Is your pet biting its paws or scratching more often than usual? Your furry friend might be dealing with allergies or a skin condition. These problems can lead to uncomfortable symptoms and health concerns if left untreated. Fortunately, your veterinarians near you at Hamilton Road Animal Hospital in Columbus, OH, are here to help. Our veterinary team offers dermatology services to alleviate your pet’s skin allergies and other skin-related issues. Learn more about pet dermatology below.
When Your Pet May Require Dermatology Care
The most common reason for dermatology care is allergies. Dog or cat allergies can occur due to several allergens in your pet’s environment and food. Any of these can cause skin symptoms that make your pet miserable. The primary types of allergies in pets include:
• Seasonal allergies to pollen, mold, or similar allergens
• Flea allergies
• Food allergies
• Environmental allergies to dust or household cleaners
However, other health concerns may lead to skin problems that require dermatology care. Parasite infestations, infections from excessive scratching or biting, rashes, and even dietary problems may cause skin irritation.
Signs of Skin Issues to Watch Out For
Cat and dog allergies often cause symptoms involving the skin. While your pet may experience some respiratory and digestive issues due to allergies, many pets deal with excessive itchiness, persistent scratching, and frequent chewing or biting of the tail and paws. Some pets have symptoms like sneezing, watery eyes, vomiting, and diarrhea. Your pet may also experience dry skin, sores, bald patches, inflamed or red skin, and even hair loss due to a skin condition or parasite infestation.
How Pet Dermatology Can Help
Irritated skin, itchiness, and other symptoms can affect a pet’s quality of life. Fortunately, your veterinarian near you can provide a treatment plan to help soothe skin issues. The right way to handle these problems depends on the cause. Some approaches our veterinary team may use include the following:
• Prescribing allergy specific medications and injections
• Making changes to what your pet eats for a suspected food allergy
• Prescribing medicated flea and skin parasite specific preventatives
• Giving pets medicine to ease respiratory symptoms
• Giving injections to help ease persistent or severe allergies symptoms
• Treating skin infections with antibiotics or other medication
Visit Our Veterinarian in Columbus, OH, to Treat Your Pet’s Skin Issues
If your pet is dealing with skin allergies or other skin-related issues and you need treatment from a trusted “veterinarian near you,” contact Hamilton Road Animal Hospital in Columbus, OH. We can diagnose and treat your pet’s ailment to keep it happy and healthy, so call us and schedule an appointment today at (614) 239-0027.
