Equine Dermatology at UC Davis

From allergies to viral skin diseases, the Dermatology Service at the UC Davis veterinary hospital can identify, manage and provide treatment for a combination of therapies tailored for each animal.

Initiated in the late 1970s by the late Drs. Anthony Stannard and Peter Ihrke, the service presently consists of three faculty members, Drs. Stephen White, Catherine Outerbridge, and Stefano Borio, two residents, and two veterinary technicians. Dr. Verena Affolter is a faculty member in dermatopathology who studies skin diseases at the microscopic and molecular levels and is very involved with group research and the teaching program. The Dermatology Service sees small, large and exotic animals, and consults with the Large Animal Internal Medicine Service on equine cases. 

The service offers residency training in veterinary dermatology, comparative dermatology and related basic sciences with the goal of board certification by the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD). Residents learn about skin diseases of small, exotic and large animal species and relevant comparative aspects of human dermatology. They spend most of their time in the hospital performing the clinical functions of the Dermatology Service, along with a faculty supervisor, with each resident seeing 450-600 animals per year. Residents also participate in rounds and seminars, investigative work and other forms of training. All residents are required to initiate and complete at least one investigative project during their residency under the direction of a faculty mentor.