Skin biopsies in dogs and cats – when and how to take them

Direct access makes the skin a very easy tissue to biopsy but it is important to consider which lesions should be sampled and to avoid areas of recent or chronic self-trauma as this may affect histopathological interpretation. The type of skin biopsy submitted (e.g. fine needle aspirate, punch, elliptical, wedge or fully resected) is also important as this will dramatically affect the diagnostic information the pathologist can provide.

This article discusses the different indications for these techniques, the use of sedation and local anaesthesia versus general anaesthesia and optimal methods of harvesting, fixing and transporting skin biopsy samples.