Animal Dermatology NZ (Animal Skin, Ear & Allergy Ltd) is a veterinary companion animal dermatology referral service operating in the greater Wellington region, led by Vandre Clear, DVM. The practice is devoted solely to diagnosing and treating diseases of the skin, ears, hair and nails in companion animals, including allergic, infectious, parasitic, hormonal, immune-mediated and neoplastic conditions.
As of 1 May 2025 all consultations take place at Rappaw Central Veterinary Hospital in Porirua, a move made to centralise services and offer a more consistent, streamlined experience across the North Island. The practice works closely with each pet's primary veterinarian to provide coordinated, high-quality care.
Animal Dermatology NZ offers advanced diagnostics such as cytology, skin scrapings, trichograms, biopsy and histopathology, culture and susceptibility testing, and video otoscopy for ear disease. For pets with environmentally-induced atopic dermatitis, the practice offers intradermal testing using a panel of over 50 antigens, as well as serologic testing, followed by allergen-specific immunotherapy where appropriate. The clinic welcomes both veterinarian referrals and self-referrals from pet owners, though primary vet records are required before booking a consultation.
Animal Dermatology NZ is a referral-based veterinary practice with one focus: the diagnosis and treatment of skin, ear, hair and nail disease in companion animals. Led by Vandre Clear, DVM, the practice sees patients from across the greater Wellington region and beyond, working alongside each pet's primary veterinarian rather than replacing them.
As of 1 May 2025, all consultations are held at Rappaw Central Veterinary Hospital in Porirua. Centralising the service at one clinic allows the practice to maintain consistent standards of care while keeping the personalised, family-style approach it's built its reputation on.
The practice deals with the full range of dermatological problems that general practice vets often find difficult to pin down: hypersensitivities and allergies (including contact, food and environmental allergies), recurrent or chronic ear infections, paw and claw disease, chronic itching and self-trauma, hair loss, ectoparasites such as fleas, mites and mange, fungal infections including ringworm and yeast infections, and immune-mediated, systemic, neoplastic and hormonal conditions with skin symptoms, such as hypothyroidism and Cushing's syndrome.
Many of these conditions are notoriously hard to diagnose in general practice, where blood tests and biopsy reports can give equivocal answers. Having a dermatologist who has seen similar presentations before can shorten the path to an accurate diagnosis and, in the long run, save owners money and stress.
For pets suspected of environmentally-induced atopic dermatitis, the practice offers intradermal testing using a panel of more than 50 antigens, alongside serologic testing where appropriate. Antigens used for both testing and treatment are imported from Greer Laboratories in the US. Pets who test positive, and who have had other allergic and parasitic causes ruled out, may be offered allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) — delivered either as subcutaneous injections ("allergy shots") or as a sublingual or oral preparation ("allergy drops"). ASIT has a well-documented success rate, though it isn't the only option discussed with owners, since allergic disease is managed rather than cured.
The practice also performs video otoscopy, using a magnified camera and bright light source to examine the deeper ear canal, eardrum and middle ear — useful for identifying foreign objects, tumours, eardrum abnormalities and middle ear infections. Broader diagnostic tools include cytology, skin scrapings, trichograms, biopsy and histopathology, and culture and susceptibility testing.
Animal Dermatology NZ welcomes both veterinarian referrals and self-referrals. Pet owners who wish to self-refer are welcome to contact the practice directly, though the team will ask that the primary veterinarian's records are sent through before the initial consult is booked.
Owners preparing for a first visit are asked not to bathe their pet for at least three days beforehand, and to bring full details of any medications, supplements or foods their pet is currently receiving. Initial appointments run 75 to 90 minutes, and one of the pet's owners must be present. Because this is a specialist referral service, fees are typically higher than a primary care veterinarian's — a trade-off the practice is upfront about, alongside the depth of expertise on offer for pets with long-standing or hard-to-diagnose skin and ear conditions.