During this video with dvm360, Brittany Lancellotti, DVM, DACVD, shares her best strategies for managing canine allergic dermatitis taking long term anti-inflammatory therapy

Video interview with Dr Brittany Lancellotti

During an interview with dvm360 at the 2025 WVC Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Brittany Lancellotti, DVM, DACVD, from Veterinary Skin and Ear in Los Angeles, California, and host of the podcast 

, shared the best strategies veterinary professionals can use for monitoring canine allergic dermatitis patients on long-term anti-inflammatory therapy. 

: My name is Dr Brittany Lancellotti, I am a veterinary dermatologist at Veterinary Skin and Ear in west Los Angeles. 

So with patients that have allergic skin disease, this is a lifelong disease, and it's important that we monitor the safety and [ethicality] of the therapies that we're giving to these animals. One way we can do that is by focusing on figuring out their primary triggers, making sure that they're on good flea prevention so that we're ruling out the possibility of flares from flea allergies, doing a really good elimination diet trial, which at this time is the only diagnostic test for being able to diagnose or exclude a food allergy, and if they have environmental allergies, working with allergy specific immunotherapy formulated by a veterinary dermatologist to help minimize the frequency and severity of flares and secondary infections to environmental triggers. 

But if we have to use some type of symptomatic anti-inflammatory therapy on a long term basis, things that we can do to help make sure that we're minimizing the risks associated with those therapies are monitoring blood work, so CBC and chemistry, to make sure that our white blood cell counts are not dropping, we're not causing liver disease, kidney disease or increase in blood sugar; making sure that we're doing adjunctive therapies like topical barrier repair and anti microbial bathing so that we can minimize the inflammation coming from microbial overgrowth and help to minimize flares from surface allergens from crossing that impaired barrier. So if we can incorporate these adjunctive therapies, we can minimize the amount of anti-inflammatory medications that we need to use, but then also monitoring on a regular basis to make sure that we're not developing those long term adverse effects.

Videos

Because canine allergic dermatitis is a lifelong disease, Brittany Lancellotti, DVM, DACVD, explains how important monitoring the safety and ethicality of therapies given to these patients is

Monitoring long-term anti-inflammatory therapy for canine allergic dermatitis

It is more difficult to diagnose a cat with feline atopic skin syndrome than it is to diagnose a dog with atopic dermatitis, but why?

The challenges of diagnosing feline atopic skin syndrome

In this interview taken during the 2025 WVC Annual Conference, Sandra Koch, DVM, MS, DACVD, professor at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and director of the school’s Veterinary Medical Center Dermatology Service, talks about challenges associated with diagnosing feline atopic skin syndrome (FASS). As Koch explains, the 

 associated with the syndrome—self-inflicted alopecia, miliary dermatitis, head and neck pruritis, and eosinophilic granuloma complex—are not unique to FASS.

 As such, many conditions, including parasitic diseases, neoplasia, ear mites, and more, can mimic the disease. In the interview, Koch also talks about the importance of ruling out flea and food allergies. She also goes into what the diagnostic process entails.

Below is a partial transcript which has been edited for clarity:

The diagnosis of FASS or feline atopic skin syndrome is a challenge because the clinical presentation, or the reaction patterns, the 4 reaction patterns that we talked about, they are not pathognomonic of the disease—they're not specific [to] this condition and there's not a set criteria exclusive for feline atopic skin syndrome, for diagnosis.

So many other diseases can mimic this condition, can have the same patterns. So, it'd be wonderful, right, if you had like, ‘okay, these are the criteria, if you have this, you have the diagnosis.’ [But] it comes down to the fact that feline atopic skin syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion, just like canine atopic dermatitis. So you need to think about your history, your clinical presentation, and then you start doing diagnostic tests according to your main differential diagnosis, to rule out certain things, including parasitic diseases like 

…very commonly causes pruritus and it leads to clinical symptoms or signs similar to feline atopic skin syndrome.

Neoplasia [as well] in the case of eosinophilic granuloma complex, especially there's huge masses on the tongue. And you can also see, sometimes ear mites can be a differential for cases of atopic skin syndrome that has that have otitis externa.

Bautista-Alejandre A, Koch S. Clinical presentations of feline atopic skin syndrome. 

. March 6, 2025. Accessed March 7, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/clinical-presentations-of-feline-atopic-skin-syndrome

Богдан Маліцький/stock.adobe.com

Happy Monday dvm360 readers! We hope you all had a fantastic weekend, except losing that hour of sleep for Daylight Savings. We are so excited to be heading down to Charlotte, North Carolina this week to kick off our first Fetch conference of the year. Join the dvm360 staff, keynotes Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, and Phillip Bergman, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM (Oncology), and other key industry leaders to earn 17+ credits throughout the weekend. This is not a conference to miss, so register 

As the team prepares to head to the Queen’s City, here is what you can find this week on dvm360.com:

The dvm360 team will be complying a list of lectures not to miss, keynote address teasers, events to attend, and more! Be sure to check in throughout this week for this sneak peak, and throughout the conference for the dvm360 editorial team's conference coverage.

On this week’s episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, invited back special guest Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, senior toxicology at Pet Poison Helpline, to chat about spring toxins veterinary professionals need to be mindful of.

Vetsource, a pet pharmacy service and veterinary analytics company, shared the findings of its recently released white paper stating visits are declining and the frequency between veterinary visits are lengthening, in result causing challenges, and maybe opportunities, for veterinary professionals.

During an interview with dvm360, Brian Sutherland, DVM, DACVS-SA, shares the differences between palliative procedure and definite repair ahead of his upcoming lecture at Fetch Charlotte.

The US Department of Agriculture announced late last month a $1 billion strategy to mitigate highly pathogenic avian influenza type A H5N1 that will assist the poultry industry, with hopes of lowering egg prices.

Articles

Here is a sneak peek at this week’s headlines

Sneak peek: dvm360 kicks off Fetch Charlotte, and other veterinary news

Advancing in the veterinary profession or industry not only paves the way for career growth but can also foster positive change in the industry. As exemplary professionals step into new leadership roles, they bring with them unique perspectives, creative solutions, and a commitment to evolving their organizations and the broader veterinary landscape.

The following individuals are being spotlighted in this week’s “Paws and profits” column:

Stanley Howell, MBA chief operations officer, Wedgewood

Staney Howell, MBA. (Photo courtesy of Wedgewood)

Stanley Howell, MBA has been appointed Wedgewood’s new chief operations officer. In his new role, Howell will spearhead the company’s initiatives to streamline supply chain operations, improve service delivery, and support the growth of the Blue Rabbit platform—Wedgewood’s online veterinary pharmacy platform. Howell is certified as Six Sigma and Lean Black Belt, Change Agent, and Organizational Business Designer. Prior to his appointment at Wedgewood, he held leadership roles at Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, and Merck.

“I’m thrilled to join Wedgewood at such a transformative moment,” said Howell in a company release.

 “The company’s commitment to operational excellence and customer service aligns perfectly with my passion for driving efficiency and continuous improvement. I look forward to working with our teams to support veterinarians with the best possible pharmacy solutions, ensuring they can focus on what matters most—caring for their patients.”

Stephanie Hastings, AA, director of marketing, Aurora Pharmaceutical

Stephanie Hastings is joining Aurora Pharmaceutical as its new director of marketing. In her new position, Hastings is leading the organization’s marketing strategy, brand development, and communication initiatives. A trained anthropologist, Hastings has experience in highly regulated health and wellness, as well as agriculture industries.

I am thrilled to join Aurora Pharmaceutical and contribute to their success in the animal health industry," said Hastings in a news release.

 "Aurora is known for its dedication to innovation and quality, and I look forward to driving marketing initiatives that further enhance the company's presence and value to customers."

Libby Coleman Todd, DVM; James M. Weber Jr., DVM, MBA

Libby Coleman Todd, DVM. (Photo courtesy of American Veterinary Medical Association)

James M. Weber Jr., DVM, MBA. (Photo courtesy of American Veterinary Medical Association)

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has announced that Libby Coleman Todd, DVM and James M. Weber Jr., DVM, MBA, will be joining their board this July. Todd will direct District 3, representing AVMA members living in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi. Weber will direct District 5 and represent members in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky.

Todd is a native of Alabama with 24 years of experience practicing. She holds a certificate of thanatology from the University of Alabama and is currently the state’s delegate in the AVMA House of Delegates. She is also a member of the AVMA House Advisory Committee.

“I have learned so much about the AVMA and the immense responsibilities of the Board of Directors over the last several years. I want to continue my leadership journey as a district director so I can support and inspire other veterinarians that seek to enrich our profession,” wrote Todd in her candidate statement, according to the AVMA.

For more than three decades, Weber has played an active role in the Kentucky VMA (KVMA), including positions as president and executive board member. He represented the KVMA on the Kentucky Agricultural Council and chaired the Public Relations and Governmental Relations Committees, the latter since 2007. In addition, he served as a veterinary medical officer with the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service.

“I have had a longtime interest and desire to participate in organized veterinary medicine at the local, state, and national levels. I feel that such involvement is vital to promote the profession,” said Weber in his candidate statement.

VetnCare has appointed Matthew J. Kirchner as the company’s CEO. Kirchner has experience in health care services, medical devices, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals with a focus on organic business growth and “optimized” operations.

 According to a company release, Kirchner will also be part of the company’s board of directors.

“Having spent the majority of my career in human healthcare, I’m excited to bring my business expertise and personal passion for animals to such an important field. Pet care will continue to be a top priority for so many, and we are dedicated to leading with comprehensive and innovative care,” said Kirchner in the release.

Wedgewood appoints Stanley Howell as chief operations officer to drive growth and operational excellence. News release. Wedgewood. February 6, 2025. Accessed March 7, 2025. 

https://www.wedgewood.com/newsroom/wedgewood-appoints-stanley-howell-as-chief-operations-officer-to-drive-growth-and-operational-excellence/

Aurora Pharmaceutical appoints Stephanie Hastings as director of marketing. News release. Aurora Pharmaceutical. January 28, 2025. Accessed March 7, 2025. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aurora-pharmaceutical-appoints-stephanie-hastings-as-director-of-marketing-302362416.html

Todd, Weber elected to AVMA Board. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. February 7, 2025. Accessed March 7, 2025. 

https://www.avma.org/news/todd-weber-elected-avma-board?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=todays-headlines-news

VetnCare announces Matthew J. Kirchner as chief executive officer; founder Dr. Andrew Moffatt to continue leadership role as chief medical officer. News release. VetnCare. January 28, 2025.

New leadership moves at Wedgewood, Aurora Pharmaceutical, VetnCare, and the AVMA

Paws and profits: Leadership in the veterinary profession

A career-oriented program aiming to increase the number of emergency and specialty veterinarians is seeing continued growth. The EmERge program by BluePearl Pet Hospital, a division of Mars Veterinary Health, is expected to graduate its’ largest class in 2025, following a doubling in enrollment over the past year.

To meet the current needs of companion animal healthcare in the US, up to 55,000 additional veterinarians will be needed by 2030.

“There is a shortage of specialists that’s pretty dramatic,” Lenore Bacek, DVM, MS, DACVECC, vice president of clinical affairs at BluePearl, said in a 

interview at the 2025 WVC Annual Conference. "It's multifactorial. I think, unfortunately, a lot of people have left academia, and that's where standard training typically happens. So, I think from a BluePearl perspective, we've tried to enhance our residency programs [and] partner with universities to try to…fill that gap and really address it in a few different ways."

EmERge is one of the BluePearl programs working to help alleviate the industry shortage of veterinarians. A paid, full-time, 1-year training program, it is available to veterinarians and recent veterinary school graduates, and features a hybrid format with online modules, labs, mentoring, and hands-on experiences.

Chelsea Giese, DVM, emergency veterinarian at BluePearl, was considering leaving the veterinary profession prior to participating in the EmERge program. “For me, it was mentorship. I worked with some great senior doctors, but they were obviously very busy, and so I did not have a designated mentor. There were cases that would come in that I felt like I did not know how to handle, and I didn't know who to go to, to help address those cases. So that led to a lot of anxiety [and] just feeling like I wasn't doing the job that I wanted to be able to do, or provide the care that I always wanted to be able to provide,” Giese said in a 

interview at the 2025 WVC Annual Conference.

Since participating in the EmERge program, Geise said she is happy in the profession and feels “satisfied every day” when she goes to work. Having mentorship was key. “Joining the BluePearl EmERge program was the best decision I have ever made not only for my career but also for my overall happiness,” Giese added in a news release.

 “Since going through EmERge, I have learned more than I could have imagined and developed invaluable skills that I will take with me for the rest of my life. EmERge has turned me into a competent and confident clinician and has prepared me to tackle any emergency case that comes through the door.”

Joining EmERge in its’ mission to alleviate a veterinarian shortage, the BluePearl House Officer Training Programs offer internships, externships and residencies to provide early career veterinarians with opportunity for advancement of their medical knowledge through mentorship and hands-on experiences. These programs offer rotating and specialty internships that help participants identify potential career paths or future residency training programs, for which BluePearl has achieved a 94% success rate in matching interns. The training programs also provide residency programs in support of board certification and overall career success, and veterinary students can also take advantage of externship opportunities at more than 100 hospitals in the company’s network, according to BluePearl.

“Developing programs that train and mentor the next generation of emergency and specialty veterinarians is crucial in combatting the veterinary professional shortage,” Bacek added in the release. “Both EmERge and our House Officer Programs are incredible opportunities for current and future veterinarians to find a fulfilling career in emergency and specialty veterinary medicine. We have had an overwhelmingly positive response from program participants and encourage anyone who is interested to visit our website and learn more.”

Training and mentorship programs from BluePearl aim to combat veterinary professional shortage. News release. BluePearl Pet Hospital. February 27, 2025.

Tackling the veterinary professional shortage. Mars Veterinary Health. August 2023. Accessed March 7, 2025. 

https://marsveterinary.com/tackling-the-veterinary-professional-shortage/

A pair of growing initiatives from BluePearl Pet Hospital aim to help alleviate an industry shortage of doctors

Programs are working to advance emergency and speciality veterinary medicine

The veterinary industry has grappled with declining clinic visits and slowed veterinary spending for years.

 While price increases and an influx of new pet owners have helped maintain practice revenues, the current economic climate poses new challenges for both pet parents and veterinary teams.

Findings from a 2023 Trupanion-led veterinary survey paint a startling picture:

Pet parent finances impact 6 of 10 treatment plans

Three in 5 pet parents delay care for their pets due to cost

Pet parents would stop treatment if the bill reached $1,500

Pet owners face increased barriers to veterinary care today—often having to choose between financial well-being and their pet’s health, or life in some cases. As priorities continue to shift and discretionary spending on pet care takes a backseat to essential expenses, practice visit volumes may dwindle further, threatening the health of pets and our industry.

Now more than ever, we need a solution, and that solution is pet insurance. Hundreds of thousands of veterinary practices and pet owners in the United States and 

 have already realized its value and utility. Amidst growing economic uncertainty, pet owners and veterinarians alike have turned to it to help manage care costs and ease the financial impact of inflation.

Shifting perspectives, one paid invoice at a time

As more pet parents and veterinary teams experience the immediate and direct value of quality medical insurance for pets, support for its use grows. Just look at the numbers.

In the past 5 years, Trupanion’s paid veterinary invoices tripled from $1 billion in 2020 to $3 billion, signaling a necessary perspective shift among pet parents and veterinary professionals. This rapid acceleration reflects a growing recognition of the value high-quality pet insurance brings and the necessity of proactively managing veterinary expenses—particularly as more pet parents realize the high costs associated with pet healthcare and veterinary teams experience firsthand

Since 2020, Trupanion has experienced significant growth in both payout amounts and the number of claims paid, showing increases of 121% and 92%, respectively and paid approximately $271 million for around 1.2 million invoices. By 2024, this payout rose to around $601 million for approximately 2.4 million invoices.

When comparing 2020 through 2024 with the previous 5 years, Trupanion saw an approximate 180% increase in payout amounts and a roughly 141% rise in the number of claims. From 2015 to 2019, the total payout was $780,023,284, covering 3,946,682 invoices. From 2020 to 2024, the total payout reached $2,176,191,791, encompassing 9,513,220 invoices.

Furthermore, in examining Trupanion’s impact on in-house pharmacy sales, data researchers discovered that hospitals that actively grew their insured client base benefited from increased pharmacy sales. Hospitals utilizing Trupanion software installed in 2022 saw a 3% increase in pharmacy-related claims in 2023 compared to 2021.

Advancements in pet insurance software are also fueling pet insurance growth through enhanced veterinary experiences.

Novel technologies, like Trupanion’s Veterinary Portal and VetDirect Pay, use artificial intelligence (AI), large language models, and retrieval-augmented generation to allow providers to adjudicate claims and pay invoices directly to veterinary practices instantly, in real time.

This streamlined process simplifies practice operations by eliminating tedious paperwork and reducing the time spent on financial discussions. With the increasing cost of veterinary care, eliminating up-front costs for pet owners can also be a crucial factor in ensuring timely and lifesaving treatment for patients.

Since Trupanion surpassed $2 billion in paid claims in 2023, it has averaged $48.6 million in monthly payments to veterinary practices and pet parents—equating to about $1.5 million per day. Out of this $48.6 million in monthly payouts, roughly $23.2 million has been paid directly to practices through VetDirect Pay. Currently, 85% of claims submitted through the Veterinary Portal are paid directly to veterinary practices.

Underscoring the Veterinary Portal’s success in transforming hospital experiences, Trupanion has seen an approximate 164% increase in its use since 2019, growing from around 4,100 active hospitals to more than 10,800 hospitals today.

Despite Trupanion’s swift growth in paid claims and the 6.25 million insured pets across the US, there continues to be concerns about the practicality and utility of pet insurance—and in some regard, this is rightfully so.

Most pet insurances today operate on a dated reimbursement model, where pet owners must pay upfront for care and then file a claim to get reimbursed days or weeks later. What this model fails to address are the immediate financial constraints of the pet owner, assuming they have the funds to cover costs upfront. This is not a realistic assumption, especially in today’s inflationary environment.

What the reimbursement model does yield is cumbersome paperwork added to front desk workloads and continued financial barriers to pet health. These poor experiences, alongside recent insurer policy cuts, have created widespread skepticism and doubt around pet insurance viability, which could encourage pet owners to view pet insurance as a complex and deceptive business ploy.

Unlike the reimbursement model, Trupanion’s system expedites the claims process with the ability to pay its portion of veterinary invoices directly to practices at checkout, within minutes or less. What results from this streamlined approach are fewer barriers to care, stronger client-veterinarian bonds, and pet parent peace of mind, knowing they can say “yes” to optimal care with little to no upfront costs. At the same time, practices see increased client visits, improved adherence to treatment plans, and prompt pursuits of recommended diagnostics and testing—which ultimately can lead to earlier interventions and healthier pets. The growing rate of acceptance and reliance on high-quality pet medical insurance should be seen as a positive development for the entire veterinary system. 

According to the 2023 Trupanion-led veterinary survey, 77% of veterinary professionals prefer a client with pet medical insurance. When asked about the reasoning behind this preference, the overwhelming responses were to provide pets with the best available treatment and to prevent stressful financial conversations with owners. Despite this, more than 80% stated they do not have a single insured patient at their practice.

These findings tell us that most veterinary teams know what pet medical insurance can do for their practice, increase their ability to pursue the best treatment options and protect themselves from emotionally charged financial conversations with clients. Quality pet insurance delivers solutions to these and broader industry issues—we just need some momentum.

While external forces have caused these recent changes, deliberate actions taken by each of us can create similar perspective shifts. This could mean taking steps that move us away from a reactive care model, where treatment plans are compartmentalized to align with pet owners’ financial capabilities, towards a proactive care model, where the gold standard of veterinary care is the only level of care ever provided—from the early puppy days to the golden years and everything in between.

With collective and deliberate changes, a world where pet care is accessible to all is within reach.

Larkin M, Nolen RS. Less foot traffic at veterinary practices spells declining revenue. American Veterinary Medical Association. Published October 29, 2024. Accessed January 31, 2025. 

https://www.avma.org/news/less-foot-traffic-veterinary-practices-spells-declining-revenue

Larkin M. Pet population continues to increase while pet spending declines. American Veterinary Medical Association. Published October 10, 2024. Accessed January 31, 2025. 

https://www.avma.org/news/pet-population-continues-increase-while-pet-spending-declines

 joined Trupanion in 2013 and currently serves as Chief Executive Officer. In this role, she oversees all aspects of the company's growth, including product development, distribution, pet acquisition, international expansion, and the introduction of new products and channels. Before joining Trupanion, she spent over 7 years in brand, customer, and digital marketing at one of the world's largest pet insurance providers in the UK. Tooth’s passion for animals stems from her childhood on a farm, where she held a lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian. This deep-rooted love for pets fuels her dedication to promoting the importance of pet medical insurance.

How rising prices have prompted a surge in the use of pet insurance