The Derm Vet Podcast

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A new JAK inhibitor has officially entered the veterinary market but where does it fit into managing allergic dogs?

In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I sit down with boarded veterinary dermatologist Dr. Christine McKinney from Merck Animal Health to discuss Numelvi, the newest JAK inhibitor approved in the United States for canine allergic dermatitis. We break down what makes this medication unique, how it compares to other allergy therapies, and why having multiple treatment options matters when managing complicated allergic patients.

We also dive into practical approaches for itch control, infection management, and building confidence when treating chronic allergy cases in practice. If you manage itchy dogs regularly and want to stay up to date on the latest dermatology treatments, this episode is packed with valuable clinical insights.

Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932
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Timestamps and references:

7:26: At the recommended treatment dose, Numelvi is at least 10X more selective for JAK1 over the other JAK enzymes in in vitro assays. Reference: Kowalski T, Schuette S. The second-generation Janus kinase inhibitor atinvicitinib is a potent and highly selective inhibitor of JAK1. Vet Dermatol. 2026;37(2):179.
8:03: At the recommended treatment dose, Numelvi is at least 10X more selective for JAK1 over the other JAK enzymes in in vitro assays. Reference: Kowalski T, Schuette S. The second-generation Janus kinase inhibitor atinvicitinib is a potent and highly selective inhibitor of JAK1. Vet Dermatol. 2026;37(2):179.
8:07: JAK1 is the primary driver of itch and inflammation. Reference: Huang I, Chung W, Wu P, Chen C. JAK-STAT signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis: an updated review. Front Immunol. 2022;13:1068260
10:36: At the recommended treatment dose, Numelvi is at least 10X more selective for JAK1 over the other JAK enzymes in in vitro assays. Reference: Kowalski T, Schuette S. The second-generation Janus kinase inhibitor atinvicitinib is a potent and highly selective inhibitor of JAK1. Vet Dermatol. 2026;37(2):179.
21:52: Numelvi, starts reducing itch within 2-4 hours in a canine interleukin-31 (cIL-31)-induced pruritus model Reference: Kowalski T, Prohaczik A, Locke K, Samson C, Hope K. The second-generation Janus kinase inhibitor atinvicitinib significantly reduces pruritus 2-4 hours after dosing dogs in a canine interleukin-31 model. Vet Dermatol. 2026;37(2):179-180.
23:13: Numelvi, starts reducing itch within 2-4 hours in a canine interleukin-31 (cIL-31)-induced pruritus model Reference: Kowalski T, Prohaczik A, Locke K, Samson C, Hope K. The second-generation Janus kinase inhibitor atinvicitinib significantly reduces pruritus 2-4 hours after dosing dogs in a canine interleukin-31 model. Vet Dermatol. 2026;37(2):179-180.

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
02:29 The Complexity of Canine Allergic Dermatitis
06:44 What is Numelvi and How Does it Work?
13:50 Dosing Guidelines and Tablet Specifications
16:57 Candidate Selection and Infection Control
21:37 Onset of Action and Efficacy Timeline
24:08 Final Thoughts
This episode is sponsored by Merck Animal Health

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Skin barrier therapy has become one of the hottest topics in veterinary dermatology but with so many sprays, spot-ons, mousses, collars, and topical products available, it can be difficult to know what actually works and when to use them.

In this week’s episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, we dive into the concept of skin barrier support and why managing allergic skin disease goes far beyond simply treating itch. I break down different categories of topical therapies, including AtopiVet products, spot-on formulations, mousse therapies, and skin care collars, while discussing how these products can fit into a multimodal dermatology plan.

Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932
Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/
Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:40 The Itch Inquiry: Skin Barrier and Beyond Topicals
04:48 AtopiVet Products
08:04 Spot-On Products
09:23 Mousse Products
10:19 Skin Care Collar
12:44 Outro

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In this episode, I dive into the diagnostic approach and long-term management of sterile nodular panniculitis in veterinary patients. We discuss everything from sampling claw folds and interpreting flaky cytology samples to biopsy techniques, infectious disease rule-outs, and when to consider JAK inhibitors as part of a treatment plan. 

If you’ve ever struggled with diagnosing challenging nodular cases or navigating long-term management decisions, this episode is packed with practical clinical insights you can apply in practice.

Did you know you can submit a question or voicemail to the show by using the link at the top of the show notes? Send me any and all questions to be featured on an episode!

Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932
Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/
Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:14 Itch Inquiry: Sampling Claw Folds and Flaky Samples
06:00 Identifying Sterile Nodular Panniculitis
08:54 Diagnostic Approaches and Biopsy Techniques
09:56 Ruling Out Infectious Causes
12:53 Use of JAK Inhibitors
16:19 Long-term Management
19:49 Outro

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In this episode, I tackle one of the most important — and often most challenging — conversations in veterinary dermatology: the diet trial discussion. We break down common client concerns, why compliance can be difficult, and how veterinarians can better communicate the value of diet trials in diagnosing food allergy cases.

Did you know you can submit a question or voicemail to the show by using the link at the top of the show notes? Send me any and all questions to be featured on an episode!

Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932

Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/

Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:04 Itch Inquiry
07:20 The Diet Trial Conversation 
09:45 Tip #1: Explain the "Why"
11:06 Tip #2: Treat it as a Diagnostic Test
14:26 Tip #3: Short-Term Pain for Long-Term Gain
15:37 Tip #4: Challenging the Diet to Get Answers
18:54 Summary
20:38 Outro

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When an otitis case just won’t clear, there are often simple changes we can make to be more successful. In this episode, we break down the most common (and fixable) reasons ear infections fail to respond in clinical practice.

From real-world struggles with client compliance and patient tolerance, to the often-overlooked importance of proper ear flushing, we unpack where cases go off track—and how to get them back on course. We’ll also dive into the consequences of choosing the wrong topical therapy, and why matching treatment to cytology is non-negotiable for success.

Whether you’re dealing with repeat offenders or frustrating first-time failures, this episode offers practical, clinic-ready insights to help you troubleshoot smarter, treat more effectively, and set both your patients and clients up for long-term success.

Timestamps
 00:00 Intro
00:24 Itch Inquiry
03:47 Why that Ear Infection isn't Responding
05:18 Lack of Inflammation Control
06:55 The Wrong Medication
08:32 Not Using Appropriate Flushing Methods
11:19 It's Not Getting In There
13:16 We Don't Know Why It's Happening
15:34 Review
17:54 Outro