318. 4 Costly Mistakes in Cat Dermatology (and How to Avoid Them)

Send me a derm question or story!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!Timestamps00:00 Intro02:22 Fleas and Ectoparasites06:33 Recognizing Unique Lesions08:50 Overdiagnosing10:58 Skipping Basic Diagnostics13:23 Summary15:48 Outro

Send me a derm question or story!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!Timestamps00:00 Intro01:05 EARS01:27 Etiology03:11 Appearance 04:38 Reason06:22 Support08:14 Summary09:22 Outro

Send me a derm question or story!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.Timestamps00:00 Intro02:14 Red Flag #1: Mucous Membranes03:40 Red Flag #2: Crusting with No Infection06:12 Red Flag #3: Weird Types of Lesions08:58 Red Flag #4: Systemic Signs10:50 Red Flag #5: Weird Distribution13:51 Summary14:55 Outro

Send me a derm question or story!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.Timestamps00:00 – Intro01:35 – When To Use Systemic Therapy02:32 – Topical Therapy 2-Week Period03:35 – Different Types of Pyoderma07:18 – First Choice Drugs10:20 – Go-To Drug Choice11:50 – Wiggle Room When Prescribing14:03 – Second Choice Drugs16:57 – Where To Dose18:54 – Usage in Dogs19:37 – Other Second Choice Considerations23:09 – Usage Experience with Rifampin25:52 – Systematic Use of Amikacin28:03 – Chloramphenicol Use in Patients31:08 – When To Limit Use32:46 – Other Considerations34:08 – Outro

Send me a derm question or story!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 – Intro01:25 – Dr. Inga 03:50 – Advantages of Topical Therapy in Pyoderma Cases05:40 – Evidence of Using Chlorhexidine Percentages08:22 – Factors to Consider In Chlorhexidine Cases09:30 – Other Topical Anti-Septics to Consider10:44 – Diluting Bleach 13:50 – Addressing Concerns Around Bleach15:00 – Topical Antibiotic Use17:26 – Efficacy of Topical Therapy21:20 – Simple Things That Yield Good Results23:10 – Concurrent Use26:10 – Outro

Send me a derm question or story!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 – Intro02:07 – What is a Monoclonal Antibody03:18 – Cytopoint Basics05:35 – Potential Side-Effects06:33 – Befrena Basics08:44 – Overview09:22 – Outro

Send me a derm question or story!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.Timestamps00:00 Intro01:35 JAK Inhibitor Basics02:35 What are JAK Receptors03:31 Apoquel and Zenrelia 05:20 Numelvi 07:57 How To Tell If a Pet Is Atopic 09:12 Are JAK Inhibitors Safe with Neoplasia11:32 What Does JAK Selectivity Mean 13:47 Common Side-Effects of JAK Inhibitors 17:01 Using JAK Inhibitors Off-Label18:51 Outro

Send me a derm question or story!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 – Intro01:36 – General Things to Keep in Mind03:49 – The Importance of Topical Therapy05:31 – Systemic Therapy Options06:38 – Antibiotic Choices10:35 – Last Resort Antibiotics12:44 – Overview13:39 – Outro

Send me a derm question or story!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.Timestamps02:29 What Does Vista IQ Do?04:03 Why Was This Tech Needed?06:07 The Basics of HT Vista08:17 The Practical Applications10:46 How the Science Works11:56 Process Efficiency13:15 Limitations of the Vista IQ15:21 How It Fits With Existing Tools16:28 Final Thoughts18:37 Outro

Send me a derm question or story!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 – Intro02:12 – Important Precursors05:37 – First Choice Drugs08:50 – Second Choice Drugs14:39 – Reserved Microbial Drugs21:21 – Overview23:47 – Outro