A team-focused approach to dermatology referrals.
Working with referring veterinarians helps us maintain patient care standards and client service. While we work on dermatologic and allergy concerns, routine services — health check-ups, vaccinations and the rest — continue with the primary veterinarian.
A direct line for referring veterinarians
Specialist diagnostics and therapy
Everything below is available at both clinics, with a full report back to your office after every consultation.
Intradermal Allergy Testing (IDAT)
Recognized by most veterinary dermatologists as the most accurate means of identifying relevant allergens in the canine patient. More than 50 of the most common allergens specific to our local environment are assessed. Dr. Bajwa has had significant success using IDAT in feline patients with non-flea, non-food allergic dermatitis.
Allergen Specific Immunotherapy (ASIT)
Allergen avoidance is the most direct approach to managing allergies, but is not always practical. ASIT may be formulated as daily oral drops or as less frequent subcutaneous injections; the mode is selected in consultation with the pet owner to help ensure long-term compliance.
Video-otoscopy
The easy access and superior visualization afforded by our Storz video-otoscope increases the likelihood of identifying the underlying problem, or deeper complications such as ruptured tympanic membranes, otitis media and inflammatory polyps.
Rush immunotherapy
A tool that makes the traditional build-up phase of immunotherapy simpler for the family — useful where at-home dosing decisions are a barrier to starting therapy.
Cryotherapy
Published veterinary studies describe cryotherapy as a low-risk, practical option for resolving or reducing the size of benign sebaceous tumours and follicular cysts. Repeated treatments may be needed depending on the lesion and patient response.
CO2 laser surgery
Aesculight CO2 laser for precise soft-tissue work — lick granulomas, aural haematoma, ear canal polyps, interdigital cysts and a range of cutaneous masses.
Formulated around the patient, not the protocol.
ASIT is most beneficial when formulated while taking into account the patient’s long-term medical history and the seasonality of symptoms. It is important that flare factors such as dietary ingredients and flea exposure are controlled adequately first.
Lifelong therapy is required in most cases. Published studies report that the majority of dogs respond well to hypo-sensitization therapy, while a smaller proportion show only mild improvement. There is recent evidence that non-responders to one route may still respond well using an alternate route of administration.
- Reduce reliance on symptom-relieving treatment
- Slow progression of the atopic march
- Minimize allergic symptoms and flares
- Oral or injectable, chosen with the owner
- Reviewed and adjusted at follow-up
How to refer a patient
Call or email us before submitting if you have questions — our reception team handles booking and policy questions, and a dermatology technician can discuss the case itself.
Send the referral
Complete and submit the Patient Referral form online, or by fax or e-mail. Attach any diagnostic or laboratory reports you already have.
We book the owner
Once the referral is received, a dermatology consultation is scheduled directly with the pet owner.
The consultation
A full dermatologic work-up, with diagnostics performed on site wherever possible.
Report back to you
We communicate with your office directly to provide a complete record and referral report for your patient.
Pre-visit calming treatment
Commonly used pre-visit calming treatments do not interfere with dermatology assessment or allergy testing. If the patient requires pre-visit calming treatment for examination, please provide it to the client prior to the initial consultation.
Referral questions
Do you take non-urgent and urgent referrals differently?
The referral form asks you to mark the status as non-urgent, urgent or emergency, and we triage accordingly. Call us if a case needs to be seen quickly.
Can the owner choose which clinic?
Yes. The referral form lets you indicate Vancouver, Surrey or no preference, and we book the owner into whichever suits them.
What do you need from us up front?
Case summary, primary reason for referral, current and previous treatments with response to therapy, and any diagnostic or laboratory reports. Vaccination status, anesthetic risk and cardiac status help us plan procedures safely.
Who keeps providing routine care?
You do. We handle the dermatologic and allergy concerns; health check-ups, vaccinations and general medicine stay with the primary veterinarian.
Refer a patient, keep the thread.
Send a referral, share a workup, or book a teleconsultation with our specialist.
Have a case you would like to discuss first?
Call the clinic and one of our dermatology technicians will help.