This study highlights the diverse causes of skin and mucosal disorders in pets. It emphasizes the importance of histopathological examination for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, ultimately improving animal health outcomes.
Keywords
Mucosa
Pathology
Pets
Skin
Treatment
Subjects
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Animal Health and Infectious Diseases
Volume 2, Issue 2 - Serial Number 3
December 2025
Pages 51-62