Sebaceous Adenitis Examination Procedures

The minimum age for registration in the OFA SA database is 12 months.

The attending veterinarian examines the dog for clinical symptoms of the disease and notes any findings on the application form. A minimum of two 6mm punch biopsy samples are taken from the skin of the dog's neck between the top of the head and the withers. If there are areas of scaling and hair loss, samples should be taken from those areas.

To procure the sample, a local anesthetic such as lidocaine may be used. The area should not be scrubbed or otherwise cleaned, however gentle clipping of the area may be necessary. The specimen should be placed in a crush proof container containing formalin in preparation for shipment to the lab.

In preparing the dog, keep the hair coat clean, groom gently, and use good flea control practices.  Flea bites and other irritations form matted hair coats or vigorous grooming can cause mild inflammation and result in equivocal test results.

To avoid unlikely possibility of irritation from shampooing or topical flea control, do not shampoo the dog 2 weeks prior to the SA biopsy sampling, and make sure the biopsy samples are taken a minimum of 3 inches away from topical flea control product application sites.

The sample, the completed OFA application, and both the lab fee and OFA fee are shipped to any of the approved dermapathology labs for evaluation (see list below).  Owners and veterinarians procuring the sample are urged to contact the lab prior to shipping for current fees and any special lab specific instructions. The lab results are classified as either:

• Normal - No evidence Of Sebaceous Adenitis at the time of the evaluation
• Affected
• Subclinically Affected – the dog has normal skin and hair coat, but has biopsy evidence of SA
• Equivocal - some inflammation is present, but the cause cannot be determined – retesting recommended in 3 to 6 months

The lab results and final diagnosis are returned to the OFA and to the owner.

** Please call the lab for current fee schedule and for lab specific instructions **

Approved Dermapathologists/Laboratories

Note: Dr. Robert Dunstan is no longer accepting SA samples

Ann M. Hargis, DVM, DACVP
DermatoDiagnostics
207 North Harkness St.
PO Box 770
Everson, WA 98247
(425) 775-6903
Fee: $40 until 12/31/07, then $60

Maron B. Calderwood Mays, VMD, PhD, Diplomate ACVP
Florida Vet Path, Inc.
506 N. West Street
Bushnell, FL 33513
Ph: 888/669-9693
Fax: 352/569-9292
Fee: $40 until 12/31/07, then $60

Brian Wilcock, DVM, PhD
21 Vardon Dr.
Guelph, ONT N1G 1W8
Canada
(800) 853-7284
wilcock@histovet.com

Yager-Best
Vita-Tech
1345 Denison Street
Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R 5V2
(416) 798-4988
(800) 667-3411 (North America Toll Free)
FAX: (905) 475-7309
www.vita-tech.com

Mark Carrigan, DVM, Diplomate ACVP
IDEXX-Brisbane
3 Overend St.
East Brisbane 4169
AUSTRALIA
07-3391-8500, FAX 07-3891-0702
mark-carrigan@idexx.com
Call for fee

Grant Maxie, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Animal Health Laboratory
University of Guelph
PO Box 3612
Guelph, ONT N1H 6R8
CANADA
(519) 824-4120 x54544, FAX (519) 821-8072
Email:  gmaxie@lsd.uoguelph.ca
Website:  http://ahl.uoguelph.ca

Clay Hodgin DVM, PhD, DACVP
PATHodgin Veterinary Dermatopathology Service
1710 May St, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
(225)802-3388, FAX (225)590-3841
Email: pathodgin@cox.net
Fee: $60

Dr Stephen Yeomans
BSc(Vet)(Hons) BVSc MVSc MACVSc Diplomate ACVP, Specialist Veterinary Pathologist
Gribbles Veterinary
33 Flemington Street
Glenside SA 5065
Australia
Tel: +61 8 8202 3301
Fax: +61 8 8338 3800

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