![In the words of one of our client's this morning, "Ragw**d be Ragw**d-ing"! πΎπ€£Wash, rinse, wipe off your body and face a...](https://img5.voofla.com/406/296/1047363344062969.jpg)
08/28/2024
In the words of one of our client's this morning, "Ragw**d be Ragw**d-ing"! πΎπ€£
Wash, rinse, wipe off your body and face and you pet πΆπ this week, especially Friday!
Phone: 412-274-1400
Address: 801 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15086
In the words of one of our client's this morning, "Ragw**d be Ragw**d-ing"! πΎπ€£
Wash, rinse, wipe off your body and face and you pet πΆπ this week, especially Friday!
Ragw**d and other w**d pollens are here, my friends! Levels have been creeping up and quite high over the last two-ish weeks. We have been getting TONS of calls and rechecks for flaring allergies- this is why!
Ragw**d is prolific and highly allergenic, and pollen can travel for miles on the wind. And yes, even if your pet (or you!) are indoors most of the day, these pollens can absolutely cause you trouble.
If your petβs allergies are flaring, this is common and expected- give us a call so we can help get control of their flare before it escalates. We are here to help!
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Soaking up all of the knowledge! Great lecture on Feline Otitis Media [middle ear disease] on Saturday afternoon presented by Dr. R Lucas from Brazil. Continued feline lectures this morning! π±
Our page has been a bit quiet as our doctors prepare to head off to Boston for our annual meeting- this year (and every four years) is our WORLD Congress. Brilliant people from all over the world gather to share knowledge and have a fun.
Our clinic staff will still be here to take your phone calls and emails during regular business hours to help your pets.
Our doctors always come back from conference armed with new knowledge and excited to apply that knowledge to better help our patients! Wish them a fabulous trip!
The last 2 weeks outside have been HOT.π‘βοΈ
You may think because the pollen counts are LOW that allergies should be better, BUT..... π€§
GRASS pollen is still measurable despite the heat and dead-looking grass, and the pollen sits within the grass you and your pet walk on. In the past 2 weeks, the WEEDs have started pollinating, specifically Dock, Plantain, Pigw**d, and others. πΎ *Ragw**d is next*
PLEASE RINSE OR WIPE YOUR PET'S FEET, ARMPITS AND BELLY after being outside. πΏπ§Ό It will help reduce their exposure and their overall symptoms.
Greetings from sunnyβοΈ St. Petersburg, FL! Louis, a patient of Dr. Sargent's, is beating the heat and lounging [inside] at his summer "beach house"! Sooooo cute!
SHARE photos of your pets from this holiday week and upcoming weekend! πΊπΈπΈ
Happy Independence Day! πΊπ²
Safety reminders from Vet Tech Institute - Pittsburgh, PA for tonight's fireworks! π
This information from DVM360.com is great for tomorrow's 4th of July celebrations! π§¨
Some quick, but important, TIPS!
1. Keep pets indoors
2. Consider anti-anxiety medication
3. Play calming music or sounds
4. Have valuable treats for distraction
5. Keep pet's cage open to go in for rest
Have a wonderful holiday, but remember to keep your pet's safe as you celebrate! πΊπ²
It's the [2nd] time of the year for...FIREWORKS! New Years Eve and Independence Day can get loud for sensitive [but most] pets! π§¨π
July 4th comes with added heat π‘and lots of yummy picnic foods! π
Please check out this SAFETY list for your pets so everyone can have a wonderful holiday! πΊπ²
Shared from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and Vet Tech Institute - Pittsburgh, PA! Thank you!
This is Meach! Enough said! π¦΄πΎ
On this 1st edition of "What's Your Derm Diagnosis" read further and swipe. πΈπ€
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Have you ever seen this on your pet or patient?? Has your pet or patient ever been so itchy they caused so much damage to the top of their muzzle? Do you know what an eosinophil is?? And what causes this condition??
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When a dog comes in with an acute [aka sudden] history of severe inflammation on the TOP of the haired nose/muzzle AND severe itching at the location, we look for certain clues. One main focus is cytology AND a skin biopsy to accompany if possible. Our goal is to find EOSINOPHILS, which are the white blood cell type associated with this inflammation! [See 5th πΈ, red dots inside the cell].
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This skin condition is called Eosinophilic Folliculitis & Furunculosis, more specifically the EOSINOPHIL [pictured] overpopulates the skin of the nose after an insect bites the pet/patient, the bite incident is rarely observed but the severe itching and lesions occur soon after.
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Dr. Sargent took care of "Gingersnap" (pictured, before and after procedure) this Tuesday. After a biopsy procedure was performed to confirm the suspected diagnosis noted above, Gingersnap's heavy crust was cleaned off her muzzle, and a steroid-containing powder medication was applied. She was prescribed pain medication and oral steroids to help her symptoms quickly improve. Once the pathologist returns the final diagnosis AND we see Gingersnap's response to therapy, we will update here! π€
If you haven't seen the pollen counts this week, visit www.pollen.com! Due to the HIGH heatπ‘, the GRASS pollen πΎ counts are lower. But not gone for the summer.
AND look what's pollinating...WEEDS! π±
Just when you think you know the pollen patterns, the WEEDS pollinate in June! π²
You can also check the Weatherchannel for the daily and weekly pollen counts!
Please don't forget the ground is very hot, for your feet π¦Ά and especially your pet's feet [& footpads]! πΎ
Just a few examples of kitty-cat bliss in our new "cat's ONLY room"! ππ±
The Feli-Way Diffuser also helps their experience! β€οΈ Ceva Animal Health USA
Please SHARE your sweet pets with us for ! β€οΈ
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Today is - a day of remembrance for pets who forever changed our lives and will never be forgotten. Honor your loved pet's memory by sharing a photo of them with us in the comments.
BEFORE & AFTER πΈ comin' at ya! π
"Puck" is a kitty patient of Dr. Sargent, who had SEVERE facial itching [aka "pruritus"]. He has been a TOUGH case to manage. Puck receives Dexamethasone for itching and allergen-specific immunotherapy π for his allergies. πΎ As you can see, he is on the right track and looking GOOOOOOOD! π
Let's celebrate Puck's BEFORE & AFTER! π
I feel like someone is "watching" us! ππ€£
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"Dusty" a 2 year old German Shepherd and "Nami" a 2 year old English Bulldog came in today for their ongoing year-round π or seasonal allergy πΎ symptoms, respectively!
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They both had allergy testing done today! We are eager to review their results and help them feel better as soon as possible! π©΅π§‘
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Thank you to our wonderful clients today who thought we needed a little SNACKY-SNACK! π§π«
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π GAME TIME! π
Can you guess the 14 [fourteen] dog π breeds listed in the first photo? πΈ
Answer all 14, IF YOU CAN π€, in the comments!
And we couldn't resist including some cute dog patient photos for inspiration! π§‘πΎπ©΅
Announcement - we have done our 1st patient CT! π
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Bridget, a lovely Cocker Spaniel [with a lovely owner], who has chronic allergic ear disease, needed a deep ear flush to provide a better assessment of severity and allowing a deep cleaning of the canals not possible at home.
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We performed a CT scan prior to the ear flush, which helped to differentiate Bridget's TWO ears from each other [see last pic]. One ear had a small MASS we removed but open canals and the opposite ear was VERY swollen and filled with discharge. BUT......her CT scan showed us BOTH middle ear cavities were EMPTY & NORMAL, which cannot be seen with our otoscopy unit. π²
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Here's to more and more information gathered for our patients with ear disease! CALL our office to discuss this option for your pet or patient!
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π³ UPDATE: we use www.pollen.com for our daily and weekly pollen counts! πΎ
We hope everyone had a restful and honorable Memorial Day weekend! πΊπ² Our crew has been so busy with the move-in over the past few weeks that we definitely needed the break.
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But we are back in the office and the pollen...hasn't stopped! π³πΎ Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the same, HIGH!
"Don't stop me [us] now... cause I'm havin' a good time"!
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The last few weeks at our new office/clinic have been great! Of course, we are seeing all types of patients and levels of cases, some tough with severe skin or ear issues, many itchy due to allergies and all with supportive and committed families!
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Thank you for supporting our transition thus far as we are still getting completely set up and settled in. If you have come by the office with your pet, every day there is a new plant π±πͺ΄ and a change in the exam room or process to improve efficiency!
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No matter the dermatologic issue, severity or difficulty, simplicity, length of time or smell level ππ, we are here to support you and your pet(s)! Check out just a few of the cute mugshots from this week's exam rooms! πΎ
A green addition π in honor of our new clinic and to help celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month!
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This [huge] Monstera Deliciosa has been living at Dr. Detwiler's house for a few years, waiting for the moment to make another space happy!
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Scroll through pics πΈ of our new, lovely, plant's trip from Dr. Detwiler's front room to her garage, into the truck [video evidence not shared due to embarassment], onto the clinic back patio, during the "chop and prop session" with Dr. McAuliffeβs guidance and finally into our front lobby!
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Breathe (In The Air)! πΆπ
πΌ "You're my best friend...!" πΆ
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Last week, we were trained by to use our NEW CT scanner, so we brought in our "best friends" to help us learn! π©»
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First up, Dr. Sargent's Brittany - Belle. Next, Rachael's Labrador - Sophie. Then, Ashley's Shih Tzu - Scarlet. And, Betsy's American Bully - Tater. For fun, Danielle's tortoise [in a π¦] - Tomato π’. Lastly, Dr. Detwiler's boa constrictor snake π - Rusty!
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If your pet needs a CT scan, recommended by your veterinarian or one of our Dermatologists, then give us a call with questions or we will see you soon!
Please share a big shout and thank you to Montague Design for making this space our forever home! π₯ Come visit us at our location if you haven't yet!
We love the colors, the light, the energy. Our patients are less stressed, our clients are more relaxed and enjoy the atmosphere, and our staff feels so much happier at work! Thank you!! π©΅π§‘
Did you know that our pets are sensitive to colors, light, and texture?
Our customer-experience-minded design approach was put to the test while working with Pittsburgh Veterinary Dermatology to relocate their offices in Warrendale. Our color scheme includes soft green walls and flooring with grip to prevent our four-legged friends from sliding.
Stay tuned to see the finished space.
801 Commonwealth Drive
Warrendale, PA
15086
Monday | 8:30am - 5pm |
Tuesday | 8:30am - 5pm |
Wednesday | 8:30am - 5pm |
Thursday | 8:30am - 5pm |
Friday | 8:30am - 5pm |
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Caught "the wave"! π Tonight, the last night of our Veterinary Dermatology conference, we were invited to watch the Boston Red Sox vs. Seattle Mariners. "A Night at Fenway". π§’βΎοΈ #boston #fenway #bostonredsox #wcvd #wcvd10 #wcvd2024 #acvd #veterinarydermatology #veterinarydermatologist #pittvetderm #pittsburgh
Elanco sponsored a lovely event last night for World Congress #WCVD #WAVD at the Boston Public Library There was a beautiful spread of food, music, dancing and fun!
SOUND ON! π"Goose" came to visit for an allergy recheck yesterday and met our new, resident, bird-feeder SQUIRREL! πΏ He is a young Golden Retriever who also has a young [early] history of allergies. π©΅ He is flaring now, chewing feet and ear infection, likely due to the recent start of grass pollen season. πΎ We gave Goose a Cytopoint injection for itching, therapy for his ears and he will continue his strict prescription diet trial as we learn about his itch levels during the pollen seasons. Allergy testing is in his future! π©ββοΈ #squirrel #birdfeeder #birdfeederfun #squirrelonbirdfeeder #veterinarydermatology #veterinarydermatologist #vetdermatologist #vetdermatology #allergies #dogallergies #dog #itching #otitis #allergytest #pittvetderm #pittsburgh
Welcome to the 1st day in our NEW OFFICE! We cannot wait to see you there! π β’ Thank you ahead of time for your patience as we get the moving kinks worked out [again]. π₯ β’ Please visit our website for our online store, email our staff [[email protected]] or call the office with questions regarding your pet. We will work as efficiently as possible to answer your concerns through the transition period this week! πΎ
βοΈ Our NEW PHONE number: 412-274-1400 βοΈ πΈ: "Wednesday" [our tech, Amber's, cat πββ¬] showing off our PVD sticker "on" her bandage.
HAPPY MONDAY! π Read below! β¬οΈ Step 1: READ the important MESSAGE below. Step 2: WATCH our super wiggly and very handsome, new allergy patient, Ollie! πΎ ANNOUNCEMENT -- βοΈπ±π The North and South Blue Pearl PVSEC hospital locations are currently upgrading their phone systems. This will affect our Dermatology office as well. During the upgrade, we will not be able to transfer calls or receive transferred calls. We apologize for the inconvenience and any miscommunication that may occur over the next few weeks. Alternatively, you can email our office with any patient questions including medication refills, [email protected]. π²π»
Cytology quiz answer! (With video so you can watch them slowly creepy crawl!) These are DEMODEX mites, one of the two types of mites that cause mange in dogs. With how long the bodies on these adults are and how itchy Blu was, we are most suspicious these are Demodex injai, which is much less common than Demodex canis, and can be very itchy and superficial. Demodex canis tends to not be very itchy, and lives deeper in the hair follicle. Fortunately we have very effective treatments these days, so Blu will be well on the road to recovery. #veterinarymedicine #veterinarydermatology #itchydog #cytology
*This video shows a blood draw* Check out good boy Ozzy loving his peanut butter plate while he gets his blood drawn for an #allergytest! We love to use #lowstresshandling techniques as much as possible to help make pets more comfortable and actually *enjoy* their time visiting us. #veterinaryallergy #veterinarydermatology #veterinarymedicine
Morticiaβs laser procedure #veterinarydermatology #veterinarymedicine #scienceiscool #lasertreatment #helpingpets
Download the TeleVet app for Apple devices here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/televet-care/id1622613509 Download the TeleVet app for Android devices here: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=televet&c=apps&hl=en_US&gl=US
It's "Team Member Tuesday." Once a month, we will highlight a member of our team so that you can get to know us better. This month, we highlight Shannon, our Practice Manager: Shannon has been the Practice Manager at Pittsburgh Veterinary Dermatology for the past 4 years. How long have you been at Pittsburgh Veterinary Dermatology? I started as a Veterinary Technician in August of 2007 and worked my way up to Practice Manager in 2018. What is your most memorable moment at PVD? We were asked to do an allergy test on a gorilla at the Pittsburgh Zoo. It was probably one of the coolest things I have done as a technician. What do you enjoy most about working at PVD? I like to be a helper and a problem solver. Being a manager as well as a technician, I get to help my staff with issues that they run into but I also get to help clients with their pet's skin problems. Do you have any pets? I think I'm an anomaly in the Veterinary world because I have only one dog, Lexi. We rescued her a couple of years ago and she's the perfect fit in our family. What is your most embarrassing moment? Probably one of my answers during my initial interview to work at Pittsburgh Veterinary Dermatology. I was asked what my weaknesses were. I responded "Probably Dermatology. I'm not too very well knowledgeable about Dermatology." I'm still shocked that they called me back for a second interview. Who has been your inspiration? Currently, my inspiration is my kids. I want to be the best possible version of myself for them and to lead and teach them by example. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? I love spending time with my family and going for runs with my dog, Lexi.
"Jim" is ~9 years old. He was rescued from Tennessee, traveled to PA through "Bridge to Home" and adopted during COVID by his current owner. He has been treated for Heartworms since adoption and is a new patient of Dermatology due to chronic [and possibly allergic] pododermatitis.
Happy Halloween from Pittsburgh Veterinary Dermatology. π We love to dress up our pets. π§π¦ΈββοΈ Show us your pets in their Halloween costumes below!
Despite coming to the Dermatologist today, Annie Mae was happy to show off her fun tricks...for a treat of course!!! π𦴠What tricks [or behaviors] can your pet do?? π₯
Introducing "Scout"! You may have noticed her as our new Derm "cover model". One of our technicians dog, Scout is a 3.5lb Pomeranian puppy who recently developed allergy symptoms and she is "NOT GONNA TAKE IT"!!! π Stay tuned for her workup! π©ββοΈ #itchydog #allergies #foodallergies #dvm #vettechlife #vetderm #vetdermatology #veterinarydermatology #veterinarydermatologist #veterinarian #dogsofpittsburgh #pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Veterinary Dermatology was founded in August 2003, filling a void in veterinary dermatology services in the greater Pittsburgh area. In 2006, Dr Sandra Sargent DVM DACVD returned to the Pittsburgh area where she grew up and took over the dermatology practice. She purchased the practice in 2008 and Pittsburgh Veterinary Dermatology remains independently owned and operated. Patients are currently seen at both the PVSEC North and South facility. Dr Ashley Detwiler DVM DACVD joined the practice in July, 2018.
Pittsburgh Veterinary Dermatology is currently the only specialty dermatology practice between Philadelphia and Akron and Columbus, Ohio. The dermatology department provides the quality dermatological care your pets need, treating a variety of animals including dogs, cats and small and large pets. Veterinary dermatologists are experts in treating skin allergies, ear diseases and many other skin disorders.