Linda Messinger, DVM, Dipomate ACVD
Dr. Messinger grew up on Long Island, in South Huntington, New York. The medical field has always fascinated her. Her love for animals and veterinary medicine began at the age of 7 when her family adopted a gray and white kitten and when she visited her grandparent’s farm in Germany. Currently, Dr. Messinger’s pet family includes yellow Labrador retriever (Rigby), a Labrador retriever-husky mix (Fuzzy), a mixed breed dog (Willie), and her cats (Nacho Kitty Sue, Beekman, Amber, Seth, Milo and Luna), and a goldfish (Prince) and pond snails. Willie has allergies to airborne allergens. Dr. Messinger enjoys running, hiking, gardening, jigsaw puzzles and family life. She is semi-fluent in the German language.
Education and Board Certification
Dr. Linda Messinger has been board-certified by the American College of Veterinary DermatologyTM (ACVD) since 1993. She is one of approximately 380 board-certified dermatologists in North America. One of the major functions of the ACVD is to maintain the highest standards of post-graduate training in veterinary dermatology and allergy. Board certification by the ACVD denotes that the individual is a board-certified specialist in veterinary dermatology.
Dr. Messinger received both her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degrees from Cornell University. During her undergraduate training, Dr. Messinger was elected to the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. After completing veterinary school Dr. Messinger completed a one-year internship in small animal medicine, surgery, dermatology, and ophthalmology at the prestigious and world-renowned Animal Medical Center in New York City. Thereafter, she completed a dermatology residency at the University of Florida and then remained on staff there for one year.
At the time, the University of Florida had one of the largest veterinary dermatology residency programs in the world. While at the University of Florida, Dr. Messinger taught hundreds of veterinary students as well as veterinarians about the specialty of veterinary dermatology. She was in private specialty practice in the Orlando area before moving to Colorado in 1995 where she founded the Department of Dermatology at VRCC. In 2023, Dr. Messinger established the Dermatology and Allergy Department at Apex Veterinary Specialists. She and her team are excited to be part of Apex.
Professional Publications and Scientific Organizations
Dr. Messinger has delivered lectures on veterinary dermatology to a variety of professional and lay groups, both at the international, national, and local levels. In addition, Dr. Messinger has authored many scientific articles, review articles, and book chapters.
To advance our understanding of skin diseases in animals (so as to help our patients), Dr. Messinger has been involved in a variety of research projects and clinical trials related to veterinary dermatology. Dr. Messinger is also a consultant in dermatology for a large veterinary laboratory. She is a member of the ACVD, American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology, International Society of Veterinary Dermatopathology, American Veterinary Medical Association, Colorado Veterinary Medical Association, and the Cornell Feline Health Center.
Dr. Messinger is currently a member of the American College of Veterinary DermatologyTM Program Committee, a committee that she chaired for 16 years and has been a member of for over 20 years. She was also granted the prestigious honor of training residents in veterinary dermatology and allergy, under the guidelines of the American College of Veterinary DermatologyTM.
Dr. Messinger specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of all skin, coat, ear, and nail diseases in animals, including bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections, allergies, immune-mediated skin diseases, endocrine (hormonal) disorders, inherited skin diseases, idiopathic and certain skin cancers, to name a few. She is dedicated to working closely with you and your family veterinarian to provide the most progressive and comprehensive services and care for your special family member(s).