The vasculature of the skin plays a vital role in ensuring various homeostatic mechanisms function as normal, but when disease strikes, the effects can be dramatic. Elizabeth Goodale takes an analytical look at what can go wrong.

Identifying a suitable diet for pets with adverse food reaction can be less than straightforward and pitfalls await the unwary; here Jérôme Naar and Isabelle Lesponne outline how Royal Canin ensure their Anallergenic diets are free from unwanted proteins.

For many vets, common challenges when conducting elimination diet trials include client compliance, practicality and interpretive value, but Vandre Clear offers some pointers to help make the trial meaningful, user-friendly and successful.

Common diseases are seen commonly – but we must not forget that rare diseases can occur too. Here Patricia White describes some of the systemic diseases that can present with dermatologic signs, and offers some pointers for a diagnostic approach.

Both cutaneous and visceral forms of leishmaniasis can occur in regions of the world where the insect vector is endemic; this paper reviews the dermatological forms of the disease, with a focus on clinical signs and potential treatment options.

Successful management of atopic dermatitis often requires sustained therapy to prevent recurrence of the clinical signs and to minimize long-term changes to the skin; this paper offers a brief overview of the current options available.

Most of us do not see pemphigus foliaceus on a daily basis in our feline patients, but we need to know about it; this disease is a challenge in terms of its diagnosis and treatment, and relapse is not uncommon, as the authors explain.

Dogs with sore feet may at first sight be mundane and easy to treat, but pitfalls await the unwary; Rosanna Marsella takes a personal look at what can be a remarkably complex clinical disorder and gives some useful tips for diagnosis and treatment