Allergies & Dermatology

Is your pet’s itchy skin driving you both crazy?

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

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

Diagnosing the Problem

To get your pet feeling better, we must first identify precisely 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 provide the answers we need to move forward with a cure.

Some dermatological issues we routinely 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

With a diagnosis in hand, the next step is determining how to best treat it. Depending on the situation, something as simple as applying a topical medication may be sufficient. More complex conditions 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 schedule an appointment. Contact Westside Animal Hospital right away. We can help your loved one live a more comfortable life.