ADC in Georgia: New location, new doctor


     Animal Dermatology Clinic – Marietta welcomes Dr. Sarah Bartlett as she returns to her former clinic in Georgia.
Dr. Bartlett completed her residency in Marietta, successfully completed her board examinations and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology in 2010. Since then she worked in Florida as a dermatologist for another practice.
      Dr. Bartlett will once again team with Dr. Joel Griffies and to accommodate the growing number of clients, the clinic is relocating to a larger, newly renovated clinic just a few miles away.
      Opening of the new location is planned for September at:
Terrell Mill Village Shopping Center - 1453 Terrell Mill Rd SE, Suite 119, Marietta, GA 30067 – at the corner of Powers Ferry Rd and Terrell Mill Rd, just a mile off of I-75.
The telephone number remains the same 770-422-2509.

Four Residents Join Animal Dermatology Clinic in July


      Last month, we introduced two of our four new residents that have joined Animal Dermatology Clinic, Drs. Kimby Lo and Catherine Milley. This month we introduce two more doctors:
      Dr. Charli Dong earned her degree in veterinary medicine from the Western University of Health Sciences in 2012. She then completed a one-year rotating internship at VCA Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center. Dr. Dong accepted a residency position in veterinary dermatology in July 2013 at Animal Dermatology Clinic. She will be seeing patients in our Marina del Rey and Pasadena offices.
When possible, Dr. Dong enjoys trips to the beach, spending time with her family (including pets!) and going on adventures with her husband.
     Dr. Mollie Mesman, a Louisiana native, earned both her bachelor degree and doctorate of veterinary medicine from Louisiana State University in 2007 and 2012, respectively. Dr. Mesman graduated in the top 10% of her class and was a member of the Phi Zeta Honor Society. She then completed a one-year small animal rotating internship at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in Auburn, AL. In July 2013, she began her residency with the Animal Dermatology Clinic at the Marina del Rey location. Dr. Mesman loves all things Boston Terrier, especially her dog Patrick.
In her spare time, she enjoys long walks on the beach, playing with her pets, and attempting to navigate the streets of Los Angeles. Although she is a Southern gal at heart, Dr. Mesman is loving her life in a big city.

Ask the Dermatologist: Yeast


      A common concern for pet owners is the recurring presence of yeast. Each pet is unique and what may be a successful treatment for one pet, may have little or no effect on another due to the particular underlying factors, etc.

Holly D. of Utica, KY asks:

What would be a good treatment for yeasts in the paws and on the skin?


     There are multiple different options for therapy for Malassezia (yeast) dermatitis. However for localized Malassezia (such as on the paws) topical therapy can be very important. Shampoos containing miconazole or ketoconazole are the more effective shampoo options. There are several good products that you can obtain from your veterinarian that will contain 1% miconazole or 2% ketoconazole. These are important to utilize often as they have little residual activity and only work while in contact with the skin. Other topical leave-on products can also be used. I often utilize a lotion called Resiketochlor (which contains ketoconazole) that can be used and provides residual effectiveness. There are also several different wipes that we utilize from time to time which contain ingredients that leave behind some anti-yeast properties.
     For generalized Malassezia infections, oral antifungal therapy is important. Ketoconazole is used most commonly although there are other antifungals (fluconazole, itraconazole) that are occasionally used. These should be used with caution and only
prescribed by your veterinarians because they can interact with some medications and also have some potential risk for undesirable side effects, although that is very uncommon when used appropriately.
     The most important aspect in ongoing yeast infections, is to determine the underlying cause for yeast infections. Without addressing the triggers, recurrent yeast infections are common and the best long- term control cannot be achieved.
     Talk to your veterinarian about this situation and get their advice. Good luck and hopefully you will find this information helpful.

Rusty Muse DVM, ACVD
Animal Dermatology Clinic
Tustin, CA

Have a question for our doctors? Please send your question via the Contact Page on our website. Sorry, we cannot provide an answer to a specific ailment which requires a physical examination of your pet.

 

Pets in Weddings Gaining Popularity


      Pets have steadily become cherished friends in American homes, with some on equal status as a family member. Therefore, it is with increasing frequency that dogs have been appearing in marriage ceremonies accompanying the couple as all three (sometimes, more) become one household.
      A quick search on the internet of “dogs in weddings” returned 63 million results. 63 MILLION! (Not to be outdone, “cats in weddings” had 44 million results). It seems that the saying “Love me, love my dog”, is being taken quite seriously.
      Dogs have been featured as ring bearers, walking the bride down the aisle and alongside the couple as vows are exchanged. But even the best plans can be undone when dealing with a dog that might be a tad uncomfortable with a large gathering and all eyes upon him or her.
      The New York Times wrote of a man who brought his white German Shepherd as honorary bridesmaid to the wedding, when just prior to the start of the ceremony he spied her getting ready to relieve herself. He ran to her, scooped her up and took her outside until matters were settled to return to a round of applause from the waiting guests.
      Other humorous stories documented included the dog that snatched the bride’s tossed bouquet and dogs dancing with guests at the reception. Another story involved a dog facing a “no dogs allowed” policy, so a friend of the bride and groom placed a jacket on the dog, slipped him into the church and sat quietly on the pew as he watched the nuptials.
      So don’t be surprised to see a four-legged friend at the next wedding you attend. Or if you see a chicken. Yes, a chicken. But that’s a story for another issue.
Photo: dreamstime/Carisak


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