Using local numbing, we select and take a small (~ 6mm in diameter), very specific and representative sample of your pet’s affected skin using delicate technique so that we cause minimal trauma to the area and the sample. We place these samples in a preservative that fixes the tissues and allows for transport to a highly trained dermatopathologist who will analyze them. We hand-deliver every biopsy sample directly to the pathologist’s lab in order to prevent any transport mishaps. Once the pathologist’s review is complete, Dr. Simões will interpret the results and formulate the best treatment plan for your pet.

Using a sterile cotton-tipped culturette stick, we collect a sample from your pet’s skin or ears and submit it to a commercial microbiology laboratory for identification of pathogenic bacteria and fungus. The identified bacteria are also tested for their susceptibility to various antibiotics to help determine treatment options for your pet’s infection. Results will be carefully reviewed by Dr. Simões and correlated with all other information and findings from your pet’s medical case, in order to formulate the best treatment plan.

Allergies are prevalent in our pets and they are life-long. Regardless of how well managed a patient is, allergies are forever. Which is why we seek to manage allergy with the least dependence on drugs. This starts with identification of the underlying allergy. For environmental allergies, we offer the gold standard of testing which is intradermal allergy testing. In certain unique cases where intradermal allergy testing is not possible, we may collect a blood sample and instead perform serology testing.
For intradermal allergy testing, we place an intravenous catheter and administer a reversible mild dose of sedation to help your pet relax. We shave a patch of hair on your pet’s chest and perform a prick-like test using numerous plant, mite, fungus and insect allergen extracts at specific dilutions to create a mild skin reaction. These reactions are measured and graded on a scale in an objective manner. Anaphylactic and other adverse reactions are quite rare but possible. Rest assured that we are experienced and prepared to address these if they arise.

After the testing is complete, your pet’s sedation is reversed and he/she is discharged while Dr. Simões reviews the results with you. From these results Dr. Simões will carefully select the most important allergens to mix up and formulate a unique recipe of diluted allergen extract customized for your pet which you will administer at home either as oral drops or injections. This type of treatment, called allergen immunotherapy, involves giving your pet diluted allergen extracts slowly and over time in order to desensitize the immune system and reduce severity and symptoms of allergy. It is an extremely safe, non-drug based type of therapy.

Book an appointment with us, and after consultation, Dr. Simões will determine if your pet is a candidate for intradermal allergy testing and immunotherapy.

We also perform intradermal allergy testing for horses. Dr. Simões and her technical staff will travel to your horse’s stable and, in collaboration with your equine primary veterinarian who typically administers a sedative, perform an intradermal allergy test. Please contact us for further details if interested in scheduling this procedure.

Using a fiber optic camera in a long cable, a video otoscope allows for tremendous magnification and unparalleled access to the entire ear canal including the eardrum, or tympanic membrane, and a portion of the middle ear cavity, or the bulla. It allows for close examination and serves as a diagnostic tool, but in the hands of an expert, it can also be used as a therapeutic tool used for removal of embedded foreign bodies, cystic masses, tumors, as well as deep flushing and irrigation to clean and remove impacted wax and skin cells. If there is concern for a deep middle ear infection, a video otoscope is essential for performing an accurate and safe myringotomy, which is a procedure where a small hole is made into the eardrum using a sterile catheter, in order to sample fluid or material trapped behind the eardrum and allow for drainage and irrigation. We also have the unique ability to use CO2 laser equipment alongside our video otoscope to treat conditions deep within the ear canal. Dr. Simões has over 10 years of clinical expertise and training using video otoscopy to treat many otic diseases. After an initial consultation, she will be able to determine if a video otoscopy is advised for your pet.

Using a state-of-the-art CO2 laser unit, we can perform many laser-specific, targeted surgeries of the skin and underlying tissue without the negative side effects and invasive nature of traditional surgery. CO2 laser technology works by emitting an intense beam of light that is readily absorbed by water-rich tissue, allowing for its removal without causing damage to nearby cells. The benefits of laser surgery are numerous: it minimizes bleeding by cauterizing nearby blood vessels, reduces pain by lasering nerve endings at the site, reduces infection by sterilizing the surgical site, and because of its targeted nature, it can be performed in challenging areas of the body not easily amenable to traditional surgery. Moreover, in the hands of a highly skilled dermatologist such as Dr. Simões, and in the right candidate, CO2 laser surgery may be performed using a mild sedative or even a local anesthetic, and may not require general anesthesia nor stitches. This becomes a valuable tool especially to treat senior patients or patients with heart disease that cannot undergo general anesthesia safely. Dr. Simões has over 10 years of clinical expertise and training using CO2 laser to treat many different skin conditions. After an initial consultation, she will be able to determine if your pet is a good candidate for this targeted type of surgery.

Examples of skin conditions treated with CO2 laser surgery:

• Sebaceous adenomas/hyperplasia
• Infundibular acanthomas
• Interdigital cystic pododermatitis
• Nasal hyperkeratosis
• Nasal tumors
• Solar or actinic keratosis
• Mass/tumor removals of the skin and ear canal
• Cystomatosis in cats
• Acral lick granulomas

Ideal for deep chronic wounds and slow healing infections, Phovia treatment uses non-ionizing light therapy to speed the skin’s natural ability to heal itself. It is painless, takes a few minutes of an in-clinic visit, and has no additional recovery time or maintenance needed at home. This treatment is typically prescribed in conjunction with additional medications as prescribed. After a consultation, Dr. Simões will help determine if this is an appropriate treatment for your pet’s skin disease.