Dermatology & Allergies

Dermatology

The skin is the largest organ of the body, and the conditions that can affect it are many and varied. While many skin problems can be easily treated once correctly diagnosed, skin lesions can also be the first clinical sign of a more serious underlying disease.

• Metabolic conditions in dogs and cats, including thyroid disease, Cushing’s disease, and diabetes, can often lead to changes in the skin and coat. These may include hair loss, thinning of the coat, dry or flaky skin, recurrent infections, or delayed wound healing. Identifying and treating the underlying metabolic disorder is essential to improving skin health.
• Many types of cancer in pets begin as lumps or masses on the skin. Not all lumps are cancerous, but early evaluation, monitoring, and biopsy when indicated are important for accurate diagnosis. Early detection allows for more successful treatment options and, when necessary, timely palliative care to maintain quality of life.

Allergies

Allergic skin disease is a very common underlying cause of itch, inflammation, and skin infections in pets. While we cannot cure allergies, we can successfully manage symptoms to reduce itching and improve quality of life for our patients. Accurate diagnosis of dietary, environmental, and flea allergies is essential for effective treatment and long-term management of symptoms. Treatment trials with oral and topical medications are often part of both diagnosing and managing allergies.

• Treatment of environmental allergies may include daily oral medications, injectable medications for itch, serum allergy testing, and allergy shots (immunotherapy).
• Dietary allergies are often managed by changing the pet’s diet to eliminate exposure to the allergen.
• Flea allergies are very common, and lifelong, year-round flea prevention is important - even for pets that spend most of their time indoors. In pets with flea allergies, even an occasional bite can dramatically increase itching.
• Recurrent ear infections and recurrent anal gland issues can also be a sign of allergic skin disease.