Every year, Dermcare gives a Christmas donation to a worthy cause that is close to our hearts. This year we have donated much needed funds to two charities who are doing great work in the veterinary industry.

Sophie’s Legacy is a charity that helps raise awareness for mental health in the veterinary industry by launching the national education campaign “We’re Only Human”. Sadly, the rate of suicide amongst veterinary staff is disproportionally higher than the general population. The “We’re Only Human” campaign asks pet and animal owners to take the pledge to be kind and respectful and to understand the massive pressures impacting veterinary staff.

Vets For Compassion is a volunteer organisation dedicated to improving animal welfare for all species in Australia. They provide medical care, rehabilitation and re-homing for Australian wildlife, domestic animals and farm animals. The highly trained team of veterinarians, vet nurses and wildlife rescuers respond to call outs at all hours of the day to perform life-saving surgery, rescue, rehabilitation, relocating and re-homing as well as provide emergency wildlife rescue assistance and disaster response in Australia and around the world.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Congratulations on becoming a pet parent! We all want to provide the best care for our pets, so here are a few tips for bathing your new puppy.

• Choose a gentle, hypoallergenic shampoo which is specifically designed for pets. Natural Shampoo is an ideal choice for puppies and kittens. It does not contain soap and is pH balanced for your pet’s skin and coat.
• Introduce your puppy to bathing early in life. This will not only keep your pet’s skin and coat clean and healthy but can also act as a training tool. Bathing helps your puppy become familiar and comfortable with being handled. While massaging shampoo or conditioner into the coat, you can gently palpate the feet and nails, lift the tail and touch the muzzle and the ears. This will help to reduce anxiety associated with grooming and veterinary examinations.
• Running water may be daunting for a puppy. Bathing in a bath or a sink (make sure to place a mat on the bottom so it isn’t slippery) is often better received when initially introducing your puppy to baths.
• Make sure they remain warm. Puppies have more difficulty regulating their body temperature compared to adult dogs. Use body temperature water (not too hot or too cold) and make sure they are thoroughly dried after a bath.
• Take care when bathing around the face. A damp cloth can be used to minimise the risk of getting shampoo in the nose, eyes and mouth.
• Always positively reinforce your puppy before, during and after a bath. This can be achieved by providing treats or distracting them with their favourite toy.

For more information about the Dermcare product range, visit Product Range – Dermcare

Let’s face it, most cats don’t love bath time. Here are a few tips we use at Dermcare to help improve the bathing experience for you and your cat.

• Cats often dislike running water. Bathing in a bucket of water or a bathtub is often better received.
• Place a mat or towel on the bottom of the bucket/bathtub to prevent them from slipping.
• Fill three buckets with body temperature water, rather than water that is too hot or too cold, to minimise a sudden change in temperature.
• Gently immerse your cat’s body (not the head) in the first bucket of water.
• Remove them from the water and gentle lather with shampoo.
• If the shampoo requires a contact time, such as Malaseb® Medicated Shampoo, wrap them in a blanket to keep them warm and stop them from grooming themselves and ingesting the shampoo.
• Use a wash cloth to carefully clean around the face and head, being careful not to get any shampoo in the eyes or mouth.
• Use the remaining two buckets of clean water to rinse the shampoo from the coat.
• Towel dry the coat and ensure your cat is warm while they are drying off.

For more information about the Dermcare product range, visit Product Range – Dermcare

We all know bathing cleans dirt from our pet’s skin and coat, but what are the other benefits of bathing?

• Bathing with a pH balanced, high quality veterinary shampoo will help to restore, protect and maintain our pet’s overall skin and coat health.
• Bathing is an important part of the multimodal management of skin conditions.
• Shampoos containing oatmeal extract and aloe vera, such as Aloveen® Oatmeal Shampoo, can help soothe itchy, irritated and inflamed skin.
• A medicated shampoo, such as Malaseb® Medicated Shampoo or Pyohex® Medicated Shampoo, can help manage and treat superficial skin infections caused by bacteria and yeast.
• Bathing helps to remove allergens and pollens from the skin and coat.
• Introducing your pet to bathing early in life will get them used to being handled and restrained which may minimise anxiety associated with grooming and veterinary visits. Make sure to pick a puppy/kitten friendly shampoo such as Natural Shampoo.

Always consult with your veterinarian to determine which shampoo is appropriate for your pet.

With so many options available, choosing the right shampoo for your pet can be overwhelming. Before choosing a shampoo, consider the following:

1. Always choose a high quality, veterinary specific shampoo
   • There are many differences between human and dog skin making human products inappropriate for use on animals. Firstly, the pH of your pet’s skin is different to human skin, with human skin being more acidic than dog skin. This will mean that our pets need a shampoo that is pH balanced and specifically formulated for animals. The other big difference is that the outer layer of dog’s skin is thinner than human skin, meaning that a suitable veterinary shampoo needs to be chosen to avoid disrupting their skin and coat health.
2. Does your pet have an active skin infection?
   • It is important to consult with your veterinarian if you think your pet has an active skin infection. Your vet will determine the type of skin condition present and will recommend a treatment plan specific to your pet. Dermcare has two medicated shampoos, Malaseb® Medicated Shampoo and Pyohex® Medicated Shampoo.
   • Malaseb® Medicated Shampoo is an antibacterial and antifungal shampoo for dogs and cats. It is indicated for the treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis associated with bacteria (Staphylococcus pseudintermedius) and yeast (Malassezia pachydermatis) and is an aid in the treatment of ringworm (dermatophytosis) infections in pets.
   • Pyohex® Medicated Shampoo is an antibacterial shampoo that aids in the treatment of superficial bacterial infections (Staphylococcus pseudintermedius) in dogs.
3. Do they have itchy and inflamed skin?
   • If your veterinarian has ruled out a skin infection, a shampoo such as Aloveen® Oatmeal Shampoo may be appropriate as a part of a multimodal management plan.
   • Aloveen® Oatmeal Shampoo is a gentle, soap free cleanser containing oatmeal and aloe vera for animals with normal and sensitive skin. The natural soothing properties of oatmeal help relieve irritated, inflamed and itchy skin.
4. Need a shampoo for routine care?
   • Natural Shampoo is a gentle, soap free, hypoallergenic emollient cleanser for pets with normal and sensitive skin. It is pH balanced for your pet’s skin and will gently cleanse while maintaining skin and coat health.
5. Don’t forget the conditioner!
   • It is important to apply a conditioner after bathing. Conditioners contain moisturising factors to restore, protect and maintain skin and coat health. Dermcare has a medicated conditioner, Pyohex® Medicated Conditioner, and a non-medicated conditioner, Aloveen® Oatmeal Intensive Conditioner.
   • Pyohex® Medicated Conditioner is an antibacterial leave-on conditioner that aids in the treatment of superficial bacterial infections (Staphylococcus pseudintermedius) in dogs. Pyohex® Medicated Conditioner moisturises the skin while reducing and preventing the recurrence of superficial bacterial skin infections. It can be used after bathing with Pyohex® Medicated Shampoo or Malaseb® Medicated Shampoo.
   • Aloveen® Oatmeal Intensive Conditioner is a nourishing and soothing conditioner containing oatmeal and aloe vera. It is designed for use in animals with normal, itchy or dry skin.

Ear infections, or otitis externa, can be very painful for our pets. Most of the time the infection is secondary to an underlying problem and if this problem is not addressed the infection may not resolve or could recur in the future. Symptoms commonly associated with ear infections include:

• Red and inflamed ears
• Head shaking and/or ear scratching
• Pain
• Excessive and/or odorous discharge from the ear canal

If you notice any of these clinical signs it is important to seek veterinary advice and treatment for your pet.

The underlying and contributing causes of ear infections can be grouped into primary causes, and predisposing and perpetuating factors.

Primary

Primary causes are directly responsible for initiating the inflammation and changes within the ear canal which make it susceptible to infection. Allergic skin disease is the most common primary cause. Pet’s with allergic skin disease may also have itchy and inflamed skin. Other common primary causes include endocrine or hormonal diseases, parasites such as ear mites, and foreign bodies such as grass seeds.

Identifying and treating the primary causes where possible is critical for the long term management of ear infections.

Predisposing

Predisposing factors can increase the risk of developing ear infections, but do not directly cause them. One example is the conformation of the ear – pendulous or floppy ears or ears with excessive hair in the canal can increase the risk of infection. Environmental factors, such as high humidity or moisture can also act as a predisposing factor.

Perpetuating

Perpetuating factors are changes to the ear canal that can develop following an ear infection and are a response to ear canal inflammation. They can be responsible for treatment failure and recurrent infections. Perpetuating factors can include, a ruptured ear drum, ear canal thickening and narrowing, and excessive discharge.

Dermcare’s neutral buffered ear flush solution, Otoflush®, is an aid in the treatment of ear infections in dogs. Otoflush® removes wax and exudate from the ear canal, reduces microbial numbers and improves the penetration of prescribed ear medications.

Ear infections may not always be the result of the same causes and factors, even if your pet has had an ear infection previously. It is important to consult with your veterinarian every time that your pet develops an ear infection. Your vet will be able to develop a diagnostic and treatment plan which is tailored specifically to your pet.

Every year, Dermcare gives a Christmas donation to a worthy cause that is close to our hearts. This year we have donated much needed funds to two charities who are doing great work in the veterinary industry.

Love Your Pet Love Your Vet is a charity that helps raise awareness for mental health in the veterinary industry. Sadly, the rate of suicide amongst veterinary staff is disproportionally higher than the general population. Love Your Pet Love Your Vet provides psychological and educational support to veterinary and animal workers around the world. We find the work of Love Your Pet Love Your Vet inspiring and we hope our contribution helps support those in need.

WIRES is an Australian wildlife rescue organisation dedicated to rescuing and caring for our sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife. Australia has faced a lot of challenges over the last few years with devastating bush fires and floods resulting in death and injury of our beautiful native wildlife. We hope our contribution helps support WIRES and the great work they are doing to rehabilitate animals affected by recent natural disasters.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Bathing is important for keeping your pet’s coat clean and maintaining skin and coat health. We know sometimes bathing our furry family members can be challenging. Here are some tips and tricks you can use next time you are bathing your pet.

1. Lick mats
   • Lick mats filled with your pet’s favourite treat, such as peanut butter (make sure it is pet friendly), can be stuck onto the wall of the bath to provide a distraction. This can be particularly useful if using a medicated shampoo with a 10 minute contact time, such as Malaseb® Medicated Shampoo or Pyohex® Medicated Shampoo.
2. Use a sponge
   • A sponge can be used to assist with lathering the shampoo into the coat. When lathering, always add more water before adding more shampoo.
3. Use a face towel
   • Most pets don’t like water being poured directly onto their face. Using a damp cloth to clean around the face is usually well tolerated and can help protect the eyes and the ears from shampoo and water.
4. Towel wrapping
   • If a 10 minute contact time is required, try wrapping your pet’s body in a towel during this time. This will make them feel warm and secure and will also help to prevent ingestion or inhalation of the shampoo. This is a particularly useful technique for cats.
5. Positive reinforcement
   • The aim is to make your pet’s bath time an enjoyable experience. Try incorporating things your pet loves; this may be a game, their favourite toy, a massage and/or plenty of treats! Don’t forget to praise your pet’s good behaviour.

Allergies in dogs

Dogs, like people, can suffer from allergies. Allergies develop due to a disorder of the immune system, causing an inflammatory reaction to environmental, food or parasitic allergens.

Symptoms 

Dogs suffering from allergic skin disease may develop symptoms such as itchy, dry and/or inflamed skin. They can also develop skin infections secondary to the underlying allergy.

4 Common Allergies

The four most common allergic skin diseases that we see in dogs are flea allergy dermatitis, canine atopic dermatitis, contact allergy and food allergy.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis

Flea allergy dermatitis results from an allergy to the proteins in the flea saliva, your pet is exposed to this protein when they are bitten by a flea. Dogs suffering from flea allergy dermatitis often have a low flea burden but are severely itchy, whereas dogs without an allergy may have a large flea burden with minimal symptoms. The areas of the body most commonly affected are the rump, thighs and tail base. Management involves a combination of regular flea prevention for all pets in the household, cleaning of carpets and bedding and addressing any secondary infections.

Canine Atopic Dermatitis

Canine atopic dermatitis is an allergy to environmental allergens, such as pollens. The symptoms usually first develop in younger dogs, under 3 years of age, and are usually seasonal at first but may progress to become year round. Diagnosis and management of this condition can be challenging as there is no “one size fits all” approach. A management plan can be made by your veterinarian which will be tailored to your specific pet.

Contact Allergy

Allergic contact dermatitis is a type of contact allergy which involves an immune response after direct contact with an allergen, such as a plant. This condition requires previous sensitisation, meaning the dog would have encountered the allergen previously. The areas of the body that are most commonly affected are sparsely haired areas of skin which are in contact with the allergen. Once the causative allergen has been identified, an attempt should be made to remove it from the pet’s environment. If removal is not possible, shampoo therapy and anti-inflammatory medications may be required to manage the symptoms.

Food Allergy

Food allergies are most commonly caused by proteins in the diet. It is often not related to a recent diet change; the offending protein is usually something that has been in the diet for a while. In addition to skin symptoms, your pet may also suffer from gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence or inappetence. Management involves consulting with your veterinarian to find a novel or hydrolysed protein diet which is well tolerated by your pet.

What to do if you think your pet suffers from allergies

If you think your pet is suffering from allergies consult with your veterinarian to help identify the underlying cause and formulate a management plan. Dermcare’s product range is specifically formulated for dermatological conditions, including allergies. Our range contains both medicated and non-medicated shampoos and conditioners. Our medicated range (Pyohex® Medicated Shampoo and Conditioner and Malaseb® Medicated Shampoo) are indicated for the management of secondary skin infections, while our non-medicated range (Natural Shampoo and Aloveen® Oatmeal Shampoo and Conditioner) can help remove allergens and pollens from the coat. Talk to your veterinarian about which products would be most appropriate for your pet.

Click here for more information about allergic skin disease.

Congratulations Greencross Vets Winmalee for winning our September 2022 clinic Barazone® promotion! The prize included a brand new microscope, dermatology textbook and an essential dermatology kit. We hope you enjoy your prize!