1. Canine atopic dermatitis: understanding the disease to treat it better
This lecture provides a clear and practical overview of the pathophysiology of canine atopic dermatitis, from epidermal barrier dysfunction to immune dysregulation and microbiome imbalance. Diagnostic approach, differential diagnoses and current multimodal therapeutic strategies will be reviewed to help clinicians improve long-term disease control and patient quality of life.

2. Dealing with the pruritic cat: it doesn’t have to be complicated
Feline pruritus is often perceived as complex and frustrating. This session focuses on a structured, step-by-step clinical approach to the pruritic cat, highlighting the most common causes, minimal diagnostic database, and rational therapeutic strategies. Practical tips will be provided to simplify decision-making in daily practice.

3. How to make the most out of your microscope?
This practical lecture aims to improve clinicians’ confidence and efficiency in in-house cytology. It covers optimal sampling techniques, slide preparation, staining quality, systematic microscopic examination and basic interpretation of common dermatological samples, with the objective of making cytology a reliable everyday diagnostic tool.

4. Pathologies of the muco-cutaneous junctions
Diseases affecting muco-cutaneous junctions represent a diagnostic challenge due to their wide range of differential diagnoses. This lecture reviews the main inflammatory, immune-mediated and neoplastic conditions affecting these areas, with an emphasis on lesion recognition, diagnostic strategy and targeted therapeutic management.

Summary of lectures

This lecture series provides a comprehensive exploration of complex and clinically significant conditions in veterinary dermatology, with an emphasis on diagnostic reasoning, evidence-based treatment, and practical case management for small-animal practitioners.

1. Adverse Food Reactions (AFRs)
This lecture reviews the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and diagnostic challenges associated with food-related dermatoses in dogs and cats. Participants will learn to differentiate AFRs from environmental allergies, design and monitor effective elimination diet trials, interpret conflicting clinical responses, and manage long-term nutritional therapy.

2. Dermatological Emergencies
In general, skin disease is a common presentation in small animal, first opinion veterinary practice and it tends to have an insidious onset, requiring long-term management by both practitioners and clients. However, there are a handful of dermatopathies that occur acutely causing striking skin lesions and/or systemic signs. These emergency dermatopathies are not regularly seen, thus the literature is minimal and practitioners may not be familiar with their aetiology, clinical appearance, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. This lecture covers conditions requiring rapid recognition and intervention, including life-threatening or rapidly progressive skin diseases, highlighting stabilization strategies, diagnostic priorities, and therapeutics that can significantly alter outcomes in critically affected patients.

3. Feline Cutaneous Lymphoma
Cutaneous lymphoma in the cat is a rare but life-threatening neoplasm. Because of the similar presentation to other diseases, feline cutaneous lymphoma can present a diagnostic challenge and warrants inclusion in the differential diagnosis list of many dermatology cases; in this lecture we will review the current knowledge of the condition and the options for treatment, including both local and systemic therapies.

4. Autoimmune Skin Diseases in Cats
Participants will explore the spectrum of autoimmune and immune-mediated dermatologic disorders affecting feline patients, including pemphigus foliaceus, and rarer vesiculobullous diseases. The lecture emphasizes recognition of characteristic lesions, appropriate confirmatory testing, and current best practices in immunosuppressive therapy, monitoring, and supportive care. Special considerations related to feline pharmacology and comorbidities will also be highlighted.