Skin problems are common in dogs and cats and can be caused by hormonal disorders, allergies, infections, or parasites such as fleas and mites. These issues can be difficult to treat and should be addressed promptly.
We can often diagnose a skin problem by simply examining your pet. Some dermatologic diseases or conditions do require additional diagnostic procedures to ensure a correct diagnosis. Depending on your pet’s symptoms and the results of our physical exam, we may run blood work or perform a urinalysis, skin scraping, or biopsies.
At Farms Veterinary Clinic, we provide complete allergy testing for pets to ensure that we can diagnose the causes of your pet’s allergy conditions. Some symptoms that you may notice as a sign of your pet’s allergies and associated skin conditions will be vastly different from the human allergy symptoms of runny noses and sneezing. These signs in pets may include:
- Crusty, scabby skin
- Dirty, red, swollen ears
- Flaky or greasy hair coat
- Foul odor from the ears
- Hot spots
- Itching, scratching, and licking anywhere on the body
- Rashes
- Red, gray, or black discoloration of skin
- Thick, rough skin
- Unusual smell from the skin
- Redness or irritated eyes
- …and more
Contact us if you notice your dog or cat scratching excessively or if he or she develops any bare patches, scabs, scaling, redness, inflammation, lumps, or bumps.