Referring Veterinarians

Dermatology Referral Policy

The Specialist Dermatology Service offers referral or second opinion consultations for skin disease and allergies in small, exotic, and large animals. Consultations are available 3-4 days per week at Camden (Tues, Wed, Thurs; and some Fridays by special arrangement), in addition to a small animal or exotic service at the Sydney campus one day per week (Monday).

We are available for referrals and discussion on all aspects of skin disease, including:

• allergies (intradermal testing; short and long-term control strategies; allergy immunotherapy)
• immune-mediated diseases (pemphigus, lupus, vasculitis etc.)
• hairloss disorders (endocrinopathies; cosmetic follicular diseases)
• otitis (externa/media - acute, chronic; video-auroscope guided flushing)
• nail, & footpad diseases
• acute or chronic, mild or extensive, and unusual or “non-specific” skin problems.

For owners travelling reasonable distances for referral, we attempt to perform necessary diagnostics on the same day as the initial consultation if requested, including intradermal testing and skin biopsies. For intradermal testing, please note the following skin test drug withdrawal guidelines.

• glucocorticoids (oral, injectable) – minimum 4wks (ideally 6-8wks) for short-acting and >3 months for long-acting; there is individual variation: some dogs need longer off than others
• topical glucocorticoids (including ocular, ear, and skin products) – 2wks
• antihistamines – 2wks
• sedatives (acp, opiates) – 48 hours
• cyclosporine (no withdrawal required)

For horses, similar withdrawal recommendations apply except for systemic corticosteroids, where 2-4 week withdrawal is often sufficient.

For animals where appropriate drug withdrawal is difficult, we recommend an initial consultation while on medications where we will determine a plan for drug withdrawal, and schedule the intradermal test later.

General consult drug withdrawal recommendations: we generally advise to avoid topical treatments including ear preparations, shampoos, and skin topical for at least 24 hours prior to referral. Systemic antibiotics and antifungals can be continued if courses already commenced. Systemic glucocorticoids should be stopped for 48 hours whenever possible.
We also offer a mail in skin histopathology service, and a cytology service for surface skin samples (tape preparations; impression smears; ear cytology).

Click here for the skin histopathology submission form, and phone dermatology at Camden for any queries: 46550777.