Detailed initial consultation and full work up.
		Hair and skin scrape microscopy
		Intradermal skin testing for atopic patients
		Immunotherapy
		Skin biopsy
		Routine 'allergy clinic' appointments
		Internal medicine back-up

Our referral veterinary surgeons for dermatology are David and Alison Shearer, and they visit the practice approximately every two weeks to see cases.  

David Shearer BVetMed CertSAD PhD CBiol MIBiol MRCVS 

David (right) qualified from the RVC in 1984, than became a Junior Fellow in Veterinary Dermatology at the University of Bristol.  He obtained the CertSAD in 1990 and a PhD in 1995 for a thesis titled ‘Immunological Studies of Canine Staphylococcal Pyoderma’. Dr Shearer was a Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology at Bristol for nearly 5 years, during which he had a particular interest in cutaneous immunology, dermatohistopathology, ectoparasites and information technology. He has co-authored a textbook of veterinary entomology and published papers on skin immunology and dermatology.   He is also a diagnostic histopathologist with Finn Pathologists, specialising in dermatohistopathology.

Alison Shearer BVetMed CertSAD MRCVS 

Alison qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 1988 and after periods in mixed and small animal practice, she completed a three year veterinary dermatology residency programme at The University of Bristol Veterinary School obtaining her CertSAD in 1994. Alison has lectured and presented papers at veterinary conferences in the UK and in Europe.

The bulk of referred cases are dogs with atopic dermatitis, with a smaller proportion of idiopathic recurrent pyodermas. In cats, flea bite dermatitis is the most frequent diagnosis. However cases of cheyletiellosis and sarcoptic mange are still being seen.

The preferred mode of the therapy for uncomplicated atopic dermatitis remains immunotherapy (desensitisation) based on the results of intradermal skin testing. A significant number of dogs with atopic dermatitis are successfully treated by immunotherapy and, although this is a long-term control method and not a cure, the majority of clients prefer this type of therapy when compared to the alternatives. The most suitable cases for immunotherapy are young dogs with little secondary pyoderma or associated flea allergy. The key to success with immunotherapy is an early diagnosis and early therapy once.

Dogs have a chronic recurrent secondary pyoderma or have had chronic glucocorticoid therapy (even if only intermittently) they do not appear to be as good candidates for immunotherapy.

Although there are no significant developments in the treatment of atopic dermatitis in dogs some successes using oral cyclosporin have been reported. However this is a very expensive form of treatment. In man there are a variety of developments in the treatment of atopic dermatitis, in particular, topical phosphodiesterase inhibitors show particular promise. It is likely to be a number of years before this type of therapy becomes available for treatment of canine atopy.

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