Dermatology

The Veterinary Teaching Hospital's Dermatology Service provides specialized dermatological care for pets with a variety of skin conditions. We work closely with pet owners and their primary care veterinarian for the diagnosis of various skin conditions, and we develop treatment and management plans tailored for each animal.

Now offering Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Laser Surgery 

The CO2 laser can be used to treat:

• canine chronic proliferative and obstructive otitis externa
• feline aural cystadenomatosis
• ceruminous gland hyperplasia
• adenoma in the ear canals
• canine interdigital cysts
• pigmented viral plaques
• benign skin tumors (e.g., follicular cyst, sebaceous adenoma)
• and more!

If you have a patient who may be a suitable candidate for CO2 laser, or if you’d like to discuss a potential case, please email relevant records, history, and/or images to: vthdermatology@vt.edu. 

Dermatology services

• Intradermal testing (skin allergy test) and serum allergy testing
  These diagnostic tests, which allow us to determine the environmental allergens (e.g., pollens, molds, house dust mites) your pet may be allergic to, aid in the formulation of allergen-specific immunotherapy (allergy shots).
• Formulation of allergen-specific immunotherapy (allergy shots)
  Based on the results of the intradermal testing, allergy shots tailored for the pet will be formulated as part of the treatment for skin allergies associated with environment.
• Video-otoscopy
  This procedure involves insertion of a specialized camera to better assess your pet's ear canals and tympanum (ear drum). If indicated (e.g., a middle ear infection), a deep ear flushing can also be performed.
• Skin biopsy
  Some skin diseases, such as skin cancers and autoimmune skin diseases, require sampling of a small piece of skin to aid in the diagnosis and treatment.

Common skin conditions we treat

• Skin allergies
  Chronic itching associated with skin allergies can affect the quality of life of both animals and their owners. Skin allergies in pets may be associated with environmental allergens (atopic dermatitis) or cutaneous adverse food reactions (food allergy) or secondary to flea bite hypersensitivity. Most pets with skin allergies require long-term management that involves a combination of therapies tailored for each individual.
• Ear diseases
  Chronic and recurrent ear infections are often associated with an underlying disease, such as allergies, certain autoimmune diseases, tumors, or middle ear infection. Recurring ear infections cause major discomfort to pets. While treating ear infections appropriately will make pets more comfortable, determining their underlying cause ensures that recurring ear infections are minimized, if not prevented.
• Autoimmune skin diseases
  Autoimmune skin diseases, such as pemphigus foliaceus and cutaneous lupus erythematosus, can have a powerful, negative impact on pets' quality of life. and often require lifelong immunosuppressive therapy. With the delay in diagnosis or treatment, many pets are euthanized due to poor response to therapy and/or adverse effects of the medications.
• Skin infections
  Bacterial and/or yeast skin infections are common in pets, especially those with an underlying allergic skin condition. The increasing cases of skin infections in pets caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria warrants appropriate treatment.

Appointments

• Appointments are made by referral through the client's primary care veterinarian.
• A scheduled appointment is required for evaluation of small animal patients. Large animal patient evaluation is performed in collaboration with other receiving services in the Large Animal Hospital.