sebaceous adenitis testing

[negrilbaby]

Can anyone talk me through what this testing entails for the dog?
Thanks in advance.

Bump - anyone?

I'd imagine it's a skin scrape...but I'm only guessing.

It is a skin punch, this information was taken from Standard Poodle website. I know dogs who've had this done, it was more stressful for the owner than the dog as is often the case!

TECHNIQUE

Firstly the sites are selected. For assessment of apparently normal dogs for Sebaceous Adenitis, two sites are selected on the dorsal midline, one on the neck or shoulders, one from the mid back or rump. Using similar sites in all dogs allow subtle changes to be identified. These sites are selected for ease of access and because they are usually well endowed with sebaceous glands.
If the dog is in full coat, the hairs are parted over the side with grooming bands. The sites are then marked with a board marker pen. Then 0.5 -2ml of local anaesthetic is injected sub-cutaneously under the biopsy site. (This is similar to the volume given in an annual vaccination)

After two or three minutes the skin is tested for effective anaesthesia, and the punch is applied to the skin surface. This is then rotated whilst pushing firmly. It is important to press until the punch has entered the full depth of skin. This takes only a few seconds. The punch is then removed and the sample lifted from the site using a fine needle(25g) -the one used for the local will do. Any attached fat is then snipped and the sample placed in formalin for shipping to the laboratory.

One suture is placed across the biopsy site. (A different colour to that of the dog's coat is wise!)
The process is quick and simple with sedation rarely being necessary.
Bleeding from the site is unusual, and a few moments pressure with damped cotton wool is usually enough to stop this.
David H. Scarff MRCVS

Thanks Shouldigetascooter, that's helpful.