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(00:00) John introduces today’s guest - host of another veterinary dermatology podcast The Derm Vet, Ashely Bourgeois.

Chapter 1: UK vs US Dermatology

(02:50) Sue asks Ashley how she started out in podcasts and Ashley shares her story, wanting to stay involved in dermatology whilst also raising children and not wanting to lose that knowledge base, and helping  others in that kind of position.

(04:33) John asks Ashely and Sue what the difference between the UK and US in approach to dermatology. Sue says the approach is the same, but the system is slightly different and there isn’t so much of a referral process in the US as here in the UK. Ashley agrees, saying often people will come direct, but that they have good relationships with first opinion practices in order that clients are aware dermatologists exist.

(06:45) Sue says the board certified dermatologists exist in both regions, but in the UK we have an intermediate tier of advanced practitioners which doesn’t exist in the states; therefore asking Ashley if there are any areas in the US which aren’t covered well geographically with specialists. Ashley says there are areas without specialists, and there is work to see if they can develop better coverage; including the possibility of telemedicine in for example a state that doesn’t have dermatologists.

(08:58) Sue asks if the rules around dermatology prescribing through telemedicine differs state to state and Ashley confirms this, saying in her state for example, they must see a client at least once a year whereas in other states this is possible long term remotely.

Chapter 2: UK vs US Antibiotic Use

(11:30) Ashley then asks Sue if it differs in relation to staphylococcus infections in the UK and US and Sue says it really does, and also across Europe from the UK. She points out in Scandinavia they hardly use antibiotics at all and use antiseptics much more, and this seems to really correlate to having less resistance. Sue asks for example if Ashely would use vancomycin and Ashely says whilst she hasn’t for this one she has had to use rifampin and chloramphenicol. She reflects there is a shift in the mindset with the use of antibiotics because of the number of times they will only have one or two choices left due to resistance.

(14:45) Sue asks if it is right you can buy neomycin, polymyxin, bacitracin over the counter and Ashely says you can for topicals, and said she even had a client who had fish antibiotics they were giving to their dog whenever they felt there was an infection. Sue reflects what would be available by comparison in the UK.

Chapter 3: UK vs US In Practice

(17:17) John asks whether a clients expectation would differ in terms of approach to a skin case in the states than in the UK and Ashley says there is much the same issue in terms of clients not understanding the long term nature of skin management, particularly in allergy and also the multimodal approach; where often more than one therapy is going to manage the patients skin. She is always quick to point out to owners these cases will change and even when well managed, this will change and they will flare up.

(20:14) John reflects that in the US the Vet nurses or Vet Techs as they are called there are still as important to case management as here in the UK and Ashely passionately agrees, saying they are critical to the solidification of a case management – instilling confidence in the owners to the treatment plan long term. They also catch mistakes and understand the cases very well.

(23:05) John asks Ashely about the education side in terms of the difference with logging CPD and education. Ashley says the regulations are quite strict in terms of whether she can talk off label at lectures and online and her and Paul reflect on some of these aspects.

Chapter 3: UK vs US Dermatology Top Trumps

(26:27) Sue asks Ashley for most common presentations and Ashley and Sue spend some time reflecting on the differing cases and presentations seen both in the US and UK. Where Ashely is in the US the climate is similar but Sue reflects it is interesting how the diseases are so different.

(33:50) John wraps the podcast by asking Sue and Ashley what their favourite and least favourite disease it. Pemphigus comes out well whilst sterile nodular panniculitis and bald Pomeranians/alopecia X and lick granulomas really don’t!

Visit Ashley’s Website HERE

Search The Derm Vet Podcast on your podcast platform, or follow the link HERE