Skin Scraping Test in Dogs

• 

A skin scraping test might sound like an alarming thing when your vet tells you your dog needs one. However, it's actually non-invasive, usually painless, and can give the vet quite a bit of information when your dog has a skin problem.

What Is a Skin Scraping?

A skin scraping is when a veterinarian uses the edge of a scalpel blade to gently rub off a layer of cells on the part of your dog's skin that shows signs of an abnormal condition. Those cells are then smeared on a microscope slide, prepared with mineral oil, and examined to help diagnose the problem.

Generally, the skin is scraped until a small amount of oozing is noted. The area doesn't usually require any aftercare, though some veterinarians will clean it and apply a topical antibiotic.

What Canine Skin Conditions Might Be Diagnosed with a Skin Scraping?

A skin scraping can help diagnose the following conditions in dogs:

• Mites, including scabies and Demodex.
• Ringworm.
• Bacterial or yeast infections.
• Some types of skin cancer.

Scabies and Demodex mites can be directly identified on a skin scraping.

Bacterial and yeast infections may be diagnosed this way or by skin cytology, which is a test in which a swab is run firmly over the skin and then over a microscope slide.

Ringworm can sometimes be diagnosed with a skin scraping but might require a fungal culture, which is done by placing a sample of fur and skin on a special petri dish and growing it for several days to a week.

You May Also Like These Articles:

Fine Needle Aspiration: What Is It and What Does It Tell Your Vet?

Common Blood Tests Done on Dogs

Skin Cytology Test in Dogs

Culture and Sensitivity Skin Test in Dogs

Ear Mites in Dogs

Ringworm in Dogs

Ear Cytology Test in Dogs

Keep These Things in Mind When Baking Homemade Dog Treats