Why Book a Veterinary Allergy & Dermatology Exam?

When you book an in-home allergy and dermatology exam, both you and your pet can stay comfortable and stress-free, as we come to you! Our veterinarians build time into their day to provide specialized care for every pet.

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Tailored Allergy Management

Our experienced veterinarians will examine all the major systems of the body, including the skin, and look for signs of allergies, as well as feel for any lumps or bumps.

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Allergy & Dermatology Expertise

Our mobile veterinarians have the animal allergy and dermatology expertise to answer your pet allergy questions and to make the best allergy or dermatology plan for your dog or cat. 

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Comprehensive Testing & Referrals

During your appointment, our team may recommend allergy testing to determine the cause of your pet’s symptoms (for an additional cost) as well as provide referrals to outside specialists, if necessary.

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Medication

Our veterinarians may recommend a prescription to help treat your pet's allergy symptoms, including oral medication, topical treatments, and injections, such as cytopoint. 

Our Veterinary Dermatology Process

During the in-home Wellness or Sick Visit, your veterinary team will discuss your allergy concerns as well as conduct a thorough head-to-tail examination of your pet.

Dr. Kingsley checking a dog's health during in-home appointment.

Initial Health Check-Up

During your pet’s checkup, your veterinarian will examine your pet’s skin, as well as all the other systems of the body, to look for signs of allergies. They will also ask you about any history of chronic ear infections, rashes, skin itching, lumps, bumps, or inflammation.

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Allergy and Dermatology Tests

In some cases, your veterinary team may recommend allergy testing to determine the best plan for your pet. This may include cytology, skin scraping, cultures, or blood work (for an additional cost).

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Discussion of Findings

If allergy testing is performed, we will keep you informed about the process, how long to receive the results, and provide follow-up recommendations and instructions.

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Ongoing Support and Management

After your allergy and dermatology consultation, your veterinarian may schedule a follow-up visit or visits with you to check in on your pet and monitor their progress. We also have virtual veterinarians available for pet health questions and recommendations.

Why BetterVet?

Our mobile veterinarians examine pets in their favorite spot - a comfy couch, a cozy pet bed, or even your lap! See how we work to keep pets relaxed and happy at home.

What Our Clients Say

Review
Miranda Hansen
BetterVet Boston

Absolutely wonderful! This service was perfect for our cat Soli, who is friendly but gets very stressed out going to other locations. Dr. Sheila and Jamily were extremely lovely and so helpful, not to mention very knowledgeable and efficient. They even took the time to look around the house and help us identify what might be causing Soli's skin allergies and give other general advice. Soli loved them as well and was happy and curious to make new friends :) Thank you for your excellent service!

Garry Davenport
BetterVet Baltimore
This was our first mobile vet service and we were very pleased with everything. Our cat has had a reoccurring allergy that makes him itch, scratch until he loses hair and his skin becomes inflamed. My wife and I are disabled and getting Shadow to the vet has become a major issue. We now have a mobile service that we can depend on thanks to Bettervet.
Bonnie Hansen
BetterVet Miami
We were very pleased with "the BetterVet team". Bailey got a very thorough exam, and they came up with some solutions for her allergies. They were very patient with a very active dog. I appreciate the home visit and would recommend BetterVet to all my friends.
MizWhite -
BetterVet Baltimore
Caine (our 100 lbs pit bull puppy) has been experiencing skin allergies since he was 8 months old and the only thing we’ve seen was a higher bill and no improvement in his skin. So, my husband and I decided to go another route and found BetterVet. "Our mobile vet" was AMAZING! During our visit, she listened to all of our concerns and was very patient when handling Caine. We found out that Caine’s previous vet wasn’t giving him the proper dose or mix of medication and now his skin is slowly clearing. And last but not least…. BetterVet is cheaper than his previous vet! Which is crazy because you would think a mobile vet would be more expensive (go figure…). I will always call "BetterVet" for all of Caine’s needs.
Amber Beth
BetterVet Vancouver
"The BetterVet team" were both wonderful, and I'm so grateful I found BetterVet! It was my first time having a veterinarian come to my home and I was surprised by how anxious my kitty was, but they were both happy to improvise as needed. "Our mobile vet" was so knowledgeable and developed a plan to treat my kitty's allergies, even after other veterinarians had told me there was nothing I could do, or prescribed medication that was harmful. I'm would definitely recommend her.
Len
BetterVet Philadelphia
The virtual visit with "BetterVet" and the in home follow-up visit with "their mobile vet" were both very professionally handled. Both vets (and "the vet tech") truly cared, were completely professional and most importantly provided great care for Bennie. His hot spot is well on the way to being healed up. Great service! THANK YOU!
Anita Lawson
BetterVet Miami
I can't say enough good things about BetterVet! Advance communication was excellent, and there was a good pre-visit conversation about preparation. The morning before the visit I was updated with arrival time. My cat is skittish and fearful, so I had medicated him and he was in the bathroom when they came. They did a wonderful job treating his skin infection and updating his rabies vaccination. I can't get him into a carrier, or lift the carrier, so this was such a blessing! I will definitely call them again if the need arises. And my cat is so much less stressed!
Janine Cappello
BetterVet Philadelphia
A great first experience with BetterVet. My older cat was increasingly stressed by her vet visits so I decided to try this alternative. She was mildly annoyed, but Dr. S. knew exactly what to do. It was a very pleasant experience for my kitty and I, and we got some amazing advice for her skin condition. I highly recommend!
Laura Cimo
I had Dr. and her assistant visit my cat Cedar today. They were amazing! They came so prepared! They had all of her records from the number of Vets that she had seen so far for her allergies. They were both very patient and spent a lot of time going through the history and explaining a plan for next steps in treatment for her. I know with their help we will get Cedar feeling better very soon. I could not be any happier with the visit!
Brian Holland
BetterVet Boston
Answered all questions I had about any concerns I had with a mole my cat, Puma has, as well as explained in great detail our options moving forward in caring or removal. Also went above and beyond explaining everything else and educated me on further or future precautions and any changes to make in her diet and anything else needed.

Cat & Dog Allergy Exam Breakdown

During your home visit, your veterinarian will collect a thorough medical history to get a timeline of your pet’s symptoms and together, you’ll make the best allergy plan for them.

Allergy Testing

Allergy testing and diagnostics yield more information about pet environmental allergies.  Additionally, an elimination diet trial may be recommended to evaluate for food allergies.

Cytology

If your pet has any lumps or bumps that warrant additional testing, your veterinary team may recommend cytology, which is the microscopic examination of cells.

Skin Scraping & Cultures

Your veterinarian may also take a skin scraping from your pet to test for conditions that may be causing your pet’s skin to itch, flake, or be irritated and inflamed. Skin scraping reveals abnormal cells, as well as fungi, bacteria, and parasites. Skin scraping samples can also be used to culture (test) for certain bacterias. 

Blood Work

In some cases, blood testing may be recommended for your pet. There are a number of laboratories that test for allergen-specific antibodies (IgE) that contribute to pet allergies.  Your veterinarian can order allergy tests for common allergens that affect pets in your region. 

Elimination Diet Trial

In order to determine if your pet has allergies to particular foods, your veterinarian may recommend a strict diet trial using a hypoallergenic diet for several weeks before reintroducing common foods to evaluate for an allergic skin reaction.

Medication, Diet & Supplement

Based on your pet’s in-home examination and the results of any allergy testing, your veterinary team may recommend a combination of medication, allergen immunotherapy, diet changes, and nutritional supplements.

Does Your Pet Have Skin Allergies?

Does Your Pet Have Skin Allergies?

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the veterinary allergy & dermatology examination take?

An animal allergy and dermatology consultation takes place during an in-home Wellness and Sick visit and lasts approximately 30-45 minutes.

What preparations are needed for the allergy and dermatology exam?

Please have your questions and concerns prepared ahead of time, as well as the names of any medications your pet is currently taking or has taken. Have your pet contained in a small area so that we can observe and examine them upon arrival.

How soon can I schedule an allergy & dermatology appointment?

We have same day and next-day appointment availability in most locations. When you book an appointment online or on the BetterVet app and choose Wellness or Sick Exam, you will be able to see a calendar of appointment availability in your area.

What happens if the examination identifies an allergy or dermatological issue?

Your veterinarian will make sure to keep you informed every step of the way if your pet is diagnosed with allergy or dermatological conditions, as well as any further testing and treatments your pet may need.

Are there any post-visit care instructions to follow after the examination?

Before the end of your in-home visit, your veterinary team will make sure you know about any post-care follow-up or instructions you need to remember and will set up future appointments if needed.

What qualifications do your veterinarians have in dermatology?

All of BetterVet’s veterinarians have extensive training in small animal medicine, which includes knowledge and experience with all the systems of a pet’s body, including skin and internal organs.

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