The Derm Vet Podcast

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Managing chronic allergies in dogs and cats can be one of the most frustrating challenges in veterinary medicine. From recurring ear infections and persistent itching to treatment compliance and unexpected flare-ups, why does veterinary dermatology have to be so complicated?

In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I break down the 4 C's of Veterinary Dermatology: Complexity, Compliance, Chronicity, and Control.

Learn why some allergy cases are more difficult to manage than others, how to improve pet owner compliance, and why a proactive, multimodal approach is essential for long-term success.

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Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:16 Itch Inquiry
05:06 The Four Cs, #1 - Complexity
07:54 #2 - Compliance
10:40 #3 - Chronic
13:13 #4 - Control
14:29 Recap
16:09 Solving Which "Force" Is Holding A Case Back
17:39 Outro 

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Are you getting the most out of your veterinary skin cytology samples? When it comes to diagnosing skin infections and managing dermatology cases, knowing where, when, and how to collect samples can make all the difference.

In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I share 5 practical tips to improve your skin cytology techniques, helping veterinarians collect better samples, identify infections more accurately, and make more informed treatment decisions.

From choosing the right sampling technique to identifying the most active areas of a skin lesion, I break down common mistakes that could be impacting your diagnostic results.

Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932
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Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:44 Itch Inquiry: Allergy vs. Allergy Mimics
03:05 Cytology: Sample Smarter, Not Harder
04:00 Tip 1: Match the Technique to the Lesion
06:01 Tip 2: Sample the Active Part of the Lesion
07:38 Tip 3: Don’t Forget the Folds
09:14 Tip 4: Sample Ears Before Cleaning or Medicating
10:16 Tip 5: Sample More Than One Site
11:22 Recap
13:08 Outro

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In this episode, I dig into why rechecks matter in veterinary dermatology: how I set expectations with owners from the first visit, what I look for at a recheck, the problems that slip through when owners skip them, and how I celebrate the “happy recheck” when things are going well. Plus, why “boring” is the best word in dermatology.

Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932
Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/
Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/ 

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro
01:00 Itch Inquiry: Acral Lick Granulomas
04:40 Why Rechecks Matter
05:18 The Recheck Is Part of the Treatment Plan
06:43 What We’re Actually Looking for at a Recheck
09:02 Pitfalls When Owners Skip Rechecks
10:06 Case Stories: When It’s Not Just Allergies
11:17 Catching Patterns, Compliance, and Itch Scores
15:00 The “Happy Recheck”
16:15 “Boring Is Great”
16:51 Outro

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What happens when a dermatology patient you've treated for years suddenly develops symptoms that don't quite add up? Is it another allergy flare, or could something entirely different be going on?

In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I share two fascinating clinical cases that highlight the importance of looking beyond a patient's history and reconsidering your diagnosis when something doesn't fit.

Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932
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Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:41 Itch Inquiry: Maintenance Ear Cleaning
05:20 Case 1: The Bulldog’s “Interdigital Furuncle”
06:46 The Exam
08:40 The Aspirate Reveals a Plasmacytoma
10:52 Why You Can’t Assume It’s the Same as Last Time
12:06 Case 2: Sam, the Allergic Lab
14:20 “Boring” Cytology
16:46 Taking a Fresh Lens
17:40 Outro

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What happens when a dog you've successfully managed for allergies suddenly starts developing new symptoms, recurrent pyoderma, or worsening pruritus? Is it truly a progression of atopic dermatitis, or could something else be going on?

In this episode of The Derm Vet, I explore the importance of reframing your diagnostic approach when chronic dermatology cases stop responding to previously successful treatments.

Building on last week's refractory allergy checklist, I share a practical framework to help veterinarians recognize when it's time to reconsider an existing diagnosis, investigate concurrent diseases, identify overlooked allergy flare factors, or adjust long-term treatment strategies.

Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932
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Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:24 Zoetis Ad
00:54 Working Mom Check In
02:27 Setting Up "The Allergy Reframe"
03:47 Itch Inquiry: Refractory Papilloma
07:10 Signs A Long-Managed Allergy Case Is Changing
09:26 Reframe #1
12:21 Reframe #2
14:19 Reframe #3
15:28 Reframe #4
17:18 Summary
19:25 Outro 

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What do you do when an itchy dog just isn’t responding to allergy treatment the way you expected?

In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I break down my refractory allergy checklist to help veterinary professionals reevaluate difficult allergy cases. From choosing the wrong medication or dose to poor compliance, concurrent disease, and even an incorrect diagnosis, I walk through the key questions to ask before labeling a patient as a treatment failure.

Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932
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Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:56 Itch Inquiry: Managing a 7-Month-Old Allergic Dog
03:43 Refractory Allergy Checklist
04:10 #1 The Wrong Drug
05:27 #2 Wrong Dose
06:24 #3 Too Short a Duration
07:44 #4 Wrong Expectations 
09:04 #5 Poor Compliance
10:13 #6 Concurrent Disease
12:00 #7 It's Not Allergies: Mimics & Lookalikes
14:10 Recap and Outro

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Lupus can show up in more ways than one in veterinary dermatology!

In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I break down three important lupus and lupoid diseases seen in dogs: discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), symmetrical lupoid onychodystrophy (SLO), and mucocutaneous lupus erythematosus (MCLE).

Learn the clinical signs that should put these autoimmune diseases on your differential list, from loss of the normal cobblestone appearance of the nasal planum to painful nail loss and persistent mucocutaneous ulcerations. I also discusses diagnosis, biopsy considerations, and treatment options, including the growing off-label use of JAK inhibitors in autoimmune skin disease.

Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932
Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/
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Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:44 Itch Inquiry: Off-Label JAK Inhibitors for Autoimmune Diseases
02:33 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Overview
03:15 Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE): Clinical Signs & Diagnosis
06:03 Treatment Strategies for DLE
07:28 Symmetrical Lupoid Onychodystrophy (SLO): Presentation & Diagnostics
09:03 Managing and Treating SLO
10:42 Mucocutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (MCLE)
12:11 Summary & Outro

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Is your allergic patient still itching despite treatment? They may be dealing with more than one allergy!

In this episode, I break down how to identify the multi-allergy veterinary patient and recognize the clues that suggest multiple underlying causes of pruritus. I discuss partial responses to allergy therapy, seasonal changes in itching, persistent problem areas, recurrent otitis, and why different lesions may respond differently to treatment.

Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932
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Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:43 Itch Inquiry: Managing Chronic Ear Inflammation & Steroid Therapy
04:19 Identifying the Multi-Allergy Patient
06:11 Clue 1: Partial Response to Allergy Therapy
07:16 Clue 2: Seasonally Fluctuating Pruritus
08:26 Clue 3: Persistent Itch in Specific Anatomical Regions
09:57 Clue 4: Recurrent Otitis vs. Improving Skin Disease
11:52 Clue 5: Variable Lesion Response Across Treatments
13:28 Recap
14:59 Outro

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French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, and other brachycephalic breeds are frequent flyers in veterinary dermatology but successfully managing their skin disease often requires looking beyond the obvious itch.

In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I break down some of the most common dermatologic problems seen in brachycephalic dogs, including skin fold dermatitis (intertrigo), pododermatitis, secondary infections, and underlying food and environmental allergies.

Learn why examining every facial, tail, and vulvar fold matters, how cytology can guide treatment, why topical therapy is so important for both treatment and long-term maintenance, and how to build an allergy workup that is realistic for both the patient and owner.

Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932
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Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:52 Itch Inquiry: Feline Ear Flushing and Horner's Syndrome Risk
04:05 Fold Dermatitis and Key Fold Locations
07:14 Cytology and Topical Therapies for Skin Fold Infections
09:58 Pododermatitis
12:48 Allergic Workups and Long-Term Inflammatory Options
16:15 Overview and Final Takeaways
18:03 Outro

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In veterinary dermatology, the right diagnosis often starts before the physical exam... it starts with the history!

In this episode of The Derm Vet, I break down how a thorough dermatologic history can help veterinary professionals build stronger differential lists, choose more targeted diagnostics, and develop more effective treatment plans.

Whether you're working through a new pruritic patient or reevaluating a case that isn't responding as expected, this episode highlights the historical clues you don't want to overlook!

Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932
Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/
Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:24 The Value of History Taking in Veterinary Dermatology
03:52 Itch Inquiry: Cyclosporine Use in Allergic Disease
06:00 Building Differentials, Diagnostic Plans, and Treatments
08:30 Core History Basics: Signalment, Seasonality, and Travel
12:15 Age of Onset Considerations
14:46 Analyzing Past Medication Responses
16:03 Identifying Systemic Signs and Underlying Internal Disease
17:59 Reevaluating History in Chronic Cases
20:05 Outro