Beyond the Bath: Strategic Use of Topical Therapy in Veterinary Dermatology

I had the pleasure of attending Dr. Jeanne Budgin’s dermatology lectures at the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association Veterinary Education Conference this past weekend. Dr. Budgin is a board-certified veterinary dermatologist and founder of Hudson Valley Veterinary Dermatology. I learned a tremendous amount from her lectures, but her presentation, “Let’s Talk Topicals From Bugs To Barrier,” particularly stood out. She reinforced how topical therapy plays a central role in managing infectious, inflammatory, seborrheic, and allergic skin disease and how important it is in reducing reliance on systemic antimicrobials. Here are some of Dr. Budgin’s key takeaways:

1. Current guidelines for the diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy of canine superficial bacterial folliculitis from the Antimicrobial Guidelines Working Group of the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases advocate for the use of topical therapy for pyoderma management. This is especially relevant as veterinary medicine continues to confront increasing antimicrobial resistance, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP). Topical therapy should not be simply viewed as adjunctive care. In select superficial infections, it may serve as the sole therapy and should often accompany systemic treatment.

2. In a study comparing the efficacy of shampoos and mousses, antimicrobial activity was shown to be highly variable; however, products with chlorhexidine consistently demonstrated broad-spectrum activity. The largest zone of inhibition was seen after using a shampoo with 2-3% chlorhexidine and the combination of chlorhexidine shampoo and conditioner. Dr. Budgin emphasized that chlorhexidine maintains residual activity even in the presence of organic debris, though a minimum 10-minute contact time is critical for optimal efficacy.

3. Delivery system selection directly impacts client compliance and therapeutic success. Mousses and foams may improve owner compliance in patients for whom bathing is challenging and may provide a longer residual effect than shampoos.

4. Wipes and pads are particularly useful for interdigital spaces and skin folds. However, some formulations may be irritating due to ingredients such as acetic acid or alcohol.

5. Barrier repair and microbiome restoration are increasingly recognized as critical therapeutic targets in allergic skin disease. Due to the impaired epidermal barrier function in atopic patients, the growing use of topical barrier-support therapies is warranted.

6. Finally, client education remains critical for treatment success. Written instructions, realistic protocols, and choosing formulations that pet parents can consistently administer may ultimately determine whether a dermatologic treatment plan succeeds or fails.

KeraVet Gel fits well within this evolving approach to topical therapy. Its easy-to-apply hydrogel formulation supports localized wound and skin care while helping simplify at-home treatment for pet parents. Treatment success often depends not only on selecting the right active ingredients but also on choosing formulations that pet parents can realistically and consistently use. By improving ease of application and reducing stress for parents and patients, KeraVet Gel supports better compliance and better clinical outcomes.