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- Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf
Ask the Veterinarian/Expert Profile
Expertise
Dermatology and ear diseases of dogs and cats
Experience in the area
I am the author of "Small Animal Ear Diseases; An Illustrated Guide" published by W.B. Saunders. I have over 25 years of clinical experience with a special interest in dermatologic conditions and ear diseases.
Organizations
American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology
Publications
Veterinary Forum
Veterinary Medicine
Waltham Focus
What do you like about this subject?
Of all the diseases seen in dogs and cats, skin and ear diseases seem to fall into the number 1 and 2 categories.
What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?
There are a number of unanswered questions relating to why dogs and cats get ear disease. The bacteria and yeasts are hard to deal with and the area I am researching is how to treat these cases more effectively. I have designed the MedRx Video Vetscope, a video based imaging system for veterinarians to operate in the ear.
Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:
Dogs with ear infections that do not resolve within a month or 6 weeks usually have a middle ear infection as well. The eardrums rupture in response to external ear disease. Most people and vets do not know this.
Something controversial or provocative about this subject
Antibiotics alone are not the answer to ear diseases.
Average Ratings
Recent Reviews from Users
K = Knowledgeability C = Clarity of Response P = Politeness| User | Date | K | C | P | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TW | 05/18/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you Dr. Gotthelf---this must take a ..... |
| Cindy | 05/12/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you - I will ask my ..... |
| cheryl | 05/08/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | I am very happy to know there ..... |
| Annie | 05/08/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you for your response to my ..... |
| Heather | 05/08/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you - I looked the comedones ..... |
Recent Answers from Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf
2012-05-23 Labrador Retriever ear issue:
That clump of hair is a matt and it is caused by either scratching or rubbing the hair into knots. There are no wax glands on the back of the ear like that. Usually there is something that is itching
2012-05-21 Puppy has a horrible rash:
This could very well be sarcoptic mange. Are you itching at all? This is contagious to people. If it is not mange, then it might be an bacterial infection and it may require antibiotics. I would definitely
2012-05-20 Our cat and his asthma:
If it is an allergic asthma, then the treatment is steroids. With this type of drugs, we need to find the minimum dose that takes away the symptoms. It may be that 5mg is not enough. It may be that another
2012-05-19 Food for multiple cats of different ages:
Yes, you can feed the senior food to the younger cat. It is a complete food. The senior food has a little less protein, but more vitamins and minerals. It also has reduced phosphorus and will maintain
2012-05-18 husky/wolf hybrid mix, hair loss on belly:
You need to take a magnifying glass and look closely at the skin where there is no hair. Can you see broken hair shafts at the level of the skin? Is there hair present in the skin or not? If the dog
Answers by Expert:
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