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Dermatology Service
Dermatology Service overview
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Referring a patient is rapid and easy:
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- Certified European Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology
- Multi-disciplinary approach to the management of patients with skin disease
- Comprehensive investigation of patients with otitis using advanced imaging and video-otoscopy
- Intradermal allergy testing for dogs and cats with atopic dermatitis
- Hospitalised patients benefit from 24-hour veterinary and nursing care
- Free telephone advice given with the minimum of delay
Referring a patient is rapid and easy:
- Register the client either by telephone or on-line (you qualify for entry into our quarterly draw with the on-line option!)
- Supply the history and any lab results either on-line, with the owner or by post, fax or email to: [email protected]
Fully supported by other Specialists in our Medical, Surgical, Ophthalmic, Diagnostic Imaging and Anaesthesia teams.
We see patients with a wide range of dermatological problems including:
Otitis |
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![]() Chronically inflamed ear showing erythema, hyperpigmentation and lichenification ![]() A healthy canine tympanic membrane seen through a video-otoscope
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Otitis
- Investigation and medical management of acute and chronic otitis
- Investigation of recurrent otitis externa
- Detailed examination of the ear canals using video-otoscopy
- Advanced imaging to detect otitis media
- Surgical management of otitis with accredited Willows’ Specialist surgeons

Chronically inflamed ear showing erythema, hyperpigmentation and lichenification
A healthy canine tympanic membrane seen through a video-otoscope
Parasitic skin diseases |
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![]() Comedones in a case of generalised demodicosis
![]() An adult Demodex canis mite found following hair plucks |
Parasitic skin diseases
- Juvenile and adult onset demodicosis – including recurrent and refractory cases
- Diagnosis and management of leishmaniosis

Comedones in a case of generalised demodicosis

An adult Demodex canis mite found following hair plucks
Infectious skin diseases |
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![]() Numerous budding Malassezia spp. yeasts amongst squames from the ear canal of a dog
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Infectious skin diseases
- Investigation of recurrent or persistent infections
- Medical management of infectious skin disease
- Management of multidrug resistant skin infections such as MRSP/MRSA
- Diagnosis and management of viral skin diseases

Numerous budding Malassezia spp. yeasts amongst squames from the ear canal of a dog
Allergic skin diseases |
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![]() An intradermal test performed on the lateral thorax of a dog showing a number of mild positive reactions
![]() Marked lichenification and hyperpigmentation in a dog with atopic dermatitis |
Allergic skin diseases
- Diagnosis and management of flea allergy dermatitis, food hypersensitivity and atopic dermatitis
- Intradermal testing and allergen specific immunotherapy
- Sub-lingual immunotherapy for atopic dermatitis
- Multimodal therapy for allergic skin disease

An intradermal test performed on the lateral thorax of a dog showing a number of mild positive reactions

Marked lichenification and hyperpigmentation in a dog with atopic dermatitis
Immune mediated/autoimmune skin diseases |
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![]() Ulcerated nodular lesions around the mouth of a dog due to reactive cutaneous histiocytosis
![]() Annular skin lesions associated with vasculitis |
Immune mediated/autoimmune skin diseases
- Investigation of erosive/ulcerative skin disease
- Immune mediated pustular and crusting skin diseases
- Depigmenting disorders
- Vesicular and bullous skin diseases

Ulcerated nodular lesions around the mouth of a dog due to reactive cutaneous histiocytosis

Annular skin lesions associated with vasculitis
Endocrine and metabolic skin diseases |
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Endocrine and metabolic skin diseases
- Diagnosis and medical management
- Multi-disciplinary approach with other accredited Willows’ Specialists
Alopecia |
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![]() The typical appearance of cyclic flank alopecia in a Boxer dog |
Alopecia
- Investigation of non-pruritic alopecia
- Medical management of alopecia

The typical appearance of cyclic flank alopecia in a Boxer dog
Keratinisation disorders |
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![]() Profuse scaling present throughout the coat of a dog with pyoderma |
Keratinisation disorders
- Investigation and diagnosis of scaling
- Medical management of scaling dermatoses

Profuse scaling present throughout the coat of a dog with pyoderma
Diseases of the claws |
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Diseases of the claws
- Investigation and diagnosis of claw disease
- Medical and surgical management
Other cases suitable for referral: |
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Other cases suitable for referral:
- Investigation of unknown causes of pruritus
- Patients with refractory pruritus
- Patients with unusual skin lesions
- Patients with poorly controlled immune mediated or autoimmune disease requiring discussion of alternative treatment options
- Cases requiring extra time and experience and counselling for their owners
On site state-of-the-art advanced imaging run by our Specialist Imaging team |
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On site state-of-the-art advanced imaging run by our Specialist Imaging team
- Each imaging procedure tailored to the patient
- Exceptionally high quality images aiding diagnosis
- Interpretation and reporting of every scan by on-site Specialists
Specialist-led anaesthesia team |
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Specialist-led anaesthesia team
- Anaesthetic and analgesic protocols tailored to the individual patient
- Extensive experience in anaesthesia
Efficient case management |
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Efficient case management
- Cases seen at the earliest opportunity – urgent cases seen as a priority
- Patients with otitis investigated efficiently usually as outpatients
- In-house diagnostic microscopy and cytology performed during consultations to allow rapid diagnosis of skin diseases, avoiding unnecessary delay