Dermatology Service

Our Services

The Dermatology Service at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Ohio State offers comprehensive care for companion and equine animals with skin and ear disease.

Service Highlights

• 3 board certified veterinary dermatologists and a senior resident in veterinary dermatology
• Consultation services for all diseases affecting the skin, ears, nails and mucosal surfaces
• Diagnosis and treatment of allergic skin disease, including intradermal (skin) and in vitro (blood/serum) allergy testing
• Diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the ear (pinna, external canal, middle and inner ear), including videotoscopy
• Routine diagnostic procedures including skin scrapings, cytology and culture
• Biopsy and histopathology of diseases of the skin, ears, nails and mucosa
• Complete range of specialized treatments and prescription diets for treatment

Appointments & Office Hours

• Office hours: 8am – 5pm, Monday to Friday
• Patient visits by appointment only or as emergencies as scheduled by your veterinarian.
• For an appointment:
  • Ph: (614) 292-3551 (companion animals)
  • Ph: (614) 292-6661 (equine)
• After-hour emergencies: (614) 292-3551

What to Expect

One of our senior veterinary students will take a complete patient history and perform an initial dermatologic examination on your pet under the supervision of a staff dermatologist. Please note, that as a matter of policy and because specialized equipment is not available in all consulting rooms, the examination is performed in the dermatology treatment room and you will be asked to return to the lobby during the examination. A staff dermatologist will then complete a thorough examination. Typically, routine minor diagnostic procedures (skin cytology and scrapings and ear cytology) will also be performed at this time. It is likely to be 30-60 minutes before the staff dermatologist will speak to you about diagnosis and treatment options. Please allow 1.5-3 hours for your visit to our service.

Our mission is to provide you with the best diagnostic and therapeutic plan that will help control or resolve your pet’s skin or ear disease.

Special Equipment & Technology

• Complete allergy testing including:
  • Full intradermal (skin) testing
  • In vitro (serum or blood) allergy testing
• Advanced state-of-the-art diagnostic tests of the ear, including videotoscopy, CT imaging, hearing analysis, ear canal and middle ear evaluation and cleaning
• Histopathology service for microscopic evaluation of skin disease
• Immediate consultation with full range of other specialists in the hospital for problems not related to the skin or affecting other organ systems

Common Conditions

• Flea allergy dermatitis
• Food allergies
• Atopic dermatitis
• Otitis externa and media
• Bacterial skin infections
• Yeast (Malassezia) skin infections
• Acral lick dermatitis ("lick granuloma")
• Demodicosis ("mange")
• Dermatophytosis ("ringworm")
• Hypothyroidism
• Hypercortisolism ("Cushing’s syndrome)
• Hormonal conditions
• Eosinophilic granuloma complex in cats
• Miliary dermatitis in cats
• Nodular skin disease
• Fungal skin infections
• Autoimmune skin diseases
• Scaling disorders
• Nail disorders

Clinicians

• Andrew Hillier, BVSc, MACVSc, Diplomate ACVD, Associate Professor and Dermatology Service Chief
• Lynette Cole, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVD, Associate Professor
• Wendy Lorch, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVD, Staff dermatologist
• Jennifer Schissler, DVM, Dermatology resident

Payment

Payment is requested at the time of your visit. For your convenience, we accept Mastercard, Visa, Discover cards and personal checks. Read more about our payment policies.