Allergies & Dermatology

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

There are many conditions that can affect a companion animal’s skin, and the symptoms can be unpleasant. You don’t want your furry friend to suffer and neither do we! 

The professional allergy and dermatology services at Peterborough West Animal 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 identify what’s causing the problem. We may be able to determine what’s wrong just by examining 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 conditions we can 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 situation, we may recommend something as simple as applying a topical cream. More complicated scenarios may call for a longer-term strategy or involve a combination of 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 signs, it’s time to give Peterborough West Animal Hospital a call. We can help your loved one live a more comfortable life.