Clinical Studies at Animal Dermatology Clinic

Resident Drs Seek Patients

      Veterinarians embarking on the path to become a veterinary dermatologist must follow a rigorous program of study. Animal Dermatology Clinic is one of the few private veterinary practices that offer an approved Residency program for veterinarians in the specialty of veterinary dermatology. Each of the boarded doctors recognized by the American College of Veterinary Dermatology must meet the established guidelines of the program and successfully receive a passing score in the final two-day examination. The residency program itself can run from 24—36 months.
      One of the requirements of Residents is to conduct a clinical study in an area of dermatology. Currently, there are two studies taking place at Animal Dermatology Clinics (at present, California only) that pet owners may participate depending upon the requirements and guidelines imposed by the study. There is no cost for the pet owner to enter a study and if the pet is found to be not eligible, the examination fee is waived. In some cases, dermatological conditions are resolved or brought under control during the study with virtually no cost to the owner.
      For drug studies, pets selected to enter the study are carefully monitored to evaluate the efficacy of the medication. It is important to note that the drugs or treatments used at this stage in the studies have already been evaluated and tested for approved use in pets. The Resident study is to further evaluate the claims of the manufacturer or possibly determine if it can be used effectively as an alternative medication for a similar dermatologic condition.
      Dr. Tyler Udenberg is offering free treatment of canine skin infections using Vetericyn VF Spray. Although the spray is routinely and safely used to treat infections, Dr. Udenberg is evaluating its efficacy in this clinical trial. To that end, enrolled patients will receive $750 of free dermatological care and services including examinations during this one-month study.
     Dogs with a skin infection must be 6 months or greater of age, have indications of Malasesezia on cytology and have been on flea control for at least one month. But there are a number of exclusion criteria that will prevent a dog from entering the study including mite infestation, receiving antibiotics within 14 days, systemic illness or deep/severe skin lesions.
      General veterinarians who have patients that meet the criteria of the study are encouraged to enroll the pet for the study at our offices in Pasadena, Marina del Rey and Tustin, CA.

       Another study which is seeking patients is that of Dr. Ashley Stich; she is investigating the clinical efficacy of class IV laser therapy in atopic dogs exhibiting signs of pedal pruritus.
Laser therapy is a commonly known medical device in dermatology, but it is helpful to know that there are varying levels of laser light therapy in the application of medical treatment ranging from Class Level I through increasing intensities dependent upon its application. Laser treatment be used for cutting skin tissue with less bleeding than cutting with a blade and with fine detail to “sculpt” the contour. Laser used in this study is called “cold-laser” where the goal is to alter cellular function, not to cut the skin tissue.
Recent articles have demonstrated that Class IV laser therapy can potentially reduce inflammation and suggest use in diseases such as otitis externa and atopic dermatitis. Dr. Stich’s objective is to evaluate the effect of Class IV laser therapy on dogs with itchy paws. Patients are treated with the low-level light laser and in some cases a placebo level (no laser) treatment and unknown to the doctor is placed in the study.
Enrolled patients will receive examinations, cytologies and laser sessions at no cost to the owner. Initial examination will remain at no charge if the patient is deemed ineligible. Laser sessions are 3 times per week for the first two weeks and two times per week for the second two weeks with one follow-up examination one week after the study completion.
      Again, there are inclusion and exclusion criteria for a dog to enter the study so patients must be screened prior to making an appointment for the study.

Published findings
       At the conclusion of the study, the doctors will write an extensive report of their findings. Often they employ the use of a statistician to further define the data and validate (or defy) conclusions. It is a requirement of the program that the Resident submit their findings to an established and recognized medical journal for publication. It is also critical for the study to have merit and have used accepted procedures for the medical journal editor to accept the study for publication. Failure to get the study published nearly renders the study useless regardless of the findings and effort invested.
       Over the years, Animal Dermatology Clinic has provided the guidance and training for many veterinarians to become dermatologists and each Resident has conducted a clinical study as their contribution to an interest in the field. The benefit extends to potential future patients who may find relief from the discoveries made in these clinical studies which may be implemented as a standard procedure for all veterinarians.

Refill Requests Now Available On-line

      Effective immediately, clients may request a prescription refill on-line through the Animal Dermatology Clinic website. You can still call the local office during regular office hours to make a refill request, but going on-line makes it convenient to do day or night. Your refill request information will be forwarded to the appropriate local office that maintains your pet’s medical records for the doctor to review.
      Once the information has been reviewed and approved, the pet owner will be contacted to arrange for payment and the medication will be shipped or made available for pick-up at a full-time clinic location.
      In most cases, refill requests submitted Monday through Friday will be handled without delay although shipping will add days to the actual delivery. Overnight delivery incurs an additional charge. If your pet has not been examined by the doctor in more than six months, a staff person will call to obtain additional information or provide an explanation why the refill request was denied. Medical guidelines dictate that a patient-doctor relationship must be maintained to prescribe medication.
      It is hoped that clients find this feature helpful and we expect to offer added conveniences on the website in the near future.