Skin conditions affect 15% of cats and 19% of dogs. With slight variations in clinical presentation, significant differences in prognosis and treatment require the expertise of a veterinary dermatologist in Vancouver. Their specialized training enables them to treat complex and severe issues more accurately.

The Differences Between Veterinarians and Dermatological Veterinarians

Veterinarians diagnose, treat, and prevent injuries and illnesses in animals. They provide medical assistance to livestock, zoo animals, pets, and wildlife. A veterinarian will perform the following:

• Diagnostic testing 
• Bloodwork 
• Urinalysis
• Imaging 
• Give vaccines 
• Prescribe medication –
• Surgical procedures 
• Physical exams

They also provide preventative care like dental care and parasite control.

Veterinary Dermatologists Identify and Diagnose Skin Problems

Skin issues can happen for numerous reasons and from different sources. Owners may notice their dog or cat showing signs of scratching, chewing, biting, licking, rubbing, hair loss, skin discolouration, strange odour, growth under/in the skin, or crusting. Their condition can be the result of environmental or food-related allergens or an internal issue.

Veterinary dermatologists have advanced training in diagnosing, treating, and managing disorders affecting your pet’s ears, skin, hair, nails, or paws. They can treat and identify many conditions across breeds and ages. The conditions include cancer, allergies, and autoimmune and hormonal issues. They perform the following:

• Dermatological exams: Obtain medical history, including medications, allergies, and previous skin problems.
• Diagnostics: Interpret tests like cytology, skin scrapings, fungal/bacterial cultures, and allergy testing through advanced imaging like dermatoscopy.
• Treatment plans: These address infections, allergies, and autoimmune disorders. Plans may include topical therapy, medications, immunotherapy, and dietary changes.
• Surgery: Surgical procedures include the removal of skin tumours, biopsies, and reconstructive surgery for trauma.
• Collaboration with specialists: To tackle multi-systemic conditions, they discuss cases with specialists in oncology, surgery, and internal medicine.

The difference between the two branches of medicine is that a veterinarian relies more on treatment effects, whereas a veterinary dermatologist is diagnostic-oriented.

Veterinary dermatologists primarily deal with infections and allergies, establishing them as specialists. They also know what factors make your pet worse throughout the year, including food allergies and environmental issues.

Three Aspects That a Veterinarian Dermatologist Brings

1. Education

After completing a traditional veterinarian degree (3 to 4 years of college and four years of veterinary school), the individual must complete a one-year small animal medicine internship and two more years in residency training (dermatology) in an ACVD-accredited program. This training focuses on dermatology and dermatopathology. It also studies skin diseases in different species (including humans). 

Then, they must complete their ACVD credentialing application, which involves submitting case reports and publishing original research in a scientific journal. Once this is completed, they must pass a multi-day exam given by the ACVD. 

2. Extensive training

Veterinary dermatologists have received extensive postdoctoral training in veterinary medicine. With extensive internship, residency, examination, and publication requirements, they are well-qualified to assist owners with their pets.

3. Experience

Completing their internship and residency under the supervision of a professional provides veterinary dermatologists with vast amounts of experience before beginning their practice.

At Animal Dermatology Specialists of Vancouver, we encourage our clients to research our credentials before booking an appointment. Your animals deserve the best.

How We Can Help Your Pet

Pets can experience a variety of skin issues from different causes. Some animals are sensitive to specific irritants, generating chronic pain and discomfort, while others may show mild discomfort, requiring advanced equipment to control and diagnose symptoms. We go beyond the symptoms to uncover the real issue for improved treatments.

How do we complete a diagnosis?

Veterinary dermatologists use specialized diagnostics—including skin biopsies, skin examinations, allergy testing, cytological smears, or fungal cultures—to diagnose correctly. They may also use skin scrapings. We work with you and your pet to find and treat skin conditions.

Some disorders are curable, while others may be chronic. We work with our clients to create and manage ongoing treatment plans for incurable skin disorders in pets. Treatments may include injectable, topical, surgical, or medicinal procedures. Surgical procedures may include cryosurgery (freezing), excisional, and laser surgery.

Why bring my pet to a veterinarian dermatologist?

With their extended training and access to advanced equipment, veterinary dermatologists can pinpoint subtle variations between each issue and give your pet lasting relief. If your pet’s condition affects their quality of life, you have concerns, or your pet’s condition isn’t responding to treatment, then book a consultation.

When should you see a veterinary dermatologist?

When owners cannot manage their pet’s issues at home, our specialists can provide additional tools to help your animal live more comfortably. Veterinary dermatologists can make an accurate, scientifically-driven diagnosis because they search for the root cause of your pet’s discomfort. 

If your pet is experiencing any of the following, you may want to consult a veterinary dermatologist:

• Ear infections/disease
• Hair loss
• Chronic scaling or itchiness
• Skin redness
• Auto-immune skin diseases
• Congenital, genetic, or parasitic skin diseases
• Recurrent infection
• Drug reactions
• Yeast, fungal, or bacterial skin infections
• Allergic skin disorders
• Hormonal or endocrine imbalances
• Internal malignancy
• Nail, nail bed, and foot disease
• Skin cancer, tumours, and cysts

What services do we offer?

While veterinarians do exceptional work, it often doesn’t hurt to gain a second opinion—especially if you have exhausted all aspects and are concerned about your pet. After all, our pets are like family members and deserve the best treatment possible.

Our veterinary dermatologists in Vancouver provide services for dogs and cats. We specialize in the following:

• Allergy skin testing
• Apoquel treatments
• Allergy treatment
• Diagnosing food allergies
• Ear and nose issues
• Mites
• Hormonal disease and hair loss
• Breed and seborrheic disorders
• Paw and nail issues
• Skin cancer and tumours
• Immune disorders

Our veterinary dermatologists in Vancouver will thoroughly examine your pet using the latest diagnostic tools. Our clinic looks past the symptoms to uncover the real problem behind your pet’s discomfort to provide permanent, long-term relief. Once we identify the cause, we can establish a treatment plan. 

At Animal Dermatology Specialists of Vancouver, we take exceptional care of all the animals we treat. To book a consultation or appointment, contact us at 778-743-9926 or through our online form.