ALLERGIES & DERMATOLOGY

Does your pet’s itchy skin have you both losing sleep?

There are plenty of ailments that can affect a companion animal’s skin, and the symptoms can be downright unpleasant. You don’t want your best friend to suffer and neither do we!

The professional allergy and dermatology services at Stone Cottage Veterinary Hospital will help get your loved one as healthy on the outside as on the inside.

Diagnosing the Problem

To help your pet feel better, we must first determine exactly what’s causing the problem. We may be able to tell what’s wrong just by looking over 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 dermatological issues we assist with include:

• Allergies (food and/or environmental)
• Infections (acute or chronic)
• Parasites
• Dermatitis
• Hormonal disorders
• Autoimmune diseases
• Tumors
• Skin cancer

Developing a Treatment Plan

Once we’ve diagnosed the problem, the next step is deciding the best way treat it. Depending on the situation, we may recommend something simple, like applying a topical cream. More complex conditions may call for a longer-term strategy or involve several treatment methods.

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

If you notice any of these red flags, it’s time to schedule an appointment. Get in touch. We can help your loved one live a more comfortable life.