Dermatology Services for Pets

Skin problems are common in dogs and cats and can be caused by hormonal disorders, allergies, infections, or parasites such as fleas and mites. If you’ve noticed redness or lumps on your pet’s skin or excessive scratching, these could be signs of a skin condition. These issues can be complicated to treat and should be addressed promptly by our team.  

How can I prevent skin issues? 

Some skin issues are hereditary, whereas others are caused by parasites, allergies, or environmental irritants. Though you cannot prevent every skin condition your pet develops, these tips can help minimize the risk of some infections: 

• Ensure your pet is regularly taking a parasite preventive 
• Groom your pet routinely to maintain healthy skin and coat
• Limit their exposure to sprays, fragrances, and lotions made for humans
• Monitor your pet’s reaction to new foods or objects in your environment 
• Examine your pet’s coat for fleas, ticks, and other parasites

How do you diagnose skin conditions? 

We can often diagnose a skin problem by simply examining your pet. Some dermatologic diseases or conditions require additional diagnostic procedures to ensure your pet is diagnosed correctly. Depending on their symptoms and the results of our physical exam, we could also run bloodwork or perform a urinalysis, skin scraping, or biopsies. Contact us at 204-346-1429 if you notice your dog or cat scratching excessively or if they develop any bare patches, scabs, scaling, redness, inflammation, lumps, or bumps. These could all be signs of a skin condition. 

What do you recommend to treat skin conditions? 

Once we’ve assessed your pet’s condition, we’ll tailor their treatment plan to its severity. For example, pets with atopic dermatitis have come into contact with allergens like grass, trees, or pollen. We can prescribe oral medications and topical treatments to soothe your pet. External parasites like mange or ringworm can cause bacterial infections or hair loss, which can be treated with deworming medication to get rid of parasites and supplements to stimulate hair growth.