Dermatology

Pets can suffer from various skin issues, including bacterial or fungal infections, parasitic infestations (fleas, ticks, mites), hot spots, seborrhea, and skin growths or tumors. These conditions may lead to redness, sores, hair loss (alopecia), or scaly patches on the skin.

Common dermatological conditions in pets include:

Bacterial Infections: Bacterial infections like pyoderma cause redness, pustules, and crusting on the skin. They often result from a weakened immune system or secondary to other skin issues.

Fungal Infections: Ringworm, a contagious fungal infection, results in circular patches of hair loss, red, scaly and cracked skin. It can be transmitted to other pets and humans through close contact. Other common fungal infections include yeast infections like Malassezia dermatitis.

Parasitic Infestations: Fleas, mites (causing mange), and ticks can lead to severe itching, hair loss, and inflamed skin.

Hot Spots (Acute Moist Dermatitis): Localized areas of inflamed, moist, and painful skin, often triggered by scratching, licking, or biting due to irritation.

Seborrhea: A condition where the skin becomes excessively oily or dry, leading to dandruff, greasiness, and often an unpleasant odor.

Autoimmune Skin Disorders: Rare conditions like pemphigus where the immune system attacks the skin, causing blisters, ulcers, and crusting.

Our veterinarians diagnose skin conditions using physical exams, skin scrapings, blood tests, biopsies, or fungal cultures, depending on the symptoms. These diagnostic methods help identify the underlying cause and determine the best treatment plan.

You should seek veterinary care if your pet shows persistent itching, hair loss, redness, sores, or any unusual lumps or bumps on their skin. These symptoms could indicate an underlying condition that requires professional treatment.

Regular grooming, effective flea and tick prevention, a balanced diet, and keeping your pet’s living environment clean can help prevent many common skin issues. Routine vet check-ups are also important for early detection and management of dermatological problems.

Our veterinary dermatology services focus on diagnosing and treating a wide range of skin conditions in pets. We address issues such as bacterial and fungal infections, parasitic infestations, hot spots, seborrhea, and autoimmune skin disorders. Using advanced diagnostic techniques like skin scrapings, biopsies, blood tests, and allergy testing, we identify the underlying causes of skin problems. Treatment plans may include medications, topical treatments, dietary changes, and preventive care to ensure your pet’s skin remains healthy and comfortable.