Wait, Pets Need Dermatologists Too?
As your primary care veterinarians, we often have a lot of first-line tools and therapies to manage conditions that affect the skin, from allergies and ear infections to lumps and bumps, common types of skin infections, and metabolic conditions (like thyroid disease).
When these conditions are chronic, such as allergies and metabolic conditions, they can be super arduous for veterinarian, pet owner, and pet alike to manage. Nothing saddens me more than when a pet owner comes in and says their pet has been up all night itching, and in their distress, waking everyone else up!
One Thing Leads to Another
Allergies, in particular, can be very complex to control. Not only are there several different types (flea bite sensitivity, seasonal or environmental allergy, food allergies, etc.), but the allergies can also cause secondary problems, like ear or skin infections.
We typically recommend testing for and treating all secondary infections and treating the underlying allergy at the same time to get things under control. (Pro tip: Make sure you keep your pet on a monthly, year-round flea prevention, even if you don’t see any signs of fleas! It just takes one flea bite to send an immune system into a frenzy).
If you don’t control the underlying allergy, you will have difficulty resolving those secondary skin and ear infections, and they will be more persistent and recurrent. Allergies are a pain!
And if this weren’t complex enough, now throw in the factor of time and chronicity in trying to manage allergies, and things can get hard to manage really quickly.
Call in the Specialist
Here comes the good part. We have another tool! When we have tried these first-line workups and treatments and are still having trouble controlling itchiness or infections, we will often suggest seeing a specialist for all things skin, ears, and nails: a veterinary dermatologist.
Yes, pets have (and need!) dermatologists too. And guess what? You now have access to a veterinary dermatologist on site at the primary care clinic you know and love. No extra travelling to a new clinic required!
Dr. Clarissa Souza is one of the amazing veterinary dermatologists at the College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. She sees patients at the Medical District Veterinary Clinic on a part-time schedule. And, just like having our cardiologists on site, having specialty dermatology expertise at our fingertips has really elevated the level of care we are able to provide for your pets.
As your primary veterinarians, we have your (and your pet’s) back for all your primary care needs. But when we get those chronic, complex cases and are feeling stuck, now we can get specialty-led answers sooner and pet comfort faster. We love directly collaborating with our specialists to advance the health of our patients. If you have a pet that has unusual lumps or bumps or has chronic skin, nail, or ear issues that have been hard to control, ask your primary care veterinarian if it is worth a trip to see Dr. Souza. (I bet it will be!)
— Amanda Hampton, DVM (she/her/hers)