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Key Takeaways from Dr Kate Boatwright
Dermatology cases are some of the most common and often most frustrating presentations in small animal general practice.
From the itchy dog with recurrent skin infections to the cat with unusual lesion patterns, these cases can be difficult to diagnose and manage without a clear, structured approach.
In this webinar, Dr Kate Boatwright shares a practical guide to recognising and managing some of the most common dermatological diseases seen in general practice, helping vets feel more confident when approaching pruritic patients in the consult room.
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A practical approach to the itchy patient
One of the main themes of the webinar is the importance of starting with the basics. A thorough history and physical examination remain essential when working up dogs and cats with skin disease. Dr Boatwright highlights the need to assess parasite prevention, diet, chronicity, seasonality, lesion distribution, and itch severity before moving on to diagnostics.
She also reinforces the value of simple, high-yield tests in practice, including:
- Skin scrapes
- Skin and ear cytology
- Fungal culture in cats
- Culture or biopsy in more complex or non-responsive cases
These tools are key to identifying common causes of pruritus, including fleas, mites, ringworm, allergic dermatitis, pyoderma, Malassezia dermatitis, and otitis externa.
Common skin diseases seen in general practice
Throughout the session, Dr Boatwright reviews the dermatological conditions vets are most likely to encounter in first-opinion practice. The webinar covers how to recognise and investigate ectoparasites such as fleas, sarcoptic mange, and demodicosis, as well as common allergic conditions, including flea allergy dermatitis, food allergy, and atopic dermatitis.
She also explores the role of secondary bacterial and yeast infections, and explains why these often need to be treated alongside the underlying disease if long-term control is going to be successful.
For feline patients, the webinar highlights important differences in presentation, including reaction patterns such as miliary dermatitis and eosinophilic granuloma complex.
Why these cases can be so challenging
A key takeaway from the webinar is that skin disease is rarely a quick fix. Many dermatology cases are chronic, recurrent, and frustrating for both clients and clinicians. Dr Boatwright encourages vets to focus on immediate patient comfort at the first visit — controlling itch, identifying infection, and relieving discomfort — before building a long-term management plan through rechecks and follow-up diagnostics.
She also discusses when to escalate cases, including the value of early dermatology referral in patients that are not responding as expected.
Download the webinar
If you want a clearer, more practical framework for managing common dermatological diseases in general practice, this webinar is well worth watching.
Download the webinar with Dr Kate Boatwright to learn more about approaching itchy dogs and cats, choosing useful diagnostics, and building realistic treatment plans for challenging skin cases.
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