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Ask the Veterinarian/Expert Profile

Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf

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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

User	Date	K	C	T	P	Comments
Ralph	11/21/09	10	10	10	10	Dr. Gotthelf got back to me in .....
Nadine	11/17/09	10	10	9	10
Cathy	11/15/09	8	6	10	10
Tessa	11/15/09	10	10	10	10	Thanks, your answer was very helpful and .....
Patrick	10/29/09	7	5	8	9

Recent Answers from Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf

2009-11-21 ear flap swelling:

This is probably an aural hematoma, which is a pocket of blood between the skin and the cartilage. Dogs get these from violently shaking the ears. Your vet should look at this and if that is what it is

2009-11-20 25 week Scottish Terrier:

There are probably 2 things going on here. The skin may be itching from the poison ivy, which is unusual in dogs, or the pup may have sarcoptic mange. He should be treated for that even though the vet

2009-11-19 Black Lab "odor":

Most of the time doggie odor is a combination of oils on the skin and bacterial infection. If there is flakiness, then there probably is a bacterial Staph infection. The odor comes from the breakdown

2009-11-14 Bald spot:

This is called a lick granuloma. IT is an obsessive-compulsive disorder that may require something like prozac. It feels so good to the dog to lick this area, that he will get a hormone release (endorphins)

2009-11-14 Problem with the tail:

Sometimes it is compulsive, but sometimes it is rectal pain or cramps. Often the tail itches. Ask the vet to give one shot of a steroid to see if it goes away. If it does, then it is something that

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