Pet Dermatology for Healthy Skin, Fur, and Ears
At Maurice Veterinary Clinic, we deeply care about pets and their people. Our patients come as close as Maurice or as far as Lafayette for friendly service and compassionate veterinary treatment. Our pet dermatology services fit the bill for quality care. With an in-house laboratory, we quickly and accurately diagnose skin infections. Through the use of cytology (cell analysis), we're able to tell if your pet has either a bacterial or fungal infection. By using a variety of treatment options, we also help manage skin allergies in your four-legged friend.
How We Diagnose and Treat Your Pet’s Allergies
Even though pets can have many types of allergies like humans, they typically exhibit their symptoms through their skin. Your pet may not be sneezing and blowing their nose, but inflamed, irritated skin may be allergies. They may be allergic to pollen, grass, trees, or mold. They may even have allergies to dust, dander, and fleas, or the food they eat. Therefore, we use a variety of ways to expertly diagnose and treat your pet’s skin allergies:
- We’ll closely examine your pet’s skin and coat for signs of fleas, irritation, dry skin, or dander.
- If we suspect your pet is allergic to fleas, we’ll recommend appropriate medication.
- We may recommend an anti-histamine for seasonal allergies.
- We’ll take skin scraping samples to examine whether your pet is experiencing a bacterial or fungal skin infection.
- For food allergies, we’ll recommend hypoallergic pet food or help you determine possible allergic ingredients.
Irritated Skin Can Cause Secondary Ear Infections
Sometimes it may only be a matter of time before dry, irritated skin becomes further irritated. Eventually, your pet will paw at itchy areas, or irritation simply builds up. Because ears are easily irritated, ear infections are the most common secondary skin infections in cats and dogs. When the middle ear becomes inflamed, ear wax accumulates and the ear canal constricts. Since the resulting pressure turns into a nasty infection, veterinary diagnosis and medication are required. Signs your pet may have an ear infection:
- They shake their head frequently or paw at their ears.
- Their ears are swollen and inflamed.
- They have dark discharge in and around their ears.
- The skin around their ears is dry and scaly.
If you suspect your pet has skin allergies or has an ear infection, please call and schedule an appointment with us. You’ll be happy you did, and we’ll take good care of your loved one.
