Why Choose Veterinary Skin & Ear
Why Choose Veterinary Skin & Ear?
Veterinary Skin & Ear is a dermatology-only specialty practice built entirely around the diagnosis and treatment of skin, ear, allergy, and immune-mediated disease in dogs and cats.
Our team includes four ACVD board-certified veterinary dermatologists, a board-eligible dermatologist, and an ACVD residency training program dedicated to helping train future specialists in the field. That depth allows us to combine advanced medical care with real-time collaboration, continuity, and focused attention for pets struggling with skin, ear, hair, and nail diseases.
Unlike other veterinary hospitals or clinics where dermatology is only one portion of the practice, every aspect of our clinic is designed specifically for veterinary dermatology and otology. Our doctors and team focus exclusively on the conditions that bring families to a veterinary dermatologist, ranging from itching, ear infections, ear tumors, eyelid tumors, and allergic skin disease to autoimmune disorders, resistant infections, advanced CO2 laser procedures, cryosurgery, and video otoscopy.
Six
Doctors
4.8★
Google Reviews
One Week
Typical New Patient Wait
7 PM
Evening Hours Available
A Collaborative Team Built Around Dermatology
Veterinary Skin & Ear has grown into one of the largest independent veterinary dermatology teams in the country, not because growth itself was the goal, but because collaboration improves medicine.
Our doctors work closely together throughout the day, discussing difficult cases, sharing perspectives, and continually learning from one another. That environment benefits both patients and veterinarians by bringing multiple experienced dermatology specialists into a single practice focused entirely on skin and ear disease.
Today, our team includes four board-certified veterinary dermatologists, a board-eligible dermatologist, and a resident training through our ACVD residency program. Together, our doctors bring experience spanning advanced allergy management, autoimmune disease, chronic and resistant bacterial and or fungal infections, CO2 laser procedures, cryosurgery and cryotherapy, video otoscopy, research, teaching, and residency training.
Dr. Austin Richman, DVM, DACVD
Founder and medical director of Veterinary Skin & Ear. Dr. Richman has particular expertise in advanced ear disease, CO2 laser procedures involving the ears, skin, eyelids, and paws, chronic ear disease management, and complex dermatologic disease.
Dr. Brittany Lancellotti, DVM, DACVD
Nationally recognized veterinary dermatologist, lecturer, and educator known for advancing veterinary dermatology education and patient care. Widely respected for her communication skills and ability to make complex dermatologic disease understandable to both pet owners and veterinarians.
Dr. Megan Boyd, DVM, DACVD
Board-certified veterinary dermatologist involved in residency training, collaborative case management, and dermatology research. Known for her thoughtful, outside-the-box approach to difficult cases, Dr. Boyd combines strong clinical reasoning with a genuine ability to listen closely to pet owners and develop creative, individualized solutions for patients and families.
Dr. Averi Kaplan, DVM, DACVD
Dr. William Byun, DVM
Board-eligible veterinary dermatologist completing advanced specialty training through VSE’s residency program under Drs. Richman, Boyd and Lancellotti. Known for his attentiveness, clinical skill, and compassionate approach to patient care.
Dr. Leah Gabriel, DVM
Built Specifically For Skin and Ear Disease
Dermatology is not a small department inside our hospital. It is the entire focus of our practice.
Our facility, support team, equipment, scheduling systems, and medical workflows were designed specifically for veterinary dermatology and otology. That focus allows our doctors and technician team to provide a level of continuity, procedural capability, and specialized care that is difficult to replicate in broader hospital settings.
Advanced capabilities include:
- Video otoscopy for advanced ear evaluation and treatment
- CO2 laser procedures
- Intradermal allergy testing
- Serum allergy testing
- Custom allergy immunotherapy
- Long-term allergy management programs
- Management of chronic and resistant infections
- Advanced diagnostics for autoimmune and immune-mediated disease
- In-house preparation of select topical medications
- Cryotherapy and cryosurgery
- Evening appointment availability for families needing additional flexibility
Our team also remains actively engaged with advances in veterinary dermatology, including access to the newest and evolving allergy therapies, immunotherapy approaches, chronic ear disease management, and advanced procedural techniques.
Care For Difficult and Chronic Cases
Some pets arrive at Veterinary Skin & Ear after months or years of ongoing discomfort.
Many have already been through multiple medications, diets, procedures, or consultations without lasting improvement. These cases often require persistence, targeted diagnostics, thoughtful long-term planning.
Because our dermatologists work closely together, difficult cases can be discussed internally in real time. That collaborative environment is one of the advantages of having a larger dermatology-focused team rather than a single-specialist practice.
We believe chronic skin and ear disease deserves careful investigation, clear communication, and individualized treatment plans rather than repeated temporary fixes.
Continuity and Communication Matter
Chronic dermatologic disease is rarely solved in a single visit. Long-term success often depends on consistency, communication, and thoughtful follow-up care.
At Veterinary Skin & Ear, pets continue with the same dermatologist throughout treatment whenever possible. That continuity allows your doctor to better understand your pet’s medical history, treatment response, personality, and long-term patterns over time.
We also prioritize detailed discharge instructions, and collaboration with both families and referring veterinarians. Our team communicates through phone, email, and text message for reminders and procedure updates, and we offer evening appointments to better accommodate work and school schedules.
Doctor-Led and Independently Owned
Veterinary Skin & Ear remains independently owned and operated by the veterinary dermatologist who founded the practice.
Medical decisions are made by doctors focused on patient care, collaboration, and long-term outcomes. That independence allows our team to build protocols, scheduling systems, and treatment plans around what we believe provides the best outcomes for our patients.
For Referring Veterinarians
We understand the trust involved when referring a patient, and we work hard to function as an extension of your team throughout the referral process.
Our goal is to provide collaborative case discussion, detailed follow-up recommendations, and continuity between specialty and primary care medicine. Referral letters are sent after each visit via email, and our doctors are always happy to discuss cases directly doctor-to-doctor when needed. We greatly appreciate having direct access to referring veterinarians’ email addresses and cell phone numbers whenever possible so we can communicate important updates, recommendations, and case information quickly and efficiently.
As an ACVD residency training program with multiple specialists working collaboratively under one roof, we routinely manage complex, chronic, and advanced dermatologic disease while maintaining relatively rapid appointment availability.
We are grateful for the trust referring veterinarians place in our team and remain committed to clear communication, collaboration, and high-level patient care.
Helping Shape The Future of Veterinary Dermatology
Veterinary Skin & Ear is committed not only to patient care, but also to advancing the specialty itself.
Through residency training, mentorship, research, collaboration, continuing education, and involvement in the broader veterinary dermatology community, our doctors remain deeply engaged in helping develop the next generation of dermatology specialists and advancing standards within the field.
For veterinary students, interns, residents, and future dermatologists interested in high-level specialty medicine, VSE was built to foster collaboration, curiosity, growth, and continual learning. Please reach out to us at management@vetskinear.com to schedule a clinical visit with us.
Ready to Get Started?
Request an appointment online or call 310-855-3499. Most new patients can be seen the same week.