ON-DEMAND VET COURSE
The Approach to the Itchy Dog and Cat
Pruritus is one of the most common and frustrating presentations in small animal practice.
- Veterinarian
- Non-Interactive RACE Approval Pending
- 3 Months Access
- 4 Structured CPD Points
This course includes
- 3-month access
- Course ebook
- Extra resources
- Lecture Recordings
- Quiz assessment
- CPD certificate
What you'll learn
This short course cuts through the noise and delivers actionable strategies you can use today! Across two focused lectures, world-renowned veterinary dermatologist, Dr Amanda Burrows delivers a practical, step-by-step framework for approaching the itchy patient. Designed for the busy clinician, this is the systematic approach you need to turn complex dermatology cases into a manageable strategy that simplifies both diagnostics and treatment plans.
Key Benefits
Upon completion of this short course, the busy clinician will be equipped to:
- Implement a Logical Diagnostic Algorithm: Apply a systematic, step-by-step approach to the pruritic patient that prioritizes the identification and control of secondary infections and ruling out ectoparasites before pursuing a diagnosis of allergic skin disease.
- Differentiate Canine and Feline Reaction Patterns: Distinguish between the classic clinical presentations of pruritus in dogs (e.g., lesion distribution for atopy, food reaction, contact dermatitis) and the unique feline reaction patterns (e.g., miliary dermatitis, self-induced alopecia, eosinophilic lesions) to narrow differentials effectively.
- Navigate Modern Therapeutic Challenges: Critically evaluate the impact of modern parasiticides and antipruritic drugs (isoxazolines, oclacitinib, lokivetmab) on the diagnostic workup and long-term management, including recognising their limitations in conditions like otitis externa and pododermatitis.
- Design Tailored Management Plans: Formulate a practical, patient-focused plan for the allergic patient that integrates dietary elimination trials, environmental flea control, symptomatic medical therapy, and informed discussions regarding the indications for advanced allergy testing and immunotherapy.
Course Outline
Lecture 1: The Approach to the Itchy Dog
Managing the itchy dog requires a logical and systematic approach in order to optimise treatment success. In this lecture, Dr. Amanda Burrows provides a clear diagnostic algorithm for the dog with pruritus. You will learn the essential stepwise approach that focuses on eliminating conditions such as parasites and skin infections, and then progresses to environmental control, dietary trials, to arrive at a definitive diagnosis – all while managing acute and chronic itch along the way.
Lecture 2: The Approach to the Itchy Cat
This lecture delves into the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to the itchy cat – from lesion recognition and diagnostic workup, to behavioural assessment and the use of anti-pruritic therapies, to arrive at an approach that will facilitate relief from pruritus, and achieve long-term successful patient management.
Course Tutor
BVSc FACVSc
This course is supported by our free webinar
Updates in the Management of Traumatic Brain Injury
- Dr. Philip Judge
- February 4, 2026
AUD 49
This course is FREE for our Annual Vet Education Members
Your Colleagues Love These Courses!
I love Vet Education courses. Dr. Phil is such a great teacher, who presents such clear, practical information.
Jess
(USA)
Loving these shorter courses – so much useful information in a nice concise form. Thanks Vet Ed!
Toni
(New Zealand)
Fantastic. I’ll be doing more of these short courses!
Liam
(Australia)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this course suitable for veterinarians with no specialist orthopaedic training?
Absolutely. This course is specifically designed for general practitioners. It focuses on providing a clear, practical, and systematic framework to improve diagnostic skills in a busy practice setting, without requiring prior specialist knowledge.
What specific conditions will the radiographic lecture cover?
The lecture will focus on the top 10 common orthopaedic patterns seen in dogs, such as cranial cruciate ligament disease, elbow dysplasia (e.g., fragmented coronoid process), osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), and arthritic changes. The emphasis is on recognizing diagnostically significant radiographic lesions associated with these conditions.
How is a "5-Minute Orthopaedic Exam" possible? Does it cut corners?
The “5-Minute” framework is about efficiency and consistency, not brevity at the expense of thoroughness. It provides a standardized, sequential protocol that eliminates guesswork and ensures all critical steps are performed without wasted time. It’s designed to maximize essential data collection within a typical consultation window.