Cheshire Veterinary Dermatology

05/08/2026

Amber was back in this week for her pemphigus check up, and overall, she’s continued to do really well. Her skin has healed beautifully over the past few months, and she’s been comfortable and happy at home.
Her owners know that autoimmune skin disease can have ups and downs, and that occasional flare ups are part of the condition. That’s exactly why they brought her in again this week — she’s started with a few new spots, and they wanted to get ahead of things early.
We’ve examined her and adjusted her treatment plan to settle these changes before they become anything more significant. The attached slide shows her cytology from today’s visit. The larger, rounded keratinocytes you can see are acanthocytes, which we expect to find in pemphigus and help confirm that this small flare is consistent with her underlying condition.
Amber is still doing brilliantly, and her owners are doing everything right. We’ll keep monitoring her closely, but she remains the same sweet, resilient superstar she’s been throughout her treatment.

04/08/2026

Meet Bear.
Bear came to see us because his left ear had been causing him ongoing problems. Yesterday we began a full otitis investigation to get to the bottom of what’s been troubling him.
His CBCT scan showed normal middle ears, but there was evidence of disease in the left ear canal. With video otoscopy we could see a healthy right canal, while the left was full of discharge. Cytology confirmed Malassezia, so we carried out a thorough ear flush to give him a clean starting point.
Bear will now begin a tailored management plan, and we’ll reassess him in two weeks to monitor his progress and keep him comfortable.

03/08/2026

Max is now six weeks on from his CO₂ laser lump removal, and his tail has healed beautifully. The surgical site is smooth, comfortable, and completely settled, with no swelling, no irritation, and no sign of the lump that was causing him trouble.
This is exactly the outcome we hope for after CO₂ laser surgery: precise removal, minimal discomfort, and rapid healing. Because the laser seals blood vessels and nerve endings as it works, most patients heal quickly and with very little post operative fuss — Max included.
His owners have been fantastic with his aftercare, and it really shows. He’s back to wagging his tail with enthusiasm, enjoying life exactly as he should.
If your dog has a lump in a tricky area or a spot that doesn’t heal well with traditional surgery, CO₂ laser can be a gentle and effective option. Feel free to get in touch if you’d like to chat about whether it might help your pet.

01/08/2026

31/07/2026

Happy Friday from Cheshire Veterinary Dermatology — and here’s the final creature in our little parasite archive: Cheyletiella, often nicknamed “walking dandruff”.
Cheyletiella mites are surface dwelling parasites that live on the skin rather than burrowing into it. They’re most commonly seen in dogs, cats, and rabbits, and they can cause a very itchy, flaky dermatitis. Owners often first notice excessive dandruff over the back or shoulders, sometimes with a bit of redness or scratching. Because the mites are relatively large, the flakes can appear to move — hence the memorable nickname.
Cheyletiella can transfer between pets and occasionally to humans, so if one animal in the household is affected, it’s important to check everyone. The good news is that it’s very treatable with appropriate parasite control and a bit of environmental cleaning.
If you’re seeing increased flakiness, itchiness, or anything unusual with your pet’s skin, we’re always here to help at Cheshire Veterinary Dermatology.

29/07/2026

Another day, another lovely parasite — meet Demodex cornei!
Today’s microscope find is Demodex cornei, a tiny mite that lives on the surface of a dog’s skin. These mites are short, stubby, and cigar shaped, and because they sit in the very top layer of the skin, we can often spot them on simple tape strips or light skin scrapes. They can even show up on faecal flotation tests because dogs naturally groom themselves, moving mites from the skin into the digestive tract.
When present in higher numbers, these mites can contribute to itching, redness, flaky skin, and sometimes secondary infections. They’re more likely to cause problems in dogs with sensitive skin or underlying health issues, but identifying them early helps us manage symptoms effectively.
At Cheshire Veterinary Dermatology, we use targeted diagnostics to identify which mite type is present and create treatment plans tailored to each patient’s needs.
If your dog is dealing with persistent itching, hair loss, or skin changes, we’re here to help get to the bottom of it.

27/07/2026

A tiny star of the microscope at Cheshire Veterinary Dermatology…
If you’ve ever wondered what an Otodectes mite looks like up close, enjoy this little clip of one crawling around under the microscope. These microscopic parasites — commonly known as ear mites — live in the ear canals of cats, dogs, ferrets and other small mammals. They feed on skin debris and cause intense itchiness, head shaking, dark waxy discharge and a whole lot of discomfort for our patients.
Despite how common ear mites are in general practice, we actually don’t get to see them very often in referral dermatology. Most cases are treated long before they reach us — so when one does appear wriggling across a slide, it absolutely makes our day !
It’s always fascinating to be reminded of the tiny creatures that can cause such big problems for pets. If your pet is showing signs of ear irritation, we're here to help .

23/07/2026

This week we started one of our patients on their individually made allergen specific immunotherapy. This treatment is only offered once we’ve completed a full dermatology work up and ruled out all other causes of skin disease such as parasites, infections, food reactions and hormonal conditions. When everything else has been excluded and a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis is confirmed, we can create a personalised vaccine based on that pet’s allergy profile.
Allergen specific immunotherapy is made uniquely for each patient. It contains tiny, carefully measured amounts of the environmental allergens they react to – things like house dust mites, pollens or moulds. The aim is to gently retrain the immune system, so it becomes less reactive over time. As tolerance builds, many pets experience fewer flare ups, less itching and often need fewer long term medications.
The treatment is given as a course of injections, either at home or in the clinic.
We’re excited to begin this journey for our patient and look forward to seeing their comfort and skin health improve over the coming months.

22/07/2026

Ear disease is one of the most common reasons pets come to see us — and it’s often far more complex than it first appears. Many of our patients have been struggling for years before they’re referred, despite multiple treatments that only offered short-term relief.
This is where advanced imaging changes everything.
Our CBCT scanner allows us to see the middle ear, the tiny bones, the cartilage around the ear canal, and subtle structural changes that simply aren’t visible with standard otoscopy. This level of detail means we can diagnose accurately, plan treatment confidently, and help pets get long-term comfort rather than temporary fixes.
If your pet has ongoing ear problems — repeated infections, head shaking, discharge, or discomfort — a deeper look may be the key to finally getting answers.
Helping pets feel comfortable in their skin (and ears!) again is what we’re here for.