340. Feline Crusty Paw Pads: Building a Differential Diagnosis

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail!Crusty, irritated, or abnormal paw pads in cats can point to much more than a simple skin problem. In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I break down the differential diagnoses behind feline crusty paw pads, including plasma cell pododermatitis, autoimmune disease, allergies, eosinophilic granulomas, contact dermatitis, infections, trauma, cutaneous horns, and even neoplasia.Plus, this week’s Itch Inquiry features a medication-averse German Shepherd and a discussion about the limitations of monoclonal antibody therapy!Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/Timestamps00:00 Intro00:24 Itch Inquiry: Case Study of a Med-Averse German Shepherd05:20 Limitations of Monoclonal Antibodies07:00 Feline Crust Paw Pads07:44 Plasma Cell Pododermatitis10:58 Autoimmune Causes12:22 Allergic Conditions, Eosinophilic Granulomas, and Contact Dermatitis13:52 Infectious, Viral, Fungal, and Traumatic/Burn Causes16:02 Cutaneous Horns, Neoplasia, Lung-Digit Syndrome, and Diagnostic Workup19:02 Outro

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail!Crusty paw pads may seem like a straightforward dermatologic finding... but they can point to everything from simple hyperkeratosis to autoimmune, metabolic, infectious, and even systemic disease!In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I break down my diagnostic approach to canine paw pad disease and the major differentials veterinarians should keep on their radar. I cover hyperkeratosis, pemphigus foliaceus, erythema multiforme, vasculitis, hepatocutaneous syndrome, zinc-responsive dermatosis, canine distemper, infections, trauma, and more. Plus, learn why lesion distribution, breed, systemic signs, and (most importantly) biopsy can be critical for reaching the right diagnosis!Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/Timestamps00:00 Intro00:24 Itch Inquiry: Feline Inflammatory Ear Polyps04:46 Canine Paw Pad Disease05:17 Primary Hyperkeratosis & Weight-Bearing Patterns07:31 Autoimmune Paw Pad Diseases09:58 Metabolic Causes12:47 Infectious, Traumatic, & Viral Causes14:25 Outro 

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail!Allergy cases are rarely straightforward... and explaining the diagnostic process to pet owners can be just as challenging as managing the itch.In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I break down a practical approach to talking with clients about allergic skin disease in dogs and cats. From ectoparasites and food allergies to environmental allergies, learn how to organize the conversation so owners understand not only what you're recommending, but why it matters.Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/Timestamps00:00 Intro00:24 Zoetis Ad02:13 Itch Inquiry: Convincing Owners on Symptomatic Meds06:08 Category 1: Ectoparasite Control09:05 Category 2: Food Allergies & Diet Trials11:13 Category 3: Environmental Allergies & Symptomatic Therapy13:24 Allergy Testing & Immunotherapy16:14 Tailoring Communication and Visual Aids20:10 Outro

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail!Why do cats develop crusting, curling, inflammation, or unusual lesions on their ears? In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I'm diving into feline pinnal diseases and the dermatologic conditions that can affect the feline ear.I cover why oral exams are an important part of evaluating itchy cats, reactions to topical steroids that can cause pinna curling, and key conditions including solar dermatitis, auricular chondritis, cystomatosis, pemphigus foliaceus, and proliferative necrotizing otitis externa!Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/Timestamps00:00 Intro00:24 Feline Pinnal Diseases01:37 Itch Inquiry: Why Perform Oral Exams on Cats03:45 Topical Steroid Reactions & Pinna Curling04:55 Solar Dermatitis06:53 Auricular Chondritis08:23 Cystomatosis10:44 Pemphigus Foliaceus12:36 Proliferative Necrotizing Otitis Externa 

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail!In this episode, I answer a listener question about off-label JAK inhibitor dosing before taking a deep dive into common canine pinnal (ear flap) diseases. Learn how to recognize and manage canine scabies, pinnal vasculitis, pemphigus foliaceus, ear margin seborrhea, zinc-responsive dermatosis, and thrombovascular necrosis. Whether you're a veterinarian, veterinary technician, or student, this episode delivers practical dermatology insights you can use in practice!Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/Timestamps00:00 Intro00:54 Itch Inquiry: Off-Label JAK Inhibitor Dosing and Usage05:32 Introduction to Canine Pinnal Diseases and Ear Anatomy08:08 Canine Scabies09:33 Pinnal Vasculitis Presentation and Management11:22 Pemphigus Foliaceus13:08 Ear Margin Seborrhea14:27 Zinc Dermatitis15:47 Thrombovascular Necrosis16:45 Outro 

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail!Dogs don't always scratch when they're itchy and that can make diagnosing allergic skin disease much more challenging! In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I break down the subtle and commonly overlooked signs of itching in dogs, from scooting that isn't caused by anal glands to head shaking, excessive licking, perineal dermatitis, and secondary skin changes that can easily be missed during an exam.Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/Timestamps00:00 Intro00:24 Zoetis01:15 Itch Inquiry: Non-Anal Sac Causes of Scooting03:25 How to Tell If a Dog is Itchy06:03 Common Itching Behaviors08:42 Overlooked Indicators10:35 Perineal Dermatitis and Head Shaking13:16 Identifying Secondary Skin Changes15:39 Outro 

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail!How do feline dermatology cases differ from canine dermatology? In this episode, I answer a listener's question on treating yeast-only ear infections before breaking down three major clinical differences between cats and dogs... from ear flap lesions and claw fold inflammation to oral cavity and mucous membrane disease!Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/Timestamps00:00 Intro02:20 Itch Inquiry: Treating Yeast-Only Ear Infections05:51 Feline vs Canine Dermatologic Distributions06:27 Difference 1: Pinna (Ear Flap) Lesions08:27 Difference 2: Claw Fold Inflammation11:00 Difference 3: Oral Cavity & Mucous Membrane Lesions13:58 Outro

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail!Constant scratching, chewing, and ear infections aren't just annoying... they're your patient's way of telling you something's wrong! In this episode, I break down everything veterinary professionals need to know about managing allergic dogs, from spotting the first signs of trouble to building a long-term treatment plan that actually works.Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/Timestamps00:00 Intro01:39 Itch Inquiry 02:55 Maintenance Therapy for Allergic Dogs05:35 Nutrition06:07 Ear Care 07:19 Client Education and Early Detection09:34 Utilizing Our Pharmaceuticals11:27 Identifying Allergy Triggers13:09 Routine Rechecks15:27 Summary17:39 Outro

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail!Is allergen-specific immunotherapy the closest thing we have to changing the course of allergic disease in dogs?In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I explore why immunotherapy remains the gold standard for long-term allergy management and how it differs from simply controlling itch. She explains how starting treatment early may help reduce the progression of allergic disease, what pet owners should realistically expect from immunotherapy, and why educating clients is critical to long-term success.Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:39 Itch Inquiry: Distinguishing Autoimmune Disease from Neoplastic Disease04:40 Immunotherapy06:05 Proactively Halting the Progression of Allergic Disease07:30 Natural Therapy08:14 Instilling Trust in Your Client09:28 Preparing for Future Health Uncertainties13:06 Outro

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail!Learn how rostrolateral nasal alar arteriopathy is diagnosed, why it can be mistaken for other conditions, and the treatment options available to help improve quality of life. I also discusses setting realistic owner expectations and the importance of recognizing uncommon dermatologic diseases in veterinary medicine.Whether you're a veterinarian, veterinary technician, or veterinary student, this episode provides practical clinical insights you can apply to future cases. Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/Fleischman DA, Mauldin EA, Lowe A, Cain CL, Bradley CW. Clinical and histopathological features of rostrolateral nasal alar arteriopathy of German shepherd dogs. Vet Dermatol. 2023;34:441–451. https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.13173Timestamps00:00 Intro01:32 Itch Inquiry:  Topicals for General Practice 06:20 German Shepherd with Chronic Nasal Bleeding09:29 Diagnosis: Rostrolateral Nasal Alar Arteriopathy12:02 Treatment Options & Owner Expectations14:44 Outro