Allergies & Dermatology

Is your pet’s itchy skin keeping you both up at night?

There are a number of ailments that can affect a companion animal’s skin, and the symptoms can be nothing short of miserable. You don’t want your best friend to suffer and neither do we! 

The professional allergy and dermatology services at Waterdown Animal Hospital will help get your pet as healthy on the outside as on the inside.

Diagnosing the Problem

To help your loved one feel better, we must identify precisely what’s causing the problem. We may be able to figure out what’s wrong just by examining your pet, or we may need to investigate further. Things like blood work, skin scrapings and biopsies give us the answers we need to move forward with a cure.

Some dermatological conditions 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 pinpointed the problem, the next step is determining how to best treat it. Depending on the circumstances, we may suggest something as simple as applying a topical cream. More complex situations may call for a longer-term strategy or involve a combination of treatment methods. 

Signs of a possible skin concern include:

• Excessive scratching
• Scabbing or flaking 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. Give us a call. We can help your loved one live a more comfortable life.