Category Archives: Diagnostics

Apoquel shortage? Try RESPIT!

Posted on April 22, 2014 by skinvet

By Jon Plant, DVM, DACVD Bad news, good news about Apoquel® from Zoetis (NYSE: ZTS). We learned last week that the Apoquel backorder situation is likely to continue throughout 2014 and into the summer of 2015. That is very sad … Continue reading →

Posted in allergic dermatitis, apoquel, Atopic Dermatitis, immunotherapy, intradermal test, RESPIT, serum IgE test | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Why aren’t there more randomized controlled trials on allergy immunotherapy in dogs?

Posted on April 3, 2013 by skinvet

By Jon D. Plant, DVM, Dipl. ACVD Long before I developed regionally-specific immunotherapy (RESPIT), I was interested in studying the efficacy of allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) in dogs. Why?  The only placebo controlled study on ASIT, although a noble effort, had … Continue reading →

Posted in Atopic Dermatitis, immunotherapy, intradermal test, serum IgE test | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Why aren’t there more randomized controlled trials on allergy immunotherapy in dogs?

The efficacy of oromucosal or sublingual immunotherapy in dogs

Posted on March 11, 2013 by skinvet

by Jon Plant, DVM, DACVD Two routes of administration may be used for allergen immunotherapy: subcutaneous injection or oromucosal  / sublingual.  The subcutaneous route has been in use in humans and animals for more than 50 years.  After an initial … Continue reading →

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Intradermal testing reliability in dogs

Posted on June 5, 2012 by skinvet

This month I will review the reliability of “allergy” testing in dogs.  If you are going to recommend allergy testing to clients, you should understand their limitations.  The topics I have planned for the coming weeks are: Intradermal testing reliability … Continue reading →

Posted in Atopic Dermatitis, Diagnostics, intradermal test | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Getting the most from your skin biopsies

Posted on May 11, 2012 by skinvet

It’s frustrating for you and your clients if a skin biopsy result comes back non-diagnostic. Here are some of the things I do to get the most information that I can from dermatopathology. 1. For inflammatory skin diseases, do not … Continue reading →

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Skin cytology: let the lesion morphology guide your technique

Posted on April 28, 2012 by skinvet

When it comes to taking samples for skin cytology, there is no one technique that is best in every situation.  Here are my favorite techniques, and when I find them most useful: 1.      Cellophane tape stripping is the technique that … Continue reading →

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The quick and dirty on ear canal cytology

Posted on April 15, 2012 by skinvet

Continuing with my focus on diagnostic tips, today I’ll share my approach to ear canal cytology in dogs and cats.  As you know already, this is a simple, but valuable test that should be recommended whenever otitis externa is suspected, … Continue reading →

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Tips for interpreting your DTM cultures

Posted on April 6, 2012 by skinvet

One of the topics that veterinarians ask me about most frequently is how to interpret fungal cultures grown on dermatophyte test medium (DTM).  The fungal culture is an important early step in working up many presentations, including folliculitis, patchy alopecia, … Continue reading →

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Diagnosing Canine Atopic Dermatitis

Posted on March 30, 2012 by skinvet

How do you diagnose atopic dermatitis in a dog?  That’s right.  Based upon clinical features.  Serum IgE and intradermal testing can be used to identify potential allergens, but the tests are not sensitive or specific enough to rely upon for … Continue reading →

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5 Tips for Better Skin Scrapings

Posted on March 24, 2012 by skinvet

What can I possibly teach you about that most basic test in veterinary dermatology, the skin scraping? Taking a skin scraping seems like a simple enough technique, yet at least once per month I am able to find a mite … Continue reading →

Posted in Diagnostics, Parasites | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments