Dermatology Consultations
A dermatology consultation is the foundation for diagnosing and managing skin, ear, coat, nail and allergy related conditions.
Many patients are referred to us because their condition is persistent, recurrent, complex, or has not responded as expected to first line treatment.
When Should I See a Veterinary Dermatologist?
A dermatology consultation is recommended for dogs and cats with skin, ear or allergy-related conditions that are persistent, recurrent, complex or not responding as expected to routine treatment. Referral is often considered when there is a need to identify underlying causes and develop a more structured, long-term management plan.
Referral may be appropriate when these signs are persistent, recurrent or not improving as expected:
Dogs may be referred for signs such as:
Cats may be referred for signs such as:
In many cases, these signs are associated with conditions such as:
- dog allergies or cat allergies (environmental, food or flea allergy)
- ear disease in dogs or ear disease in cats
- skin infections in dogs or skin infections in cats
- hair loss conditions in dogs or hair loss conditions in cats
- parasites in dogs or parasites in cats
Learn more about common skin, ear, allergy and paw conditions →
A dermatology consultation allows these conditions to be assessed in a structured way, guiding appropriate diagnostic testing and the development of a tailored treatment plan.
What an Initial Consultation Involves
A consultation with our clinicians is the first step in identifying the likely underlying causes of your pet’s condition and developing a structured, evidence-based plan to guide diagnosis and treatment.
As part of the initial consultation process, we will:
- Review your pet’s medical history, including referral information, previous investigations and treatments, response to medications, and relevant environmental or dietary factors. Understanding this background is essential for narrowing the likely causes of the condition and avoiding unnecessary or repetitive testing.
- Perform a dermatological examination of the skin, coat, ears and nails to identify patterns of inflammation, infection, hair loss or other abnormalities associated with the condition.
- Discuss diagnostic testing and treatment plan options to help you make informed decisions about next steps for your pet’s care.
If your pet has persistent or recurrent skin, ear or allergy signs, a dermatology consultation is the best starting point.
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Diagnostic Testing
Following assessment, we discuss the potential underlying causes of your pet’s condition and outline next steps. This usually involves recommending further diagnostic testing to confirm or further investigate the underlying condition, which may include:
- Cytology or Fine Needle Aspirates (FNA) to identify infections, inflammation, or unusual cells.
- Biopsies and dermatopathology for deeper skin lesions or complex conditions.
- Hormone testing to detect underlying endocrine disorders affecting the skin.
- Environmental allergy testing to identify allergens contributing to chronic skin or ear disease.
- Elimination diet trials to investigate potential food-related reactions.
- CT or MRI scans for complex or unusual cases requiring advanced imaging.
Our clinician will explain the purpose and benefits of recommended diagnostic tests and discuss the approach with you, including associated costs, so you can make informed decisions about the next steps for your pet.
Tailored Treatment Plans
Once sufficient diagnostic information is available, a tailored treatment plan is developed to address your pet’s condition.
Treatment interventions may involve:
- Medications to control inflammation, infection, or immune-mediated disease.
- Topical therapies such as medicated shampoos, ointments, or ear treatments.
- Dietary modification to support skin health or manage food allergies.
- Environmental management to reduce exposure to allergens or irritants.
- Procedural interventions, including Ear Examination and Flush or laser surgery, where appropriate.
- Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy (ASIT) to provide targeted, long-term allergy treatment.
- Bee and Wasp Desensitisation
Patients can require a combination of treatments to manage their condition effectively. Our clinician will guide you through the recommended treatment options, providing a tailored plan and guidance for ongoing care and management.
Ongoing Care and Management
Ongoing care is an important part of dermatology conditions. While a significant amount of information can often be gathered during an initial consultation, many dermatological conditions require follow-up revisit appointments and ongoing management to reach a definitive diagnosis and maintain long-term control.
Revisit consultations allow us to:
- Assess response to treatment
- Adjust medications, topical therapies, or interventions as needed
- Refine long-term management plans based on new diagnostic information
- Maintain control of chronic or relapsing conditions and minimise flare-ups.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When would a revisit appointment be recommended?
Revisit appointments are usually outlined as part of your pet’s treatment plan. These may include scheduled follow-ups for conditions such as chronic ear disease, allergy monitoring, or progress checks.
You also have the option to book a general follow-up at any time if you notice a change in your pet’s condition or have concerns about their progress.
Do you offer telemedicine consultations?
We always recommend that we see patients in person whenever possible, as a physical examination is an essential part of accurate diagnosis and safe treatment. However, we recognise that travel distance, health issues, or other practical constraints can sometimes make this difficult.
For suitable patients, we offer telemedicine consultations for follow-up care, progress reviews, and specific clinical advice. In line with Australian Veterinary Association guidance, telemedicine is only available where a Veterinary Client Patient Relationship has already been established and a member of the ADS veterinary team has examined the patient in clinic within the previous 12 months. This ensures our advice is based on firsthand knowledge of your pet’s condition and supports safe, effective clinical decision making. Telemedicine cannot be offered for new patients who have not been examined by ADS, or where a physical examination is required to appropriately assess the problem.
For patients who live remotely or interstate, specialist advice may be provided in collaboration with a local veterinarian who has performed the physical examination and has the patient directly under their care. Relevant clinical information, such as history, images, videos, and diagnostic results, is required to support these consultations. Suitability for this service is assessed on a case by case basis.
If you would like to enquire about telemedicine or remote advice services, please contact us to discuss whether this option is appropriate for your pet.
Do you offer mobile or on-site visits?
While most of our dermatology services are delivered through in-clinic consultations, we also offer mobile and on-site visits for animals that cannot be easily transported. This is specifically for equine, zoo and farm patients and only available in certain circumstances.
These visits typically begin with a brief clinical assessment, often via telemedicine or through coordination with your referring veterinarian, to ensure safety, clinical suitability and logistics are properly managed.
To arrange a visit, please phone or email our team to discuss your pet’s needs, eligibility and scheduling.
Pricing
Initial consultation: $425
Revisit consultation: $205
Cytology: $99
Intradermal allergy testing: $900
All other fees discussed during consultation
Referring Vets
If you are a veterinarian referring a patient for this service, please use our referral form or contact our team with relevant history, previous test results, current medications and treatment response.