Investigation of skin diseases in non- domestic animals.

ABSTRACT

The skin is a readily accessible organ and dermatological disorders are commonly seen in a wide variety of species. In order to investigate skin diseases of non-domestic animals, the veterinarian must have some understanding of their varied biology and natural history. Sample- taking may require anaesthesia and techniques must be appropriate to the type of lesion and the species in question. Processing of samples is usually carried out in a similar way to those from domestic animals. Interpretation of the findings need caution. The establishment of databases will help in the progression of comparative dermatology in the West Indies and elsewhere.