Laura Udraite, Dip ECVD, Dip ACVD 
Otitis is one of the most frequently encountered dermatological problems in small animal practice. While treating an acute ear infection may seem straightforward, identifying the underlying cause and preventing recurrence can be considerably more challenging. Successful management requires more than simply treating the infection: understanding the factors contributing to otitis is essential for achieving long-term control.
In this practical webinar, we will explore a systematic, step-by-step approach to diagnosing otitis in dogs and cats, including the importance of a thorough history, clinical and dermatological examination, otoscopy, and ear cytology. We will discuss how to identify primary causes, secondary infections, and predisposing and perpetuating factors, as well as when additional diagnostic procedures, such as video-otoscopy, bacterial culture, or advanced imaging, are indicated.
Particular attention will be given to effective treatment strategies for acute, chronic, and recurrent otitis. We will discuss how to select appropriate topical treatments based on cytological findings, previous treatment responses, and the condition of the tympanic membrane. The role of ear cleaning and flushing, management of inflammation and pain, and the importance of combining reactive treatment with proactive long-term management to reduce recurrence will also be addressed.
Finally, we will focus on ototoxicity, an important potential complication of ear treatment. Through clinical examples, we will explore how to recognize signs of ototoxicity, understand the risks associated with certain otic medications, and approach suspected cases. Throughout the webinar, the emphasis will be on practical, evidence-based clinical decision-making to help first-line veterinarians diagnose and manage otitis more confidently, safely, and effectively.
Laura Udraite, Dip ECVD, Dip ACVD Laura Udraite Vovk graduated in Veterinary Medicine in 1999 from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. She worked for more than ten years in general practice, deepening her expertise and gaining valuable experience through observerships in referral clinics in Switzerland, Sweden, and Canada, as well as by attending numerous international congresses and continuing education events, mainly in the fields of endocrinology, dermatology, and reproductive medicine.
She founded and managed one of the largest private veterinary clinics in Vilnius, Lithuania, in which she remains a co-owner to this day.
In 2016, Laura began her specialist training in veterinary dermatology at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, under the supervision of her mentors Professor Dr. Ralf Müller and Dr. Sonya Bettenay. In 2020, she successfully passed the board examinations of both the European College of Veterinary Dermatology (ECVD) and the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD), becoming the first board-certified veterinary dermatologist in Lithuania.
Currently, Laura heads the Dermatology Department of the Teaching Hospital at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, works as a telemedicine consultant for private veterinary clinics, and serves as a guest lecturer at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. She is actively involved in the European College of Veterinary Dermatology, is a member of the ECVD Examination Committee, and mentors two ECVD/ACVD residents.
Laura is the author and co-author of numerous scientific publications in international peer-reviewed journals. She regularly lectures at national and international continuing education events and congresses in veterinary dermatology and gives presentations in Lithuanian, English, and German.
Laura Udraite Vovk schloss im Jahr 1999 ihr Studium der Veterinärmedizin an der Litauischen Universität der Gesundheitswissenschaften ab. Sie arbeitete über zehn Jahre in der Allgemeinpraxis, vertiefte ihr Fachwissen und sammelte wertvolle Erfahrung durch Hospitationen in Überweisungskliniken in der Schweiz, Schweden und Kanada sowie durch die Teilnahme an zahlreichen internationalen Kongressen und Fortbildungsveranstaltungen, vor allem in den Bereichen Endokrinologie, Dermatologie und Reproduktionsmedizin.
Sie gründete und leitete eine der größten privaten Tierkliniken in Vilnius, Litauen, an der sie bis heute als Mitinhaberin beteiligt ist.
Im Jahr 2016 begann Laura ihre Weiterbildung zur Fachtierärztin für Veterinärdermatologie an der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München unter der Anleitung ihrer Mentoren Professor Dr. Ralf Müller und Dr. Sonya Bettenay. Im Jahr 2020 bestand sie erfolgreich die Fachprüfungen des European College of Veterinary Dermatology (ECVD) sowie des American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD) und wurde damit die erste board-zertifizierte Dermatologin in Litauen.
Derzeit leitet Laura die dermatologische Abteilung des Lehrkrankenhauses der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, arbeitet als Telemedizin-Konsultantin für private Tierkliniken und ist als Gastdozentin an der Litauischen Universität der Gesundheitswissenschaften tätig. Sie engagiert sich aktiv im European College of Veterinary Dermatology, ist Mitglied der ECVD-Prüfungskommission und Mentorin von zwei ECVD/ACVD-Residenten.
Laura ist Autorin und Mitautorin zahlreicher wissenschaftlicher Publikationen in internationalen peer-reviewten Fachjournalen. Sie referiert regelmäßig auf nationalen und internationalen Fortbildungsveranstaltungen und Kongressen im Bereich der Veterinärdermatologie und hält Vorträge in litauischer, englischer und deutscher Sprache.
