Is your pet’s itchy skin keeping you both up at night?
There are many different ailments that can affect your pet’s skin. Whether it’s a topical problem, like a hot spot or rash, or something more in-depth like an infection, the symptoms can be unpleasant. You don’t want to see your best friend suffer like that, and neither do we! That’s why Hodes Veterinary Health Center offers professional pet allergy and dermatology services as part of our comprehensive system of care. We want to help get your loved one as healthy on the outside as on the inside.
Signs of a possible skin problem include:
- Excessive scratching
- Scabbing or flaking of the skin
- Hot spots
- Shedding more than usual
- Biting, chewing or licking at the affected area
- Bumps or lumps on or under the skin
Diagnosing the Problem
The first step toward helping your pet feel better again is identifying the precise condition he or she is experiencing. Our hospital is outfitted with an in-house laboratory, which allows us to run a number of diagnostic tests quickly and efficiently. We may be able to tell what’s wrong just by examining your pet, or we may need to investigate further. Blood work, skin scrapings and biopsies help us get the answers we need to move forward with a cure.
Some of the dermatological issues we can provide assistance with include:
- Allergies (food and/or environmental)
- Infections (acute or chronic)
- Parasites
- Dermatitis
- Hormonal disorders
- Autoimmune diseases
- Tumors
- Skin cancer
Developing a Treatment Plan
Every skin condition is a little different, which is why we take the time to evaluate your pet’s individual needs before recommending treatment. By considering factors such as symptoms, lifestyle, medical history, and the underlying cause, we can create a treatment plan tailored specifically to your companion and focused on achieving the best possible outcome.
Some conditions may be straightforward to treat, while others may require a more involved or ongoing approach. Depending on the severity and underlying cause, treatment may include a combination of therapies and long-term management strategies to help keep your pet comfortable and improve overall skin health.
