DERMATOLOGY

Dermatology

Skin problems are among the primary reasons to bring a pet in for an appointment. Our veterinarians can identify and treat a variety of common skin conditions. Our veterinarian’s concentration is on the diagnosis and treatment of disorders related to the ears, skin, mouth, hair, and nails, in addition to allergic disorders in our patients.  No matter breed-type or size, any dog or cat can be susceptible to the risk of dermatologic problems. 

Most veterinary skin disorders are unique and treatment options vary tremendously. Skin disease can also present as a manifestation of an underlying internal disease process. Thus, in addition to dermatology, our veterinarians are also trained in internal medicine, and allergy.

Symptoms:

Common symptoms of skin disease:

• Does your pet constantly lick, chew, bite, scratch or shake his or her head?
• Is there hair loss, scabs or dandruff?
• Do you notice a change in the skin or coat’s color or texture?
• Is there a bad odor from the pet’s skin or ears?

Causes:

Common skin diseases are caused by, and include the following:

• Allergies
• Environmental contaminants
• Fleas
• Mites (i.e. sarcoptic mange, demodecosis)
• Autoimmune skin diseases
• Superficial and deep skin infections
• Skin masses

Tests:

Common tests used to assure an accurate diagnosis include:

• Intra-dermal allergy testing
• Blood tests
• Skin biopsies

Treatments:

Treatment depends on the diagnosis, but may include:

• Food allergy trial diets
• Special shampoos
• Medications