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Feline dermatology be tricky and daunting. It is easy to skip over simple steps that can make a big difference in your allergic cat management. In this episode, we break down four of the most common missteps that in managing feline skin cases.

First, we tackle how to be ABSOLUTELY sure you have eliminated flea allergy dermatitis as a cause of pruritus. Next, we explore how cats express skin disease in unique ways that can be missed by owners and veterinarians such rodent ulcers.

We dive into inappropriate diagnosis of food allergies, explaining why true elimination diet trials are essential and often done incorrectly. Finally, we emphasize the importance of not skipping basic diagnostics like cytology and fungal testing—foundational steps that are sometimes overlooked in favor of quick treatments such as steroids.

Whether you’re a practicing veterinarian or a student, this episode can give you easy tips to implement in the clinic tomorrow for your itchy cat patients!

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
02:22 Fleas and Ectoparasites
06:33 Recognizing Unique Lesions
08:50 Overdiagnosing
10:58 Skipping Basic Diagnostics
13:23 Summary
15:48 Outro

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Remembering how to treat and prevent otitis in a complete manner can be difficult in a busy general practice. There are different acronyms to help, but everybody remembers things a bit differently.

This week's podcast goes over a new acronym to make acute and chronic otitis management a bit easier.

E: etiology (what infection is present)
A: appearance (what does the debris look like and where is it)
R: Reason (what is the primary cause)
S: Support (how do we manage this long-term)

EARS to help ears. Let me know your thoughts on this week's episode!

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:05 EARS
01:27 Etiology
03:11 Appearance 
04:38 Reason
06:22 Support
08:14 Summary
09:22 Outro

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Really red, inflamed and itchy cases can be tough to differentiate. Could it be allergies? Maybe something else like an autoimmune disease has popped up...

On this week's episode of The Derm Vet podcast, we discuss five RED FLAGS that you should have an autoimmune disease on your differential list.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
02:14 Red Flag #1: Mucous Membranes
03:40 Red Flag #2: Crusting with No Infection
06:12 Red Flag #3: Weird Types of Lesions
08:58 Red Flag #4: Systemic Signs
10:50 Red Flag #5: Weird Distribution
13:51 Summary
14:55 Outro

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Allison Inga, DVM, DACVD is back on the podcast! In this week's episode, we review the systemic antimicrobial recommendations from the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID) and what they mean for veterinarians treating superficial or deep pyoderma.

We highlight when systemic antibiotics are truly indicated, first-line drug selection, along with more resitant infections that may require second- or third-line antibiotic treatment. The discussion also reinforces antimicrobial stewardship principles, including avoiding unnecessary use of critically important antibiotics.

A focused update designed to help veterinarians and staff members to apply ISCAID guidance confidently and responsibly in everyday clinical cases.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro
01:35 – When To Use Systemic Therapy
02:32 – Topical Therapy 2-Week Period
03:35 – Different Types of Pyoderma
07:18 – First Choice Drugs
10:20 – Go-To Drug Choice
11:50 – Wiggle Room When Prescribing
14:03 – Second Choice Drugs
16:57 – Where To Dose
18:54 – Usage in Dogs
19:37 – Other Second Choice Considerations
23:09 – Usage Experience with Rifampin
25:52 – Systematic Use of Amikacin
28:03 – Chloramphenicol Use in Patients
31:08 – When To Limit Use
32:46 – Other Considerations
34:08 – Outro

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In this week's podcast episode, I get to interview Allison Inga, DVM, DACVD who practices at Animal Dermatology Clinic in Robbinsville, NJ. We take a practical, clinician-focused look at the latest guidelines from the International Society of for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID) on the use of topical therapy in managing bacterial skin infections.

Topical therapy is no longer just an adjunct — it’s a central component of antimicrobial stewardship in dermatology. We review how the ISCAID guidelines support cytology-driven diagnosis, when topical therapy can be used as sole treatment, and how it helps reduce systemic antibiotic use in cases of superficial pyoderma and Malassezia dermatitis. 

00:00 – Intro
01:25 – Dr. Inga 
03:50 – Advantages of Topical Therapy in Pyoderma Cases
05:40 – Evidence of Using Chlorhexidine Percentages
08:22 – Factors to Consider In Chlorhexidine Cases
09:30 – Other Topical Anti-Septics to Consider
10:44 – Diluting Bleach 
13:50 – Addressing Concerns Around Bleach
15:00 – Topical Antibiotic Use
17:26 – Efficacy of Topical Therapy
21:20 – Simple Things That Yield Good Results
23:10 – Concurrent Use
26:10 – Outro

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This is the last installment in our series of DERM DRUGS. Monoclonal antibodies are becoming an important tool in veterinary dermatology — but what are they, and how do they actually work?

In this episode, we break down monoclonal antibody therapy in practical terms. We explain how these targeted treatments are designed to recognize and block specific molecules in the immune system, helping reduce itch in allergic dogs without broadly suppressing immunity.

We discuss commonly used products like Cytopoint which targets IL-31, a key cytokine involved in pruritus. We also introduce the announcement of an upcoming (not yet released) product called Befrena, another monoclonal antibody therapy, and what we know about this therapy today.

00:00 – Intro
02:07 – What is a Monoclonal Antibody
03:18 – Cytopoint Basics
05:35 – Potential Side-Effects
06:33 – Befrena Basics
08:44 – Overview
09:22 – Outro

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Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors have become a cornerstone in managing pruritic and allergic skin disease in dogs by targeting the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, which transmits itch and inflammatory cytokine signals. With so many medications hitting the market, it is important to understand the differences between all of the different JAK inhibitors in veterinary medicine.

Apoquel (oclacitinib) has been in the veterinary field the longest with over a decade of use. However, Zenrelia (ilunocitinib) has been available in many countries for over a year. Additionally, Numelvi (atinvicitinib) has recently become available in Europe and will hit the market in the United States very soon (with others to follow). 

Learn about the differences in these medications and why it is important to become comfortable with all of them on this week's episode of The Derm Vet podcast.

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:35 JAK Inhibitor Basics
02:35 What are JAK Receptors
03:31 Apoquel and Zenrelia 
05:20 Numelvi 
07:57 How To Tell If a Pet Is Atopic 
09:12 Are JAK Inhibitors Safe with Neoplasia
11:32 What Does JAK Selectivity Mean 
13:47 Common Side-Effects of JAK Inhibitors 
17:01 Using JAK Inhibitors Off-Label
18:51 Outro

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In veterinary dermatology, gram-negative rods like Pseudomonas, E. coli, Proteus, etc. can develop in chronic or deep skin infections. When systemic therapy is needed, culture and sensitivity are essential. But what are some of the more common antibiotics that are effective against these nasty bugs?

Common options include fluoroquinolones, potentiated penicillins, later-generation cephalosporins, etc. These organisms are frequently multidrug-resistant so appropriate diagnostics and re-evaluation is crucial.

Learn more as we continue our current series on DERM DRUGS on this week's podcast!

00:00 – Intro
01:36 – General Things to Keep in Mind
03:49 – The Importance of Topical Therapy
05:31 – Systemic Therapy Options
06:38 – Antibiotic Choices
10:35 – Last Resort Antibiotics
12:44 – Overview
13:39 – Outro

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When a senior dog walks in with multiple lumps and bumps, the big question becomes: which ones actually need a needle? And how do we make those decisions when time, finances, and patient comfort all matter?

In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I take a break from the Derm Drugs series to dive into an exciting new diagnostic technology... VISTA iQ. This conversation features Dr. Liron Levy-Hirsch (managing director for HT VET), who breaks down exactly what VISTA iQ is, how it works, and why it may be a game-changer for evaluating multiple masses in dogs.

Timestamps
02:29 What Does Vista IQ Do?
04:03 Why Was This Tech Needed?
06:07 The Basics of HT Vista
08:17 The Practical Applications
10:46 How the Science Works
11:56 Process Efficiency
13:15 Limitations of the Vista IQ
15:21 How It Fits With Existing Tools
16:28 Final Thoughts
18:37 Outro

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Continuing our DERM DRUG series... we are discussing one of the most common class of drugs asked about: antibiotics! Specifically, those used for staphyloccal pyoderma since it is seen almost every day in general practice.

A majority of this discussion was developed from the newly updated ISCAID (International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases). These guidelines were updated in 2025 and are open access to the public. You can find them at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/vde.13342.

These guidelines cover duration of treatment, topical therapy and different tiers of systemic antibiotics. Which antibiotics can you feel more comfortable using empirically? Find out on this week's episode of The Derm Vet podcast!

00:00 – Intro
02:12 – Important Precursors
05:37 – First Choice Drugs
08:50 – Second Choice Drugs
14:39 – Reserved Microbial Drugs
21:21 – Overview
23:47 – Outro

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Welcome to our first podcast series of the year: DERM DRUGS! We will spend the next few weeks jumping into different categories of medication and provide real world application of when and how we reach for these medications.

Our first installment in this series are anti-yeast medications. How do you know when to reach for systemic anti-yeast drugs? Which one should you pick? How long should you treat and when do you recheck?

We address all of these questions and more on this week's episode of The Derm Vet podcast!

00:00 – Intro
02:53 – Azoles
07:26 – Which Anti-Fungal to Choose
12:27 – Azole Side Effects
13:34 – Length of Treatment
14:26 – Pulse Dosing
18:45 – Overview