Dermatology & Allergy

Consultations with board-certified dermatologist
Personalized care by high trained registered veterinary technician
Intradermal skin testing for inhalant allergy and flea allergy
Management of chronic, recurrent otitis
Cutaneous biopsies
Combination therapy for autoimmune skin diseases
Non-steroidal management of allergic dermatoses
Management of chronic, recurrent pyodermas including immunotherapy

The California Animal Referral & Emergency (C.A.R.E.) Hospital is proud to have a board-certified dermatology specialist. This means that following the four years of veterinary training and attainment of a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine; the specialist has been through an additional four years of intensive specialized training at an accredited institution. At the conclusion of this training, the demonstration of meaningful contributions to veterinary science and satisfactory completion of a comprehensive three part examination is required to be "board certified." Your pet's dermatology specialist is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology.

The dermatology department at C.A.R.E. Hospital can provide care in the following areas: Intradermal skin testing for inhalant allergy and flea allergy; combination therapy for autoimmune skin diseases; management of chronic, recurrent otitis; cutaneous biopsies; non-steroidal management of allergic dermatoses; and management of chronic, recurrent pyodermas, including immunotherapy.

Dr. Jean Swingle Greek, DVM, DACVD is C.A.R.E. Hospital's dermatology specialist. It is a rare privilege to have a Board-Certified Dermatologist on staff and, in fact, Dr. Greek is the only dermatologist on the California’s Central Coast (Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties). Complementing Dr. Greek is the Internal Medicine Department (directed by a board certified internal medicine specialist); the Emergency Medicine & Critical Care department (directed by a board certified emergency & critical care specialist); and the Surgery Department (directed by a residency trained small animal surgeon). We thank you for choosing C.A.R.E. Hospital.

For more info about our Board Certified Dermatologist, please see Dr. Jean Greek, DVM, DACVD

From the Dioji Tribone

Ask the Expert
These Fleas are Driving Me Crazy!

By Jean Greek, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology

In much of the country right now, people are enjoying crisp fall weather and pets are enjoying a hiatus from fleas. We, on the other hand, are wearing flip-flops and having drinks on the patio and our pets are wondering what the heck we plan to do about their flea problem.

The good news is that our current options for flea control are hugely improved in regards to both safety and efficacy from the much more toxic products of the past. Advantage, Frontline, Comfortis and several of the latest offerings all work on a part of the flea which is not present in mammals. This has made these products exponentially less toxic to us and to our companions. The bad news is that there is not a single be-all, end-all product for every pet. The best source of advice for individualized parasite control is your veterinarian, but I will attempt to give some generalized guidelines.

Which parasites are you concerned about? Dogs that go hiking or live in the foothills may need tick protection not necessary to their urban friends. Products vary and may have efficacy for fleas, ticks, heartworm, and certain intestinal parasites in a variety of combinations.

Is your pet flea allergic or is this more for preventative? Some dogs can be loaded with fleas and minimally bothered. Other dogs seem to prophalactically gnaw their hindquarters based on the rumor that there is a flea somewhere in the county. Flea allergic dogs can have up to ten days of residual itching from a single flea bite! It can be very difficult to find fleas on these pets as they rapidly eat the flea but keep on chewing, usually around their tail base.

How much time does he spend in the pool? Although many of the spot on products will stand up to some swimming or bathing, dogs that live in the ocean or Dioji’s pool may see less efficacy from those types of products. Comfortis™ (Eli Lily) is a new oral option with a rapid onset, a high margin of safety and lasts a month.

A final note, I absolutely believe that most the new flea products are very safe. Still, it is very important that directions especially with regards to the size and the species of the pet for which the product is intended. Most the toxicities seen in our emergency room are from misapplied products. Ask your veterinarian.

If your pet is diagnosed with allergies or has recurrent skin, ear, or flea problems, consult your primary care veterinarian and ask if a referral to Santa Barbara's Board Certified Veterinary Dermatologist. Dr. Jean Greek and her two highly trained technicians are available at C.A.R.E. three days per week and welcome consultations and/or referrals from your veterinarian. Referral appointments are made by calling (805) 899-CARE (2273). You may also log on to the C.A.R.E. web site for further information at www.carehospital.org

From the Dioji Tribone

Ask the Expert
What is the Santa Barbara itch?

By Jean Greek, DVM, DACVD

Living in paradise means that we enjoy plants blooming and temperate weather all year. The down side of paradise is allergies. Unlike human allergy sufferers, whose signs usually consist of sinus headaches and runny noses, cats and dogs are more likely to have skin and ear problems from their allergies. The same pollens, molds and dust that send us reaching for the Kleenex, cause dogs to chew their feet, get chronic ear and skin infections and rub their faces. The “Santa Barbara Itch”, more properly termed atopy or atopic dermatitis, refers to the large number of allergies that we see in this area as a result of the mild weather. Unlike less temperate areas, where some relief may be seen as the seasons change, many of our local patients have allergy signs year round. To compound the problem, fleas also enjoy our weather. Fortunately, the newest flea control products are extremely safe and effective. There are also a variety of treatments to help control environmental allergies. For many years, veterinarians had to rely on cortisone or steroid drugs as their mainstay treatment for allergic symptoms. Although these drugs often provide short term relief, chronic use can lead to serious side effects, ranging from liver problems, to cataracts to increased risk of infection. There are many other options ranging from antihistamines, to topical therapies including frequent bathing to hyposensitization to the offending allergens. Ask your veterinarian about your pet’s options.

Dr. Greek is the only board certified veterinary dermatologist on the central coast. She works at CARE.