Itch and inflammation are terms that are often used in allergies. However, it is important to consider how the various allergy medications affect each of these aspects of management. There are so many different presentations of allergies and no one-size-fits-all protocol. Knowing when you may need a drug more anti-inflammatory and not just anti-itch is important! Between Cytopoint, Apoquel, Zenrelia, cyclosporine and steroids... do you feel confident on when to select which medication?

Check out some helpful hints on this week's episode of The Derm Vet podcast!

00:00 Intro
00:25 Itch vs Inflammation
03:36 Cytopoint
05:24 Apoquel and Zenrelia
07:14 Cyclosporine
08:59 Steroids
12:32 Summary

She's back! Based on the success of grab bag episodes... Dr. Julia Miller is back to discuss canine atopic dermatitis! It is one of the most common diseases managed in veterinary dermatology. 

When do you pick a particular allergy medication?

Are there allergy supplements that really work?

What about ear maintenance?

We answer the questions you submitted on this week's episode of The Derm Vet podcast!

We asked, you answered! Food allergy can be complicated and there so many different opinions out there. So, I invited fellow dermatologist and frequent guest on the podcast Dr. Julia Miller to discuss! Dr. Miller is a boarded dermatologist practicing in Louisville, KY. Listen as we take a practical approach regarding when to do a diet trial, what diet to use and how to work WITH (rather than AGAINST) your clients when working up a food allergy on this week's episode of The Derm Vet podcast!

00:00 Intro
01:41 What food do you start with for food allergies?
05:01 Considerations between a young dog vs older dog 
07:11 Concerns about corn allergies?
12:04 Preventatives
16:16 Length of time for diet trials?
19:28 Deciphering between both food and environmental allergies
26:33 Diet Challenges
29:51 Outro

Cutaneous Malassezia (yeast) hypersensitivity shows up as a marked inflammatory and pruritic response to relatively low numbers of yeast organisms, though some dogs may also have overt infection with many yeast organisms on cytology.
There is no specific criteria of how to diagnose these dogs and maintain treatment. However, there are hints of how you can look at the clinical signs and history to heighten your suspicion.

Find out more on this week's episode of The Derm Vet podcast!

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro
00:25 Yeast Hypersensitivity
05:12 When to call a dog hypersensitive to yeast
07:15 Encouraging people to allergy test
08:41 How is my underlying control?
11:21 Symptoms
13:09 Outro 

Allergy management is a long-term game. So, how do clinicians educate clients and use their tools to practice a "proactive" approach rather than a "reactive" approach?

Check out this week's episode of The Derm Vet podcast to alter how you manage these itchy pets!

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro
01:54 What's a proactive mindset?
06:44 Supplements with good research
08:42 Immunotherapy
12:43 The Flare Prep
14:46 Summary

It can be difficult to differentiate pemphigus foliaceus (PF) in certain cases. If there is a lot of infection or inflammation, it can be difficult to tell if the case is autoimmune or allergic. However, there are a few hints between dogs and cats that can give you an indication you are dealing with PF.

In dogs, honey colored adherent crusting, facial lesions, nasal planum involvement and crust paw pads can occur with PF. In cats, purulent debris at the claw folds, crusting/erythema around the nipples and crusting/erythema to the pinna can be hints of PF.

As always, check cytology and look for neutrophilic inflammation without infection and/or acantholytic keratinocytes (prematurely lifted skin cells). Learn more details on this week's episode of The Derm Vet podcast!

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
01:53 Dogs and Pemphigus
04:29 Oral Mucosa
06:00 Cats and Pemphigus
09:53 Cytology and Pemphigus 
12:53 Summary

When we talk about the multimodal approach to allergy management, a large portion of that is repairing the skin barrier. As the skin is the largest organ in the body and external, it is important to keep it healthy and hydrated. Pets with atopy have genetic defects in their skin that allow allergens to penetrate easily.

But, how can you restore the skin barrier? Learn about three different ways on this week's episode of The Derm Vet podcast! 

1. Topicals
2. Nutrition
3. Supplements

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
03:13 Topicals
08:41 Topicals That Are Good For Restoring The Skin Barrier
11:53 Nutrition
14:13 Supplements
16:33 Summary

It is the dreaded conversation in the exam room... when the owner brings up what they heard from a friend, the internet, a social media group, etc. You have to control the eye roll or being super defensive because you want to the the only trusted source for medical decisions for the pet.

Over the years, this topic has not scared me in the exam room anymore. I have learned to be curious (might as well know what information is out there) and empathize with the owner with how many sources are out there.

Four steps I use in this scenario: Be open, recognize intent, validate and educate. I hope you find this episode of The Derm Vet podcast helpful!

This week's episode is a replay! We ran into some technical difficulties with a guest episode that was scheduled for this week (super excited about this guest) and will release at a later date. Stay tuned!

So... you have ruled out flea and food allergy and now it is time for THE talk. The chronic, lifelong, multimodal therapy required atopic dermatitis talk? For such a common disease, how come this spiel can be so difficult? 

Check out this week's episode of The Derm Vet podcast for tips and tricks!

TIMESTAMPS
Intro 00:00
Explaining Feline Atopic Skin Syndrome To Pet Owners 00:56
The Reasoning For Atopic Dermatitis In Pets 05:04
Explaining Multimodal Therapy To Pet Owners 11:08
Outro 14:02

We have all had those super difficult otitis cases... the debris, infection and discomfort never seem to fully respond to treatment. You keep switching topicals but nothing seems to be working. 

This episode of The Derm Vet podcast will go over four considerations when managing a nonresponsive otitis case. 

1. Infection
2. Inflammation
3. Advanced imaging 
4. Surgical intervention

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
01:50 Where is our infection control sitting
04:50 Inflammation
08:11 Do we need other diagnostics?
10:47 Surgical intervention 
13:00 Summary