New Client Information

Preparing Your Pet for a Dermatology appointment with Dr. Brian Palmeiro

1.  Some tests require that your pet be sedated so please do not feed your pet for 10 hours prior to your appointment.  Water is fine up to two hours prior to the appointment.   Diabetic patients and other pets that need to eat for medical reasons should do so as medically required.  Administer insulin and any other medications if medically required.   If you have any questions, please contact our office at (610) 391-1200

2.  Do not bathe your pet for 3-5 days prior to the appointment.  Avoid ear cleaning or ear medications for 2 days prior to the appointment.

3.  Please bring a photocopy of your pet's medical records or your veterinarian may fax records to our office at 610-391-1212

4.  Appointment times are usually 30-60 minutes.  Time spent at the office can vary from 45 minutes to 3 hours, depending on what procedures are performed.  Although uncommon, some tests require a full day to complete.  New appointments generally take longer than rechecks. Please schedule your day accordingly.

5.  Most dermatologic problems require follow-up appointments. Many dermatologic problems require lifelong maintenance treatment and periodic re-examination visits.

6.  Thyroid medication: Please try to give the thyroid medication 4-6 hours prior to the appointment in the event that a blood test is needed.

7.  ALLERGY PATIENTS:  Patients that are candidates for allergy testing have additional requirements for accurate results.  It is not always possible to test patients for allergies on the first visit as testing requires healthy skin and withdrawal of many medications.  If you would like to test on the initial visit, please mention this when scheduling your appointment.  While we do our best to accommodate you, there are no guarantees.  Many medications, such as steroids, Apoquel and antihistamines, can interfere with allergy testing.  In some patients, it is easier to see the pet first even though he/she is taking steroids or antihistamines, to help prepare the patient for allergy testing in the future. If your pet is currently taking oral steroids, discuss an appropriate withdrawal schedule with your primary care veterinarian, as rapid steroid withdrawal can cause serious side effects. The following withdrawal times are recommended for dogs/cats prior to allergy testing.  If there are questions regarding specific medications, please contact the office at (610) 391 - 1200

Appropriate Medication Withdrawal Times Prior to Skin Testing

Please call us at 610-391-1200 if you have any questions