For Referring Veterinarians

I was recently referred an adult Samoyed that presented to us for her hair falling out. She was not itching or scratching more than what the owner felt was normal. The extent of hair loss and ease of epilation of the hair coat was striking. The hair literally fell out in my hands when touched. The skin was smooth to mildly scaling, and moderately erythematous (red). The pet owner was not affected, and none…

Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a common pruritic skin disease affecting dogs worldwide. It likely affects 10-15% of dogs. In regions where fleas are not a problem, CAD is the most common canine allergic skin disease. Clinical signs are first noted between 6 months and 3 years of age. Several breeds are over represented including the Boston terrier, Boxer, Cairn terrier, West Highland White terrier, Scottish Terrier, Fox terrier, Yorkshire terrier, Chinese shar-pei, Cocker spaniel, English…

As veterinarians, we always fine tune skills and hone strategies to enhance our day-to-day practice. A significant percentage of the primary care case load involves a complaint of the skin, ears, or hair coat. Here are some veterinarian tips from a BOARD CERTIFIED VETERINARY DERMATOLOGIST®. 1. Dermatologic History Obtaining a detailed history is the most crucial part of a visit intended to address a skin or ear problem. Use of a standard form will increase…