The Derm Vet Podcast

Hosted by Ashley Bourgeois, DVM, Dip ACVD

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Episodes

336

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Tune in to make veterinary dermatology more fun than frustrating! This podcast features Dr. Ashley Bourgeois, DVM, Dip ACVD sharing practical tips on dermatologic workups you can bring to clinical practice right away. Also, stories about navigating the messy (yet beautiful) journey of being a vet mom while building a career you love.

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60 recent

August 13, 2026Episode 33715 min

337. Cat Ear Diseases Explained: Solar Dermatitis, Pemphigus, Cystomatosis & More

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail! Why do cats develop crusting, curling, inflammation, or unusual lesions on their ears? In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I'm diving into feline pinnal diseases and the dermatologic conditions that can affect the feline ear. I cover why oral exams are an important part of evaluating itchy cats, reactions to topical steroids that can cause pinna curling, and key conditions including solar dermatitis, auricular chondritis, cystomatosis, pemphigus foliaceus, and proliferative necrotizing otitis externa! Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932 Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/ Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:24 Feline Pinnal Diseases 01:37 Itch Inquiry: Why Perform Oral Exams on Cats 03:45 Topical Steroid Reactions & Pinna Curling 04:55 Solar Dermatitis 06:53 Auricular Chondritis 08:23 Cystomatosis 10:44 Pemphigus Foliaceus 12:36 Proliferative Necrotizing Otitis Externa

August 6, 2026Episode 33617 min

336. Dog Ear Diseases Explained: Scabies, Pemphigus, Pinnal Vasculitis & More

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail! In this episode, I answer a listener question about off-label JAK inhibitor dosing before taking a deep dive into common canine pinnal (ear flap) diseases. Learn how to recognize and manage canine scabies, pinnal vasculitis, pemphigus foliaceus, ear margin seborrhea, zinc-responsive dermatosis, and thrombovascular necrosis. Whether you're a veterinarian, veterinary technician, or student, this episode delivers practical dermatology insights you can use in practice! Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932 Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/ Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:54 Itch Inquiry: Off-Label JAK Inhibitor Dosing and Usage 05:32 Introduction to Canine Pinnal Diseases and Ear Anatomy 08:08 Canine Scabies 09:33 Pinnal Vasculitis Presentation and Management 11:22 Pemphigus Foliaceus 13:08 Ear Margin Seborrhea 14:27 Zinc Dermatitis 15:47 Thrombovascular Necrosis 16:45 Outro

July 30, 2026Episode 33516 min

335. The Overlooked Signs of Canine Allergies Every Veterinarian Should Know

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail! Dogs don't always scratch when they're itchy and that can make diagnosing allergic skin disease much more challenging! In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I break down the subtle and commonly overlooked signs of itching in dogs, from scooting that isn't caused by anal glands to head shaking, excessive licking, perineal dermatitis, and secondary skin changes that can easily be missed during an exam. Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932 Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/ Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:24 Zoetis 01:15 Itch Inquiry: Non-Anal Sac Causes of Scooting 03:25 How to Tell If a Dog is Itchy 06:03 Common Itching Behaviors 08:42 Overlooked Indicators 10:35 Perineal Dermatitis and Head Shaking 13:16 Identifying Secondary Skin Changes 15:39 Outro

July 23, 2026Episode 33415 min

334. Cat vs. Dog Skin: 3 Key Dermatology Differences Every Veterinarian Should Know

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail! How do feline dermatology cases differ from canine dermatology? In this episode, I answer a listener's question on treating yeast-only ear infections before breaking down three major clinical differences between cats and dogs... from ear flap lesions and claw fold inflammation to oral cavity and mucous membrane disease! Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932 Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/ Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 02:20 Itch Inquiry: Treating Yeast-Only Ear Infections 05:51 Feline vs Canine Dermatologic Distributions 06:27 Difference 1: Pinna (Ear Flap) Lesions 08:27 Difference 2: Claw Fold Inflammation 11:00 Difference 3: Oral Cavity & Mucous Membrane Lesions 13:58 Outro

July 16, 2026Episode 33318 min

333. The Long Game: Mastering Maintenance Therapy for Allergic Dogs

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail! Constant scratching, chewing, and ear infections aren't just annoying... they're your patient's way of telling you something's wrong! In this episode, I break down everything veterinary professionals need to know about managing allergic dogs, from spotting the first signs of trouble to building a long-term treatment plan that actually works. Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932 Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/ Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:39 Itch Inquiry 02:55 Maintenance Therapy for Allergic Dogs 05:35 Nutrition 06:07 Ear Care 07:19 Client Education and Early Detection 09:34 Utilizing Our Pharmaceuticals 11:27 Identifying Allergy Triggers 13:09 Routine Rechecks 15:27 Summary 17:39 Outro

July 9, 2026Episode 33213 min

332. Your Allergy Patient Is Doing Fine... So Why Start Immunotherapy?

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail! Is allergen-specific immunotherapy the closest thing we have to changing the course of allergic disease in dogs? In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I explore why immunotherapy remains the gold standard for long-term allergy management and how it differs from simply controlling itch. She explains how starting treatment early may help reduce the progression of allergic disease, what pet owners should realistically expect from immunotherapy, and why educating clients is critical to long-term success. Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932 Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/ Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:39 Itch Inquiry: Distinguishing Autoimmune Disease from Neoplastic Disease 04:40 Immunotherapy 06:05 Proactively Halting the Progression of Allergic Disease 07:30 Natural Therapy 08:14 Instilling Trust in Your Client 09:28 Preparing for Future Health Uncertainties 13:06 Outro

July 2, 2026Episode 33115 min

331. Rostrolateral Nasal Alar Arteriopathy of German Shepherd Dogs

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail! Learn how rostrolateral nasal alar arteriopathy is diagnosed, why it can be mistaken for other conditions, and the treatment options available to help improve quality of life. I also discusses setting realistic owner expectations and the importance of recognizing uncommon dermatologic diseases in veterinary medicine. Whether you're a veterinarian, veterinary technician, or veterinary student, this episode provides practical clinical insights you can apply to future cases. Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932 Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/ Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/ Fleischman DA, Mauldin EA, Lowe A, Cain CL, Bradley CW. Clinical and histopathological features of rostrolateral nasal alar arteriopathy of German shepherd dogs. Vet Dermatol. 2023;34:441–451. https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.13173 Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:32 Itch Inquiry: Topicals for General Practice 06:20 German Shepherd with Chronic Nasal Bleeding 09:29 Diagnosis: Rostrolateral Nasal Alar Arteriopathy 12:02 Treatment Options & Owner Expectations 14:44 Outro

June 25, 2026Episode 33014 min

330. How To Connect with Frustrated Pet Parents

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail! Client communication can make or break even the best dermatology treatment plan... In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I answer a listener's question about improving cytology skills in veterinary practice before diving into one of the most valuable communication frameworks I've found for challenging client interactions: The 5 E's. Whether you're discussing chronic allergies, recurrent skin infections, or complex treatment plans, frustrated clients are inevitable. The key is knowing how to navigate those conversations with confidence! Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932 Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/ Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:14 Itch Inquiry 03:10 The 5 E's in Dealing with Frustrated Clients 03:40 Empathize with the Client 05:47 Expectations 07:08 Expense 08:14 Effort 10:23 Encouragement 12:18 Summary/Outro

June 18, 2026Episode 32918 min

329. The Otitis Grab Bag: Your Questions, Answered

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail! In this episode, I tackle some of the most common (and challenging) questions surrounding the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of canine otitis externa. From maintenance therapy protocols and cleaning strategies to biofilm management, chronic stenosis, ear cultures, and the role of AI-powered cytology, I share practical insights you can apply in everyday practice. Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932 Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/ Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:25 Itch Inquiry: For maintenance therapy, do you suggest using a combination product weekly as maintenance? 04:30 What is your favorite product as a cleanser when the patient has biofilm? 06:51 How do tackle chronic stenosis? 09:12 What is your favorite maintenance cleaning product? 10:31 When dogs have recurrent otitis, how often do you suggest maintenance cleaning? 12:37 What do you think of the various AI cytology machines? 14:27 What is the usefulness of an ear culture for otitis externa? 16:15 What do you consider for broad spectrum treatment for otitis? 17:40 Besides ear flushing, what other treatments do you use for maintenance? 18:18 Outro

June 11, 2026Episode 32818 min

328. Managing Itchy Cats: Apoquel, Zenrelia, and the Reality of Off-Label Treatment

Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail! Can cats safely take Apoquel or Zenrelia? In this episode, we take a deep dive into the use of JAK inhibitors in feline dermatology, exploring the science behind atopic disease, practical treatment considerations, and the realities of off-label medication use in cats. Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932 Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/ Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:31 Itch Inquiry: Atopic Dogs and the pathophysiology 04:22 JAK Inhibitors and Cats 05:58 Using Apoquel with a Cat 08:58 Using Zenrelia with a Cat 10:53 Dosing These Medications in Cats 12:35 Lab Work Monitoring the Cats 14:02 The Risk 14:25 The Duration 15:40 Discussion of Off Label Use with Owners 16:58 Outro