Historical stages of development of veterinary dermatology defined as the European period of 1900-1950 and American period of 1950-70 are discussed. Stages of knowledge acquisition in dermatology are considered, starting from 1808 when Robert Willan, the founder of dermatology as a medical speciality in Great Britain, described the meaning of dermatological terms. Stages of and techniques used in morphological, aetiological, anatomo-clinical, molecular, genetic and therapeutic dermatology are outlined. Clinical physiognomy and frequency of dermatoses, and evolution of clinical forms of dermatoses in cats, dogs and other pets, the effect of climate warming, influence of breeding on feline dermatology and pathogenic power of viruses are discussed.