The University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Sydney offers specialist dermatology services for dogs with skin and ear conditions. Our referral‑based service combines advanced diagnostics, evidence‑based treatments and collaborative care to support dogs across Sydney and NSW.
Dermatology consultations are available Monday to Thursday, by appointment.
Specialists usually see cases referred by general veterinary practitioners, but formal referral is not essential. A specialist has completed a residency and sat their board exams.
Dogs with skin disease that is persistent, recurrent or not responding to routine treatment, when a new condition occurs or when lesions change appearance.
Conditions that often require advanced diagnostics and tailored long-term management plans include:
Our specialist dermatology service manages all aspects of canine skin and ear disease, including:
Our aim is to reach a clear diagnosis wherever possible, enabling us to choose the safest and most effective treatment for your dog. Many dogs with long standing or poorly controlled skin disease benefit from specialist assessment.
Your scheduled visit to the dermatology service at the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Sydney begins with check in at the client service centre at our front reception desk. Remember to park in our dedicated client parking area and to log your number plate with them to avoid fines. You do not need to pay for parking.
Following a small amount of paperwork, you will be greeted in the waiting room by our dermatology nurse who will get a current body weight of your pet and escort you to our dermatology consultation room.
Our specialist dermatologist, Dr Beth McDonald, will have reviewed the records from your referring veterinarians. A thorough history is one of the most important factors in diagnosing a disease and implementing the best therapy protocol.
UVTHS is a teaching hospital. One to two final year students will often join the consult and may take a history from you, they will be involved in the dermatology examination and collection of simple diagnostic tests. Your consult will take longer due to our commitment to teach our students. But, this means we offer a very thorough service. We thank you in advance for your patience.
Once we have completed our examination and collection of samples you will return to the waiting room while we prepare our cytology slides and review them. This can take up to 30 minutes.
Dr McDonald will discuss the results, treatment plans and then prepare a detailed discharge letter which includes all instructions. This will also be immediately sent to your referring vet. As most skin disease are chronic, genetically based and therefore often lifelong, you should expect that regular recheck consultations will be required. These are booked for an hour.
We encourage you to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
| Days | Clinic Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | 8:00am - 1:00pm |
As a teaching hospital, consultations take slightly longer to allow time for thorough explanation and discussion.
Consultation and testing costs as of January 2026
Allergies are common in dogs. The flea and other insects are less commonly a problem nowadays due to the release of safe and effective tick, mite and flea control products. Allergies to environmental materials including pollens, dust mites and mould spores which we call Atopic dermatitis, or food allergies, are more common. The ease and success of treatment depends on the inciting cause. We can run skin or blood tests to identify environmental allergens, which can then be formulated into immunotherapy vaccines. The only test to diagnose food allergy is by following a strict 6–8 week trial based on a novel protein source (meat).
Staphylococcus bacteria is the most common cause of bacterial infection that we see.
The most typical symptoms are small papule or pustule on the skin, patchy hair loss and excess scale in the coat. The infections are diagnosed during the consult by collecting samples and examining them immediately. They are treated with topical antiseptics and, less commonly, antibiotics.
The dermatology service is vigilent about recognising and treating antibiotic resistant infections ('superbugs').
Ear infections with bacteria or yeast are common in dogs, but also occur in cats. The infections are caused by a number of factors — for example excessive moisture due to swimming, ear mites or allergies. Some organisms like Pseudomonas or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus are chronic particularly difficult to deal with and can take months of repeated rechecks and therapies. In some cases, the changes to the ear canals are irreversible and surgery is required to achieve a cure.
The most common fungal disease we see in practice is Malassezia yeast, in atopic dogs. In these cases, the yeast have to be treated correctly but the underlying diseases such as allergies need to be addressed or the infections continue to recur.
Immune-mediated disorders are fairly common in dogs and cats. This is where the body’s immune system attacks normal body tissue. Drugs to suppress the immune system is required and treatment may be required long term. The selection of drugs is based on their efficacy, cost and side effects.
Dogs with chronic itch, hair loss, recurrent ear infections or poor response to treatment may benefit from specialist care.
Usually no. Skin testing requires sedation and takes around 90 minutes, and suitability must first be assessed.
There is currently no reliable blood or saliva test. Diagnosis requires a strict elimination diet trial for 6-8 weeks.
If the ears are comfortable, routine cleaning is not recommended unless advised by a veterinarian.
Some cases cannot be cured, but many can be effectively managed with the right long term plan.
A complete medical history is extremely helpful, including diagnostic test results, prescribed medications (dose and duration), adverse reactions, and responses to treatments.
Referral is recommended for chronic otitis lasting longer than six weeks, frequently relapsing ear disease, pruritic puppies unresponsive to flea control or food trials, and older dogs with new onset skin disease.
Yes. We are happy to review records remotely and suggest diagnostic and treatment options.
The World Association of Veterinary Dermatology (WAVD) and Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS) Science Week.
We support referring veterinarians across Sydney, NSW and regional Australia, working collaboratively to manage complex dermatology cases.
